ASKED AND ANSWERED
February 18th, 2022
ASKED: How does one pronounce "Haudenosaunee "?
ANSWERED: Haudenosaunee is pronounced, "hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee." It means "people who build a house," and refers to a confederation or alliance among six Native American nations who are more commonly known as the Iroquois Confederacy.
January 28th, 2022
ASKED: Can you go more into depth on what gender dysphoria exactly is? And if Maura is experiencing gender dysphoria does this mean she might identify as trans or non binary sometime in the future?
ANSWERED: Gender dysphoria, more simply put, is the feeling that your natural body parts do not match your gender identity. Gender dysphoria is an inherently trans phenomena so it is safe to say that Maura could identify as trans in the near future. However, it is important to remember that "trans" can be a blanket statement with multiple subcategories. Maura is exploring her body but not necessarily what her labels are just yet. We have a whole page dedicated to gender dysphoria so feel free to check that out!
January 26, 2022
ASKED: Where does Jack go to college?
ANSWERED: Apparently, "in, like, Ohio or somewhere". This doesn't narrow things down, since there are 137 colleges and universities in Ohio alone. As you can see from the map to the right, there is plenty of distance (all of Indiana) between Chicago and Ohio, so there's no reason to think she's gone to a college in Ohio near Chicago. This is one detail that the playwright does not fill out, and we can make those decisions ourselves.
January 26, 2022
ASKED: What "program" is Jack's partner in?
p. 59
ANSWERED: This is a question that is never clearly answered in the play, which is a really strong choice. It's not Jack's narrative, so to go into depth on things that aren't specifically intended for Maura would have been the sign of poor storytelling. Instead, the playwright offers little clues that suggest that Jack's partner is in some kind of treatment program. What's not clear is whether it's for recovery (addiction) or some form of outpatient program resulting from a medical emergency. Typically, patients in addiction recovery wouldn't have access to their phones (like Jack thought), so maybe that's a hint that it's a program in Boston that is related to some kind of medical emergency. We don't think it's useful to guess, but it's clear that this eventuality is very stressful on Jack and their relationship with their partner.
JANUARY 24, 2022
ASKED: Is Maura's town more liberal or more conservative? - Kayla
ANSWERED: Again, since we don't get to see anyone aside from the four young people in the script, it's tough to know. However, as the articles below and this one here suggest, small towns in New England are often quite liberal. Most of New England tends to go Blue (or Purple) in elections, and from the makeup of the town (Art Store, Movie House, Coffee Shop) it seems to be relatively liberal. (Yes, we know Conservatives like those things too, but we are going on what we have). The identity journey Maura is on seems in no way tinged with homophobia or fear of others' homophobia, and Jack is treated not as a curiosity but as someone to aspire to in their coolness. We get liberal vibes all over.
JANUARY 24, 2022
ASKED: Though it's never said in the play, using context clues, where might Anna be going to college? - Kayla
ANSWERED: You're right, the exact location of Anna's college is never specifically stated: what we know for sure is that she's going "away". The fact that she and Maura have to talk about an epic letter writing relationship shows that she's definitely going to school out-of-state. It's not Boston, which is only a few hours away, but somewhere that seems too far to visit from. The only specific reference to a school is this:
All this confirms is that Anna visited the University of Chicago, but it's not clear whether she visited to tour the campus as a prospective student, or if she went there with the intention of attending. Chicago isn't at all close to New England (see below) - it's a 15.5 hour drive from Boston to Chicago, so that's plenty far away that you wouldn't expect to come home unexpectedly. We are going to guess that UChicago is the best candidate, because there's little indication that she's going to, say, California or Florida or somewhere. Maybe she's coming to Oswego?!
January 24, 2022:
ASKED: Any resources on performative self vs authentic self? -Anastasia
ANSWERED: Of course! Essentially, your performative self is a curated image of yourself that's not always accurate to who are truly are. Whereas your authentic self is the presentation of exactly who you are as a person. Here are some interesting articles! Also, check out our Hub page on the topic!
January 24, 2022:
ASKED: What is the college dropout rate for students with depression?
-Anastasia
-Anastasia
Overall, 40% of students drop out of college. 30% of students are freshmen who drop out before their sophomore year. Of these students, only about 5% drop out due to depression alone. The two highest factors (financial stress and academic disqualification) combined equate for over half of the dropout rate, yet these factors can cause or be the result of depression.
