Dear Reader,I'd appreciate your honest appraisal of whether you think it's worth my taking the time to turn this outline into a full script, and any suggestions you might have.
"The Sexiest Man Alive"
An outline for a play about a couple's mismatched sex drive
by Marty Nemko
10.17.09 version
An outline for a play about a couple's mismatched sex drive
by Marty Nemko
10.17.09 version
Rick, a George Clooney-type 48 year-old, whom People Magazine named "The Sexiest Man Alive," in fact has low sex drive.
A year ago, Rick married
Rick has been nominated again for "Sexiest Man Alive" and the play opens with he and Sandy arriving in their hotel room the night before the Award ceremony. As usual, she is amorous and he is indifferent. She begs him to take Viagra and he refuses, mainly because he doesn't want to take drugs merely so it can service her--It does little to increase his sex drive; it just gives him an erection. In fury, she threatens to, at the Awards night, expose him, "The Sexiest Man Alive," as having little sex drive.
The play chronicles the next 24 hours. Although he's furious at her for trying to force him into sex-- "You want a sex machine, use your vibrator!," -- to avoid the embarrassment of being exposed, losing his leading-man movie-star career, and simply because he loves her, he tries ever bolder efforts that night to arouse his interest. But she is so angry at their year of his rejecting her sexually, that she unconsciously sabotages his efforts and they fail.
Next, they're in the audience at the Awards ceremony. (This can be accomplished within a Black Box set, no set change required: They would sit in the audience. The voice of an emcee, sound of audience clapping, and props would complete the effect.) The beginning of the scene lampoons the puerility of such events: the speeches, the canned jokes, the political correctness. In between, Rick and Sandy's fight devolves further, although all in a whisper. Rick wins "Sexiest Man Alive." He starts his acceptance speech whereupon she stands up, clearing her throat to speak. Then, in a powerful speech, he admits he has low sex drive--maybe part physical, maybe part psychological, maybe part his fundamentalist upbringing, but if there's hope, it's
They are in bed. Finally realizing how sexually intimidating she is, she is dressed subtly rather than bawdily. Her demeanor matches: subtly sexy, not raucous. In trepidation, summoning all his courage (I'll extend this, trying to make it funny and touching--making us really root for him) he takes half a Viagra. They read the NY Times, which calls him a hero for "bringing the last sex taboo out of the closet." They make gentle love, during which she is moaning in ecstasy but he is silent, yes, experiencing some pleasure, but largely he looks like he's fulfilling an obligation.
After they orgasm, she makes afterglow comments and he moves the conversation to an asexual but pleasant topic that reveals their being quite compatible in the non-sexual domain--the play ends with them laughing.
At the end of the curtain call, the audience is invited to remain for a conversation with the playwright, director, and/or actors.
4 comments:
Marty, neither the theme nor the outline work for me because they (even with the 'happy' ending) reinforce some attitudes I do not encourage or find interesting to validate. The treatment, as is, makes sex sound too important, an idea that reflects cultural norms but is not interesting, edgy, or useful. The implication is that a hot,attractive, willing. desirous, experienced woman should solve the problem (and there must be something wrong with a man who does not feel or respond accordingly). Perhaps even the sexiest man alive is not sexual? Perhaps something about the scent of a particular woman carries more impact than her apparent physical beauty? I think for such a play to succeed creatively, it may need to be more complex than would invite audience approval. And be careful not to allow the audience to draw too simple a conclusion that a Christian or any other fundamentalist background is at the root of sexual confusion, stress or ambivalence.
Dear AllEars,
The play's theme IS that he turns himself inside out to have sex despite his low sex drive BECAUSE he wants to please her AND it is the societal norm. And the ending is far from happy--It makes clear that even when he succeeds, he's not happy--When they're making love, she's in ecstasy, he looks like he's fulfilling an obligation.
Regarding his disinterest being her specifically, at age 35 and someone who has wanted to stay a virgin, and a leading-man movie star, he's had plenty of opportunitites to have sex yet never felt compelled to have sex. I have added a line to make his previous opportunities more apparent. Thank you for pointing to my need to do that.
And with regard to religion, I have made efforts to leave ambiguous the extent to which his problem is his fundamentalist father, his poor circulation, the pressure today's women impose, something else, or some combination thereof.
Marty, your comments and a third reading point to your attention to some of the details I questioned and suggest that a fuller treatment could have the complexity I would look for. Thanks. Now I get to examine my own cynicism about whether others would root for or find the protagonist sympathetic. I did not intend for my earlier remarks to indicate that I found the ending 'happy' at all. Like many things that others accept with surprising ease, I found it soul destroying. I look forward to seeing/reading where you go with the project. A friend/mentor has challenged me to explore a poem I wrote (about recently having to take away my father's car) into a short play. The stage is a demanding mistress....but probably more likable than than Susan.
A movie star with low sex drive doesn't sound like an interesting foundation to me. What's entertaining about that?
I don't think many people will identify or sympathize with the hero. Those guys who do, won't admit to it. :)
Of course, if you can make it hilarious, the rather limp (heh) starting point could be forgiven.
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