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Overview

Synopsis

Our narrator, “The Man”, has just moved back to his hometown in the Midwest when he surreptitiously runs into his high school crush, Belinda Phipps. Belinda is, apparently, living the American dream: she lives in a luxurious house with her high school sweetheart, Cody, a rich African-American man who was an All-Star athlete back in high school. Nothing, however, is as it seems in this play that sharply examines marriage and race in Middle America. As our narrator, who bluntly admits to being an unreliable witness, grows closer to Belinda, the foundation of Cody and Belinda’s marriage is challenged and put into question. Staged on continually shifting moral ground that challenges our received notions about gender, ethnicity, and even love itself, This Is How It Goes unblinkingly explores the myriad ways in which the wildcard of race is played in America.

Show Information

Book
Neil LaBute
Text And Format
Neil LaBute
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
2005
Genres
Drama
Time & Place
present/small town in the midwest
Cast Size
small
Ideal For
community theatre, regional theatre, professional theatre, college/university theatre, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

The Man

Lead

Male

Cody Phipps

Supporting

Male

Belinda Phipps/The Woman

Supporting

Female

Waitress

Featured

Female

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

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

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Videos

Quizzes

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Samantha Riffle

Samantha Riffle