January 14, 2022:
ASKED: Who are the Brontë sisters? -Kayla
ANSWERED: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë were sisters and writers. Their novels are now classics. Often left alone in their home, the sisters became avid writers and wrote stories.
In 1846 they published poetry under pseudonyms, before going on to publish novels. Agnes Grey, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights are some of their most popular works. Source
What do the Brontë sisters have to do with the play though? Maura mentions having an "epic epistolary correspondence" also known as letters!
Although compared to the number of letters they wrote, not many of them have survived. In fact, there are only two known letters by Emily. However, we have enough of Charlotte's letters that they're bound together in a book! That's a lot of letters to a lot of people!!
DECEMBER 20, 2021:
ASKED: What does Maura mean when she says "Bah-dum chee"? - Anonymous
ANSWERED: That's a rimshot! Maura's told a bad joke and emphasizes it with a drum sound effect like she was a bad comedian in the Catskills.
DECEMBER 12, 2021:
ASKED: On page 42, Jack refers to their uncle as "Mark" not "Uncle Mark" -- why could this be? Are they not blood related? Does Jack not use labels for their family? - Kayla
ANSWERED: This one comes down to the director's choice, we think: from what we're reading, the playwright doesn't over-load us with too much background context. There's nothing to suggest that they aren't blood related: what is much more likely is that many teens and young adults will begin experimenting with dropping titles (like "aunty" or "uncle") in a display of independence and maturity. Even though they are Mark's niece, Jack potentially chooses to drop the title as an attempt towards viewing their uncle as a peer or fellow adult. We never get to see what Uncle Mark thinks of this, of course: maybe they are just showing off for Anna!
Check the links to the right and below for some articles about kids using adults' first names!
DECEMBER 8, 2021:
ASKED: What do fireflies represent/symbolize? - Kayla
ANSWERED: Let's start with fireflies in general! Fireflies (or glowworms or lightning bugs) are soft-bodied beetles best known for their use of bioluminescence during twilight to attract mates or prey. How's that work?
Fireflies produce a chemical reaction inside their bodies that allows them to light up. This type of light production is called bioluminescence. The method by which fireflies produce light is perhaps the best known example of bioluminescence. When oxygen combines with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the chemical luciferin in the presence of luciferase, a bioluminescent enzyme, light is produced. Unlike a light bulb, which produces a lot of heat in addition to light, a firefly's light is "cold light" without a lot of energy being lost as heat. This is necessary because if a firefly's light-producing organ got as hot as a light bulb, the firefly would not survive the experience. Source
They are often found in temperate or tropical climates, often in swampy or marshy locations, and in rural areas, hence their appearance here.
In terms of symbolism, there's plenty to unpack: they can be a sign of good fortune, love, and even death.
The most popular association with these creatures is romance because they represent–in some ways–a fleeting moment where two people meet during mating season or enjoy each other’s company under a starry night sky.
The firefly is a figure of beauty and physicality symbolism; but also of transformational power where death leads to rebirth. Its symbolic meaning can vary between cultures however it often represents fertility/procreation, creation through destruction (as with its light), guiding spirits from this world into another realm, or simply illumination when darkness might otherwise prevail. Source
Other symbolic meanings include:
Expectation
Energy
Direction
Tolerance
Groundbreaking Ideas
Proficiency
Imagination
Fascination
Arousal
Goals
Motivation
Check out the articles below for a deeper dive into this interesting creature.
DECEMBER 8, 2021:
ASKED: Jack is slightly allergic to anchovies. What are some potential symptoms to being slightly allergic to anchovies? - Kayla
ANSWERED: Thanks for asking! We know you didn't ask us what anchovies are, but we just can't help ourselves.
Here's some anchovies: little tiny fish whose primary job in life, it seems, to be eaten by things bigger than it. After the tiny fish are caught (just swim down!) they are gutted and preserved in brine, which gives them their distinctively salty flavor. Gross as hell, if you ask me. You didn't? Oh!
According to this researcher on Quora (who is definitely a dramaturg at heart), humans have been adding anchovies to pizza for 2000 years, since the Ancient Romans got into it. For some reason, we just got into the habit of devouring the salty little buggers on pizza ever since.
