Visiting Edna and Good for Otto

Two Plays

David Rabe

• Publisher: Grove Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780802126900
• eBook ISBN: 9780802189608
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: American Drama
• Index: Literature

Two plays exploring the struggle of mental illness by the Tony Award–winning "giant of American theater" and author of Hurlyburly ( Chicago Tribune ). Good for Otto, which premiered in October 2015 at the Gift Theatre in Chicago, is a "sprawling drama of mental illness" in which "Mr. Rabe digs into his subject with a depth that almost feels bottomless." Drawing on material from Undoing Depression by psychotherapist Richard O'Connor, it explores the lives of a therapist and his many patients, all trying to navigate personal trauma (Charles Isherwood, The New York Times ). Visiting Edna, which premiered in September 2016 at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, is a drama of "deeply searing power" about the bond between mother and son. As Edna faces a short future plagued by her many illnesses—and a cancer that looms so large it becomes another character—she and her adult son struggle to communicate about their shared past as they contemplate the future ( Variety ). Taken together, the plays offer a satisfying glimpse into "Rabe's theatrical universe... at once vivid and mysterious, a pageant and a puzzle" of contemporary American life (John Lahr, The New Yorker ). "Many would list [Rabe] among the very greatest of living playwrights." —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Good for Otto

David Rabe

Based On Material from
Undoing Depression by Richard O’Connor

For those who do the work.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

The world premiere of Good for Otto was produced and presented by the Gift Theater in October 2015. It was directed by Michael Patrick Thornton, the set was by Courtney O’Neil, the costume design was by Stephanie Cluggish, the lighting design was by Charles Cooper, the sound design and original music was by Christopher Kriz, and the stage manager was Corinne James.

The cast was as follows:

MARCY Cyd Blakewell

MOM Brittany Burch

TIMOTHY John Connolly

JIMMY Paul D’Addario

TERESA Patricia Donegan

DR. MICHAELS John Gawlik

FRANNIE Caroline Heffernan

JANE Alexandra Main

MRS. GARLAND Donna McGough

JEROME Kenny Mihlfried

NORA Darci Nalepa

EVANGELINE RYDER Lynda Newton

BARNARD Rob Riley

DENISE Justine Serino

ALEX Jay Worthington

CHARACTERS

DR. MICHAELS—a therapist in his midforties.

JEROME—a patient in his thirties.

MOM—a figure in her early thirties.

JANE—a patient in her forties.

JIMMY—Jane’s son in his late twenties, early thirties.

MRS. GARLAND—Jerome’s mother—in her late forties

EVANGELINE—a therapist in her early forties.

TIMOTHY— a patient in his late forties, early fifties.

FRANNIE—a patient, twelve years old.

NORA—early thirties, a foster mom hoping to adopt Frannie.

DENISE—secretary in her midthirties.

TERESA—married to Barnard, seventies.

BARNARD—a patient in his seventies.

MARCI—an insurance company case manager in her thirties.

ALEX—a patient in his early thirties.

The play takes place in a theatrical space that is sometimes literally a Mental Health Center, at other times it’s a surreal space, Dr. Michaels’s psyche or imagination.

ACT ONE

Set: the main playing area holds two office chairs on wheels positioned toward the center while a piano stands along one side. A pile of books, a stack of folders, a bottle of bourbon, and several glasses stand atop the piano. A door, the entrance from the hall outside and reception area of the Mental Health Center occupies the opposite side with two chairs to indicate a waiting room.

There are five stations around the main playing area. Each contains furniture that defines the characters who will occupy them. JIMMY and JANE in one. JEROME in another. FRANNIE and NORA another. BARNARD and TERESA in another. And MOM alone and elevated.

At the start, the characters enter and go to their stations. The last to arrive is DR. MICHAELS, who looks things over, and then hums a note, or perhaps plays a note on a pitch pipe. All the characters join with him in humming a wordless, harmonious note. They settle in their places, and he addresses the audience:

DR. MICHAELS The Town of Harrington sits near the Berkshire Mountains and along the Mohegan river. There are numerous lakes and ponds. Open fields, wooded areas, and farmlands are plentiful, and the mountains harbor abundant, picturesque hiking trails with names like Owl Mountain, and the Arrowhead Trail. We have a Congregational church, an Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, and Catholic, and a Jewish Temple just across the New York state line.

beat

Now. Imagine me in bed, if you will, on a morning just before dawn, any morning, an average morning. Imagine me awake thinking, hoping for a little more sleep. Imagine a blue down comforter, a late fall day. I live fairly close to the Northwood Mental Health Center, where I am a counselor and chief administrator. It’s a short drive, or a pleasant walk, if I’m not too ...

Table of contents

• Visiting Edna and Good for Otto
• Also by David Rabe
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Visiting Edna
• Good for Otto
• Back Cover