Extremities

Play

Writers: William Mastrosimone

Overview

Show Information

Category
Play
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1981
Genres
Drama
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
New Jersey, 1980, farmhouse
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Ideal for
College/University, Community Theatre, Mature Audiences, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast
Casting Notes
Mostly female cast
Includes young adult characters

Synopsis

Rape is about power, and what could happen if a victim took that power back from her attacker? Marjorie is assaulted in her home by Raul, a man who arrived out of nowhere, but before he can rape her, she is able to fight back. The next several hours are Marjorie’s battle with herself: In surviving the attack, what must she do to live without fear? How can she punish Raul without becoming an “animal” herself? William Mastrosimone’s _Extremities _is inspired by the fantasy of taking control back from an attacker, and examines the extremes of human capacity: mercy against hatred, compassion against violence, and humanity against torture. Not for the faint of heart, _Extremities _challenges the audience to examine their own fears and prejudices surrounding rape and sexual assault in our culture.

Lead Characters


Extremities guide sections