In terms of Jack's allergy, just like with all allergies, there's a sliding scale depending on how allergic you are.
Most commonly, an allergic reaction to anchovies would involve hives surfacing on the skin, a tingling sensation in the mouth, vomit, or diarrhea. Even more concerning but less common symptoms include trouble breathing and/or a blood pressure drop. SOURCE
Not worth it, if you ask me. From the sounds of it, Jack gets the itch in the mouth but otherwise doesn't have to worry about the nasty symptoms.
This was also interesting, based on the timeline of Jack eating the pasta and the time it took them to realize there was something wrong:
In one study of thirty-nine individuals who reported fish allergy, 85% experienced allergic symptoms within 30 minutes after ingesting fish. The most frequently reported symptoms were hives (69%), itching (69%), and wheezing/chest tightness (54%). The most prevalent positive reaction was to anchovy (73%).
In another study, skin testing with a commercial anchovy extract was reported to give false positive results in 75% of non-atopic controls, presumably because of the high content of histamine.
Allergic reactions to anchovy usually occur when the fish is eaten. Severe reactions generally begin within minutes of ingesting the food. Reported symptoms include digestive distress, including stomach ache, cramping, diarrhea or vomiting. SOURCE
DECEMBER 8, 2021:
ASKED: Also on page seven, Anna says Mohammed is Maura's Mr. Darcy. What does this reference signify about Maura and Mohammed? Who is Maura if Mohammed is Mr. Darcy? - Kayla
glower, Colin
ANSWERED: Ah! What a great question! We do have a Mr. Darcy page going on the Hub, but we really like the context you place this in. This is obviously a reference to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and the Victorian dreamboat Fitzwilliam Darcy (with the G.O.A.T Darcy Colin Firth pictured to the left).
If Mohammed is Darcy, then Maura is Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet, with whom he shares a tempestuous relationship. Here's a useful guide to the kind of guy Darcy is:
His manners drew the contempt of many in Meryton as they perceived him as proud, sanctimonious, and inconsiderate due to his status. He was shown to be cold and aloof, with such a temperament being misconstrued as sheer arrogance. The narrator described him as clever but also as "haughty, reserved, and fastidious," with manners that, "though well-bred, were not inviting." This was shown to be only natural reserve and a discomfort in company that made him uneasy and defensive. His lack of "inviting qualities" was also due his arrogant disposition towards the lower classes in the beginning of the novel. He told Elizabeth on their walk that he was brought up to do the right thing, but not taught to be humble. Due to his status and the fact that he spent much of his childhood as an only child, his parents never taught him to control his temper or his pride.
This proved true, as his distant manner and apparent contempt for those around him earned the disdain of Elizabeth and many others, particularly in light of the claims of the charming George Wickham—that he was wronged by Darcy, however, it was eventually revealed that these first impressions were erroneous: Darcy's seemingly arrogant character masked a sincerely generous and upright nature, and it was Darcy, in fact, who was wronged by Wickham, whose own character was revealed to be untrustworthy and duplicitous. SOURCE
So, Darcy seems to be a bit of a jerk throughout "P+P", but he has his reasons: still waters run deep, and he's trying to do the right thing. Thus, Mohammed is Mr Darcy in this context because he is inscrutable and difficult to read, but underneath it all, Anna is betting that he has love for Maura. Perhaps. This also gives us a hint into Maura and Mohammed's relationship: the will-they-or-won't-they dynamic, even though outwardly it might look unlikely.
DECEMBER 8, 2021:
ASKED: Maura says on page seven, "Did I tell you that Mohammed was interested in coming up to see Wilco at the end of the month? We talked about it like the first week of Building Bridges." My question is, what is Wilco and Building Bridges? And why would these specifics be referenced? - Kayla
ANSWERED: Thanks for getting us started on our Ask the Dramaturgs Page! From our research, it seems that the "service trip building houses in New Orleans" (p71) that Maura talks about is the "Building Bridges" program. Our research didn't uncover a specific organization that currently is called "Building Bridges" that constructs houses in New Orleans, but in the post-Hurricane Katrina world, this kind of service was much more common and might have been fictionalized here. There are plenty of "Building Bridges" organizations out there but most of them have to do with marriage counselling or, you know, building bridges.
p.71
