Echoes, Returns, and Repeatings
1. Feeling Safe
“Book Club is a safe haven” (Ana, 9).
“I don’t know anyone . . . So why not Book Club?” (Lily, 9).
“Reminds me of the better parts of being human” (Jen, 10).
“Carefully tended and organized” (Will, 10).
“Essence of humanity” (Lily, 12).
“Humans need five things . . .” (Elsa, 25).
“Rob has a very big heart” (Ana, 27).
Rob suddenly kisses Jen. It’s a good sweet kiss for both of them (35).
“There are certain rules you must follow . . .” (Frank, 40).
2. Controlling
“Rob, honey – Say hello” (Ana, 11).
“I am a curator of Greek antiques” (Will, 11).
“I am the one who dragged us all into this” (Ana, 14).
“Use my kitchen?” (Ana, 17).
“We are trying to have a serious conversation here” (Ana, 17).
“He is still in love with me” (Ana, 23).
“I thought you would be delighted by the surprise” (Ana, 41).
“I don’t think this is the place” (Ana, 41).
“Oh Jen” (Ana, 44).
“This is certainly not literature” (Ana, 47).
“Popularity is not quality” (Ana, 49).
“A few of us have to make sure there are standards” (Ana, 51).
“Oh, so now I’m Dictator Will” (Will, 56).
“Made the issues of unions completely irrelevant” (Sam, 59).
“We have a different sort of currency” (Carl, 66).
“Take it down! Take it down!” (Ana, 73).
3. Uncomfortable
“But won’t have that bug-eyed thing looking at us change us” (Jen, 13)?
“That’s the bug-eyed camera I was telling you about” (Jen, 45).
“Oh, Will, I’m sorry. I am so sorry. I just -”(Lily, 19).
“You of all people should know that” (Will, 22)!
“I just don’t get it” (Rob, 28).
“It’s excruciating painful and beautiful” (Lily, 32).
“It troubled me. I couldn’t sleep” (Rob, 32).
Rob slowly sinks to the floor (34).
Rob sits straight up (38).
“Please don’t tell me we have only read dead white men in Book Club” (Ana, 38).
“My chest . . . it feels funny” (Ana, 66).
**From these echoes and repeats I can formulate the equation Karen Zacarias uses to move the action of The Book Club Play forward:
REACHING FOR SAFETY + WANTING TO CONTROL THOSE AROUND YOU = EXTREME DISCOMFORT
“Book Club is a safe haven” (Ana, 9).
“I don’t know anyone . . . So why not Book Club?” (Lily, 9).
“Reminds me of the better parts of being human” (Jen, 10).
“Carefully tended and organized” (Will, 10).
“Essence of humanity” (Lily, 12).
“Humans need five things . . .” (Elsa, 25).
“Rob has a very big heart” (Ana, 27).
Rob suddenly kisses Jen. It’s a good sweet kiss for both of them (35).
“There are certain rules you must follow . . .” (Frank, 40).
2. Controlling
“Rob, honey – Say hello” (Ana, 11).
“I am a curator of Greek antiques” (Will, 11).
“I am the one who dragged us all into this” (Ana, 14).
“Use my kitchen?” (Ana, 17).
“We are trying to have a serious conversation here” (Ana, 17).
“He is still in love with me” (Ana, 23).
“I thought you would be delighted by the surprise” (Ana, 41).
“I don’t think this is the place” (Ana, 41).
“Oh Jen” (Ana, 44).
“This is certainly not literature” (Ana, 47).
“Popularity is not quality” (Ana, 49).
“A few of us have to make sure there are standards” (Ana, 51).
“Oh, so now I’m Dictator Will” (Will, 56).
“Made the issues of unions completely irrelevant” (Sam, 59).
“We have a different sort of currency” (Carl, 66).
“Take it down! Take it down!” (Ana, 73).
3. Uncomfortable
“But won’t have that bug-eyed thing looking at us change us” (Jen, 13)?
“That’s the bug-eyed camera I was telling you about” (Jen, 45).
“Oh, Will, I’m sorry. I am so sorry. I just -”(Lily, 19).
“You of all people should know that” (Will, 22)!
“I just don’t get it” (Rob, 28).
“It’s excruciating painful and beautiful” (Lily, 32).
“It troubled me. I couldn’t sleep” (Rob, 32).
Rob slowly sinks to the floor (34).
Rob sits straight up (38).
“Please don’t tell me we have only read dead white men in Book Club” (Ana, 38).
“My chest . . . it feels funny” (Ana, 66).
**From these echoes and repeats I can formulate the equation Karen Zacarias uses to move the action of The Book Club Play forward:
REACHING FOR SAFETY + WANTING TO CONTROL THOSE AROUND YOU = EXTREME DISCOMFORT