The second of the two plays that I got called back for is a play called Yankee Tavern by Stephen Dietz. It is a 2007 play about conspiracy theories related to the 9/11 attacks.
The play concerns Adam, who is a graduate student in political science or social psychology or government. I can't remember. He is also the owner of a rundown bar and hotel in New York City called the Yankee Tavern. For some reason the he can't sell the bar and it isn't formally condemned by the city but will be torn down if were to be. So, despite owning real estate in Manhattan, he is portrayed as poor and struggling. He is preparing to move to Washington, DC to work for an unnamed government agency. He is also engaged to Janet, She has a job that is never mentioned. They are in conflict over the coming wedding He has been lying to her about his friends. He works I guess at the bar although no one ever seems to be there,.
His father's best friend is a vagrant/local character who somehow has a cell phone with blue tooth. He is a crazy conspiracy theory enthusiast. He writes letter to the editor and calls talk radio shows to spew his conjectures. He squats in the hotel part of the Yankee Tavern. He is meant to be a lovable crank, but he is hard to like because he totally self-obsessed and didactic. He also claims to speak to the dead, including Adam's father who may or may not have committed suicide. Adam is writing his thesis on Ray's crazy, crazy conspiracies. He thinks that they are detrimental to political discourse. Adam also must go to DC with his former professor, a woman, who is helping meet some job prospects. Janet fears he is sleeping with the professor.
A mystery man named Palmer shows up and knows all about Ray's conspiracy theories. He also knows about Adam's father and his revelation of this is the end of Act 1. Act 2 begins with Adam on his trip. Palmer shows up and explains to Janet a conspiracy theory the involves Adam and his professor that was too convoluted for me to follow clearly. Palmer's motives are never explained. Adam comes back and Janet tries to see if Palmer's theories are true. She doubts them but Adam is convinced of their veracity. They somehow involve a mini-disc. Adam disappears.
The final scene is five months later; Adam is missing and given up for dead by all but Janet who is now convinced that some secret conspiracy is responsible fro Adam's disappearance. Palmer cannot be found. Ray also thinks Adam is dead. Then a post card arrives dated five months before. It implies through a cryptic message that Ray is alive. Janet runs out to find him. Ray finds a mini-disc and gets a phone call from someone (Adam) and he asks who it is. There is one huge corny device right as the curtain falls: a jukebox that hasn't operated since 9/11 turns back on, miraculously.
Perhaps one can tell from my tone that I do not like this play much. It wants to have it both ways: conspiracy theories are for kooks and goofballs (Act 1) and; conspiracy theories are actually true (Act 2). That combined with too many unexplained events and muddy, unbelievable given circumstances made for a very annoying read. Wouldn't recommend this one.
The play concerns Adam, who is a graduate student in political science or social psychology or government. I can't remember. He is also the owner of a rundown bar and hotel in New York City called the Yankee Tavern. For some reason the he can't sell the bar and it isn't formally condemned by the city but will be torn down if were to be. So, despite owning real estate in Manhattan, he is portrayed as poor and struggling. He is preparing to move to Washington, DC to work for an unnamed government agency. He is also engaged to Janet, She has a job that is never mentioned. They are in conflict over the coming wedding He has been lying to her about his friends. He works I guess at the bar although no one ever seems to be there,.
His father's best friend is a vagrant/local character who somehow has a cell phone with blue tooth. He is a crazy conspiracy theory enthusiast. He writes letter to the editor and calls talk radio shows to spew his conjectures. He squats in the hotel part of the Yankee Tavern. He is meant to be a lovable crank, but he is hard to like because he totally self-obsessed and didactic. He also claims to speak to the dead, including Adam's father who may or may not have committed suicide. Adam is writing his thesis on Ray's crazy, crazy conspiracies. He thinks that they are detrimental to political discourse. Adam also must go to DC with his former professor, a woman, who is helping meet some job prospects. Janet fears he is sleeping with the professor.
A mystery man named Palmer shows up and knows all about Ray's conspiracy theories. He also knows about Adam's father and his revelation of this is the end of Act 1. Act 2 begins with Adam on his trip. Palmer shows up and explains to Janet a conspiracy theory the involves Adam and his professor that was too convoluted for me to follow clearly. Palmer's motives are never explained. Adam comes back and Janet tries to see if Palmer's theories are true. She doubts them but Adam is convinced of their veracity. They somehow involve a mini-disc. Adam disappears.
The final scene is five months later; Adam is missing and given up for dead by all but Janet who is now convinced that some secret conspiracy is responsible fro Adam's disappearance. Palmer cannot be found. Ray also thinks Adam is dead. Then a post card arrives dated five months before. It implies through a cryptic message that Ray is alive. Janet runs out to find him. Ray finds a mini-disc and gets a phone call from someone (Adam) and he asks who it is. There is one huge corny device right as the curtain falls: a jukebox that hasn't operated since 9/11 turns back on, miraculously.
Perhaps one can tell from my tone that I do not like this play much. It wants to have it both ways: conspiracy theories are for kooks and goofballs (Act 1) and; conspiracy theories are actually true (Act 2). That combined with too many unexplained events and muddy, unbelievable given circumstances made for a very annoying read. Wouldn't recommend this one.
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