Show & Tell - 100

Show & Tell - 100 by: Neil Monaghan, Diene Petterle, Christopher Heimann 

For my show & tell post I chose, 100,  a play that we recently produced here. I wanted to talk about this play because not many people know the way this play came into production or what the meaning of it was. I had a lot of audience members who asked after the show what the main idea of the play was supposed to be. Hence why I would like to give everyone a little insight on this play because it is a truly amazing work of art that has great potential. 

100 was first original published in Great Britain in 2003 by Nick Hern Books Limited in association with theimaginarybody. The playwrights Diene Petterlie, Neil Monaghan, and Christopher Heinmann were offered the opportunity to put on a play as part of the Arcola theater's Short Cut season of short plays. Instead of looking for a play, they thought about creating a play based on themes they felt most strongly about. One idea that really struck all of them as important was the question of what may be essential to life. The idea was  if they could take a step out of their lives to stop, look, and reconsider the choices they made. An underlying theme was that most people run around and miss out on some kind of balance on everyday life. The most important question struck; "what was really important to us?" The theme of death and dying had been an interest. One often hears stories of 'near death experiences' and how that can make people completely reevaluate their lives and often make changes for the better. Of course this idea gave off the impression of Judgment Day or Purgatory; but the writers described the theme as a different form and to not be misunderstood that it was Purgatory. This play created a more dream like world or better known as "the void." 

After developing this idea of making a choice after death, they presented this play at the Arcola theatre as a work-in-progress piece. The audience response was very strong and positive where then they took this play to the Edinburgh festival. At Edinbrough, the play sold out every night and won a Fringe First award for 'innovation in theatre and outstanding new production'. Since then this play, 100, has taken on an extensive international and national tour. 

Five characters who have died at some point in their lives are gathered together in this "void". Their journey begins when the main character of the five, the guide so to speak, introduces them all to death. Each character goes through memories holding on to a point in their lives that they find to be the most important. However, as we encountered in the play, some of the memories did not have a significance or impact in their lifetime. The realization that there is more to life and satisfaction that meets the eye finally occurs with the characters creating a change in their presence in the "void." These moments often found or associated with the point of moving on. Left standing are two characters counting down the time left to make a choice from their life that made sense to them and impacted. 

The first dramaturgical choice I found within this play was why didn't they have a transition of time for the countdown. The whole purpose in the beginning of the play I found was that Ketu counted out of reason to help him think. Further as we carry on in the play, the guide picks up the counting and makes the counting an ominous urgency to chose a memory. The idea of counting down was such a basic thought that kept the tension and suspense in the play. My opinion was why not have some form of change throughout the play to show the countdown. For example, a clock, or light change? 

The second dramaturgical choice I discovered was the playing space. First when I went through the rehearsal process and understood we were playing on a blank stage completely clothed in white, I thought that was crazy. But as the play continued and the idea of the "void" was developed rather than a playing space I understood what the playwrights were trying to achieve. Sometimes the simpler the better. 

I enjoyed reading, watching, and working on this play a lot. If anyone has an questions or concerns that they feel the need to ask; ask away! I would be happy to discuss this play better in depth.