Eason - Sex with Strangers: A Play

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that performance of the Play SEX WITH STRANGERS is subject to payment of a royalty. The Play is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, and of all countries covered by the International Copyright Union (including the Dominion of Canada and the rest of the British Commonwealth), and of all countries covered by the Pan-American Copyright Convention, the Universal Copyright Convention, the Berne Convention, and of all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations. All rights, including without limitation professional/amateur stage rights, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound recording. all other forms of mechanical, electronic and digital reproduction, transmission and distribution, such as CD, DVD, the Internet, private and file-sharing networks, information storage and retrieval systems, photocopying, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are strictly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed upon the matter of readings, permission for which must be secured from the Authors agent in writing. Inquiries concerning rights should be addressed to William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

Attn: Derek Zasky. This edition first published in the United States and the United Kingdom in 2014 by Overlook Duckworth, Peter Mayer Publishers, Inc. N EW Y ORK 141 Wooster Street New York, NY 10012 www.overlookpress.com For bulk and special sales, please contact , or write us at above address. L ONDON 30 Calvin Street London E1 6NW www.ducknet.co.uk For bulk and special sales, please contact , or write us at the above address. Copyright 2014 by Laura Eason All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast.

ISBN: 978-1-4683-0874-7 ISBN: 978-1-4683-1193-8 (e-book)

A play called Sex with Strangers better pack some erotic heat and Laura Easons comedy/drama does that in spades this entertaining two-hander is both sexually and intellectually provocative. F RANK S CHECK , Hollywood Reporter crackling Opposites attractshe gives him class, he gives her sex swift, clever dialogue. A DAM F ELDMAN, TimeOut NY A twisty and timely two-character drama about lust, love and the complex nature of identity in our digital-dominated era hits a brisk, engrossing stride. C HARLES I SHERWOOD , The New York TimesSex with Strangers is a juicy summer beach play. You cant savor it surfside, but just like a page-turner, this smart comedy pulls you in and keeps you wondering whats coming next well-crafted, with sly wit and perfect-pitch dialogue. J OE D ZIEMIANOWICZ , New York Daily News its hotor should I say cool? Sex with Strangers is great summer entertainment.

J ESSE G REEN , New York magazine Sex with Strangers is a compelling, comic drama about letting go of the past and embracing the futureeven if that future is written in pixels instead of on paper. C HRISTOPHER Z ARA , NewsweekSex with Strangers is a sometimes cutting, sometimes titillating tale with things to say about art and commercetwo sides the play itself nicely combines. E LISABETH V INCENTELLI , New York Post delightful intriguing The real treat in Sex with Strangers is Laura Easons sharp writing. The dialogue is smart, funny, and insightful without ever becoming smug. D AVE Q UINN , NBC New York Laura Easons smart and riveting Sex with Strangers is the must-see show at Steppenwolf Eason hits this one home because shes clearly writing from her gut a visceral, probing, deeply honest play. C HRIS J ONES , Chicago TribuneSex with Strangers is a thoughtful, tender drama about writers, books, love, ambition, relationships and social interaction in the Internet age.

J O L ITSON , The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) Truthful in its depiction of the ambivalence that can be felt about success, notoriety, love and wi-Fithey might drive you crazy but if theyre taken away, its a different kind of craziness. The play is charming totally beguiling. D IANA S IMMONDS , StagenoiseSex with Strangers is an uncommonly satisfying two-person dramedy about relationships in the iAge A well-told story with convincing characters and something to say terrific. S TEVEN O XMAN , Variety Fascinating and fantastic, Laura Easons Sex with Strangers is the best new piece of theater to come out of Chicago since Tracy Lettss August: Osage CountySex with Strangers is so honest, so authentic and so contemporary that one cant help but be mesmerized by it. B ETTY M OHR , Southtown Star Wry, wise and wonderfully humorous crackles with erotic tension and literary smarts a multi-faceted love story. C ATEY S ULLIVAN , Chicago ExaminerLAURA EASON is a playwright, a musical book writer, and screenwriter.

Her plays have been seen on many stages in the US including Second Stage, Rattlestick Theatre, 59E59, and the New Victory in NYC; Steppenwolf Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, and Side Project in Chicago; as well as regionally at DCs Signature Theatre, Baltimores Center Stage, KC Rep, Hartford Stage, Peoples Light, Actors Theatre, St. Louis Rep, and the Denver Center, among others. International productions include Sydney Theatre and Brisbane Theatre in Australia and the New Vic and Royal Exchange in the UK. Her original work includes Sex with Strangers, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now, The Vast In-Between, Remarkable Invisible, Every Reason to Hope and Believe, Plainfield Ace, Rewind, and Area of Rescue. Her adaptations include Around the World in 80 Days, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Ethan Frome, and A Tale of Two Cities. Musical books include Days Like Today, music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler (produced by Writers Theatre, Chicago), and Summerland, music by Jenny Giering, lyrics by Sean Barry.

Laura was a staff writer on season two and a story editor on season three of the Netflix drama House of Cards. She is an ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre (2011 Regional Tony Award) and served as Artistic Director for six years. In New York City, she is a member of Rising Phoenix Rep, New Georges, and a Womens Project Playwrights Lab alumna. A longtime Chicagoan, she lives in Brooklyn with her family. To Ed Sobel and Martha Lavey for believing in me, believing in this play, and for giving it both its first and second life

Sex with Strangers grows out of the instinct to go to the source of inspiration; to see if the spark of inception and, then, the act of an inspired execution can be more fully understood. This is why Ethan seeks out Olivia.

In her own pursuit to achieve some of what Ethan has achieved as a writer, Olivia wonders about the relationship between his art and the life hes led. Should his life choices, which she doesnt respect, impact how she views his work? I hope the play reflects the current moment we live in where the question of what is public and what is private has never been more blurred. But it starts with this age-old ideathe relationship between the artist and the art they make. In general, I have a resistance to being pinned down. To being defined. I think thats one of the things I like best about being a dramatic writer, that I get to invent and give voice to a myriad of characters and perspectives that are then embodied by other living, breathing people.