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Overview

Synopsis

Set on a New York subway train, Dutchman examines the brief, but fatal, relationship between Clay--a well-dressed, intellectual, young African American man--and Lula, an older, flirtatious, white woman. While Lula suggestively eats an apple, she flirts with Clay, becoming more and more personal as their conversation develops. Lula dominates the interaction, revealing little about herself and acknowledging that she lies frequently. She provokes Clay by challenging his middle-class self image. She seems to be aware of his insecurities and challenges Clay to pretend “that you are free of your own history.”

Clay’s insecurities about race and social status, make him increasingly defensive. As Lula’s taunts become more direct, she goads him into categorizing himself as a negative stereotype of the black male, either the oversexed stud or the cringing Uncle Tom. Finally breaking, Clay launches into a bitter soliloquy on the challenges of being black. The black music and African American culture with which Lula has been stereotyping him are, he believes, repressions of a justified rage that has kept African American people from fighting back and killing white Americans. After admitting, however, that he does not want to kill anyone, he goes to leave. But, before he can, Lula unexpectedly stabs Clay to death and orders the other passengers to throw his body off the train.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1964
Genres
Drama
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
The carriage of a subway train, New York City, 1960s
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Lula

Lead

Female

Spoken

Clay

Lead

Male

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Silent

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher