WHITE PEOPLE

J.T. Rogers

Presentation by Jessica Fife

J.T. Rogers

Including White People, Rogers has written thirteen plays. He is critically recognized as a playwright who writes about the harsh truth of reality, and doesn’t hold anything back. Not much is known about his personal life or history.

White People

This play tells the story of Alan Harris, Mara Lynn Doddson, and Martin Bahmueller’s prejudice against and experience with “People of Color”. Each character has a different story to tell, and they do so in a solemn and truthful manner that tends to throw people off.

‘History’

White People takes place in current-time New York, North Carolina, and Missouri, specifically Stuyvesant Square in New York, a kitchen in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a riverfront office in St. Louis, Missouri.

Stuyvesant Square

Fayetteville, North Carolina

St. Louis, Missouri

Alan Harris Alan is a liberal Literature professor, who

constantly doubts himself throughout the play and his own intentions towards his black (or, as he corrects himself ‘African-American’) student, Felicia. Near the end of his play, his pregnant wife and he are mugged by a group of young teenage boys who happen to be black, and he has moments of hostility which he almost immediately regrets afterwards. He ends with showing a type of personal growth by inviting Felicia to dinner with his wife of him, and deciding to name his unborn daughter Faith.

He is to be played by Robert Downey Jr.

Mara Lynn Doddson

Mara, throughout her play, demonstrates frustration with her marriage to a drunk and her son’s mental disabilities. The doctor whom he brings her son to be diagnosed is Indian, and she holds this against him until the very end of the play. Her bitterness seems to source from the difficulty of coping with her son’s disability.

She is to be played by Naomi Watts

Martin Bahmueller Martin seems to be obsessed with the fact that

the way you dress and your status in the world is everything, not the color of your skin. He has a ‘perfect’ daughter, and a son whom he doesn’t seem to understand, which is why he his absolutely shocked when he discovers his son is an extreme racist. He comes to terms with himself at the end of the movie, deciding to face his son and unearth the source of his hatred.

He is to be played by John Malkovich.

Play Analysis

White People is not broken up into scenes, but instead switches to characters standing in their respective areas and telling different parts of their story.

Introduction

Alan begins with talking about his literature class, and the student who sticks out the most to him; Felicia. She’s a young black woman, and the best in his class. The fact that she overanalyzes the racial implications of the stories he shares in the class seems to bother him. He also expresses his idolization of Peter Stuyvesant.

Introduction (cont.)

Mara Lynn starts off with an introduction of her son and his Indian doctor, mocking him, as well as her own husband. She explains how she and her husband met, and how she didn’t complete college because she didn’t feel she needed to.

Introduction (cont.)

Martin initiates his entrance with describing music, then his disdain for those who work at his company and don’t dress nor act the part. He also makes a statement that clothes are all that matters, not the color of one’s face.

Middle

The play goes on to tell the back stories of the characters, their inner emotions towards people of race. Not much actually occurs.

Climax/Conclusion

Mara Lynn reveals her son has a serious disorder called Rasmussen’s Encephalitis, which is the source of his hyperactivity and severe seizures. She seems to become more at peace with her son’s doctor, and decides to leave her husband who’s began to be an abusive drunk.

Climax/Conclusion (cont.) Alan tells the story of him and his wife

walking home, when they were assaulted by a group of black teenagers. They had been kicking his wife in the stomach, and he couldn’t do anything. He expresses anger at their ethnic group, and is overwhelmed with guilt for his racist feelings. At the end of the play, he decides to invite Felicia, the black girl of his class, to dinner.

Climax/Conclusion (cont.) Maybe the most dramatic revelation is the

play is that Martin’s rebellious son is an extreme racist. He is discovered standing over the severely beat, bruised, mutilated, and sodomized body of a young black girl, said to be no older than thirteen. A note, in Martin’s son’s handwriting, was found inside her and reads hateful words. Martin is shocked when he discovers, and confused. There isn’t much of a finalization with him, but his character is left with him questioning his son.

Costuming

Alan: Rather casual-professional, with a sweater vest over a wrinkled collared shirt, and khaki slacks with dark shoes. Stubble, messy hair.

Costuming (cont.)

Mara Lynn: A loose sundress of a cool color that almost hides her figure. Hair pulled back in a lazy manner, fly-away strands of hair to make her look tired. Dark sandals.

Costuming (cont.)

Martin: Pristine double-breasted Armani suit, collared, with gold buttons. Black fabric, shined shoes. Freshly shaved.

Publicity

Aimed towards an audience of young adults, generally towards people who will be able to connect with and comprehend the emotional depth of the play.

Set Design

The set design in this movie is fairly simple and it doesn’t change throughout the performance. The stage is separated into three different sections. The furthermost left third of the stage will be transformed into Martin’s riverfront office, with a desk and rather stark appearance.

Set Design (cont.)

The middle third of the stage will be transformed into a homely kitchen, in slight disarray, with dishes in the sink and counters semi-clean. There are suitcases and boxes about, and it gives off a hectic, busy feel.

Set Design (cont.)

The final, far right section will be turned into an open area, to give the feel of outdoors. A bench with be placed in the center, and the backdrop will display the iconic statue of Stuyvesant Square, and trees will be placed about the area.

Lighting Design

Since there’s no real definition of scenes, only the differentiation between different characters speaking, their sections will be lit only while they speak. When harsh information is revealed, colder colors that wash out the characters will be in use, and when more ‘inspirational’ moments surface, warm colors to compliment the characters are integrated.

The End. Questions?