Overview
Synopsis
When a young and effortlessly charismatic black con man claiming to be the son of Sidney Poitier himself smiles his way into the sympathetic living rooms of a few of New York City’s white wealthy elite, and tears a swath of disillusionment through their preconceptions and comfortable lives, the thirst for understanding leaves them questioning their sense of selves. Ouisa and Flan, the play’s central duo and two married art dealers, find themselves victims of a strange invasion after offering a young man, who appears to have been mugged in Central Park, shelter in their apartment. He tells them he knows their children from Harvard, and so begins an evening that captivates the older wealthy couple, eager to embrace the promise of an intelligent, provocative young person who also happens to stroke their egos and reinforce their sense of good personhood. Six Degrees of Separation stunningly demonstrates the way each person’s individual vision of the world, limited by our desire to control how we ourselves are seen, leaves us prey to the manipulations and nuance of human design at play all around us. With split-second transitions narrated anecdotally by the characters that piece together a whirlwind of vignettes, John Guare’s work takes the audience on a stark and breathtaking ride through the connection and disconnection between humans from all walks of life confronting the question of honest identity.
Show Information
- Book
- John Guare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1990
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- new york city, early 1990s
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Mature Audiences, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation first premiered on Broadway in 1990 to critical acclaim, starring Stockard Channing as Ouisa, John Cunningham as Flan, and Courtney B. Vance as Paul. Due to its overwhelming success it was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play and for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A movie adaptation of the same name, starring Stockard Channing again as Ouisa, Donald Sutherland as Flan, and Will Smith as Paul, soon followed the success of the stage show. Six Degrees
to read the context for Six Degrees of Separation and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Six Degrees of Separation opens quickly on the aftermath of what seems to be a home invasion. Ouisa and Flan, husband and wife, residents of a New York City apartment overlooking Central Park, and wealthy art dealers, survey their residence in a panic as they comfort and bicker in the midst of crisis. Once reassured that nothing is lost, Ouisa and Flan invite the audience into their story, breaking the fourth wall as they bring the viewers to the start eventful evening that brought them to
to read the plot for Six Degrees of Separation and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
|
|
|
Lead |
Male |
|
|
|
Lead |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
Songs
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
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
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.
Guide Written By:
