Overview

Synopsis

Margulies' play is the story of Jonathan Waxman, a superstar artist, so popular that collectors will buy his work "sight unseen." In London for a major retrospective, Jonathan decides to call his former girlfriend, Patricia, who posed for him as a student and whose influence became a turning point in his early career. Patricia is now married to Nick; they live in the English countryside, where they excavate ancient Roman ruins. She invites Jonathan to spend the night. When he arrives, tensions arise among the threesome. Patricia is still angry that Jonathan dumped her, and wonders about his motives for visiting. Nick, insecure in his marriage, despises both Jonathan's art and his superstar status. Jonathan finds a painting in Patricia's house he had hoped would be there -- "it would fill an empty niche in his show" -- but he also finds himself wondering why his work has never been as good since he left her. The scenes in the countryside are intermingled with scenes of an interview with a German journalist, Grete. Grete questions Jonathan's motivations for his art and his self-promotion. She repeatedly brings up his Jewish heritage, and Jonathan accuses her of anti-Semitism. Throughout Sight Unseen , questions about art, money, love, and inspiration, their codependency and the ways in which they are inextricably entangled, are brought to the surface.

Show Information

Book
Donald Margulies
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1991
Genres
Drama
Time & Place
england
Cast Size
small
Ideal For
Includes Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Jonathan Waxman

Lead

Male

Spoken

Patricia

Lead

Female

Spoken

Nick

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Grete

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Songs

Sorry, we currently do not have content for this section.

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

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

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

Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.

Videos

Sorry! We do not currently have videos for this guide.

Quizzes

Sorry! We do not currently have quizzes for this guide.

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.