Hunter - The Whale / a Bright New Boise

Praise for The Whale Beautifully devastating... The Whale manages to be about so very much at once: writing, parenting, teaching, religion, body image, overeating, the price paid by gay couples born in the wrong state or just a few years too soon. But, most of all, The Whale is a remarkably eloquent exploration of the way the need for honesty overwhelms us when we sense that our time is short. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune A vibrant, provocative new play The sharp-eared skill and sensitivity with which Hunter explores his thickly layered material are matched by his fair-mindedness. Michael Feingold, Village Voice Extraordinary Hunter has constructed an outsize, gothic scenario in tender miniature, against a backdrop so blandly bleak we brace ourselves for despair: the sound of cascading highway traffic braids itself with the crashing surf inside Charlies head. Is it all just too much? Never for a second.

Scott Brown, New York A deeply affecting and piercingly amusing play about guilt and connection Hunter has given all of these funny-sad lost souls details that emerge bit by bit and twist and expand the story in compelling ways. Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily NewsThe Whale is tragedy in a minor key, about a man torn between flesh and spirit Humane, sharp and often funny. David Cote, TimeOut New York Samuel D. Hunters compelling, psychologically complex play takes the audience to the confounding no mans land of nihilism. John Lahr, New Yorker Praise for A Bright New Boise A dark, droll and ultimately explosive work Funny, compassionate and disturbing all at once, Hunters quintessentially American scenario portrays an individual trapped in an emotional and cultural wasteland, his life configured by uncaring impersonal forces, his spirit hobbled by unnamed guilt. Deborah Klugman, LA Weekly A simple, superb little heartland heartbreaker This is a rube tragedya respectful and honest-feeling one, for a change, with unquenchable humor and scrupulous emotional honestyand by jingo, it sings.

Scott Brown, New York Exhilarating A Bright New Boise is an unsparing account of the hunger pangs in the barren American gut Hunter has such highly sensitive antennae for the look and rhythm of mundane places that A Bright New Boise develops an authentic texture, separate from other pieces in its genre. Peter Marks, Washington Post Despite the crisp wind of despair that blows all through Samuel D. Hunters beautifully realized A Bright New Boise, this clear-eyed comedy about faiths meager harvest will still lift your heart. Some of it is simple delight in craft The rest of our pleasures lie in Hunters gentle characterizations, a plot that mingles absurdity and genuine philosophical investigation. Helen Shaw, TimeOut New York An anxious, funny look at the messianic and the mundane in America Hunter delivers these characters and their crucibles with tenderness and rage. For all its mistrust of religion, the play is a kind of prayer.

Charlotte Stoudt, Los Angeles TimesThe Whale and A Bright New Boise are copyright 2014 by Samuel D. Hunter The Whale and A Bright New Boise are published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 520 8th Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156 All Rights Reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty. All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the authors representative: Derek Zasky, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, (212) 903-1396.

The publication of The Whale and A Bright New Boise, by Samuel D. Hunter, through TCGs Book Program, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Hunter, Samuel D. [Plays. Hunter. pages cm ISBN 978-1-55936-776-9 (ebook) I. Title. II. II.

Title: Bright new boise. PS3608.U59496A6 2014 812.6dc23 2014019190 Book design and composition by Lisa Govan Cover design by Rodrigo Corral Design / Rachel Adam Rogers First Edition, August 2014 For Davis, without whom these plays would not have been realized;andFor John, without whom these plays would not existContentsThe Whale was developed with support of PlayPenn (Paul Meshejian, Artistic Director) and, in part, at the Icicle Creek Theatre Festival (Allen Fitzpatrick, Artistic Director). It was awarded the 2011 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize at Marin Theatre Company (Jasson Minadakis, Artistic Director; Ryan Rilette, Producing Director).The Whale received its world premiere at the Denver Center Theatre Company (Kent Thompson, Artistic Director; Charles Varin, Managing Director) on January 13, 2012. The production was part of the Colorado New Play Summit and was directed by Hal Brooks. The set design was by Jason Simms, the costume design was by Kevin Copenhaver, the lighting design was by Seth Reiser and the sound design was by William Burns; the production stage manager was A. Phoebe Sacks.

The cast was: