In Darkest America

By Joyce Carol Oates

In Darkest America contains the plays The Eclipse and Tone Clusters. The Eclipse: A middle aged professor lives with her ailing mother. The old lady once a brilliant teacher moves in and out of reality has a fantasy Latin lover and makes her daughter's life miserable. One night she whirls in a torrid dance with her lover while her daughter sleeps; death has released both from suffering. This haunting play by one of America's foremost authors was commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville for the Humana Festival and was subsequently produced Off Broadway. Tone Clusters: Frank and Emily are a nice couple with a house in a nice neighborhood. Why are they under so much strain? They are interviewed by an unseen interrogator and their story emerges: the body of a 14 year old girl was found in their basement and their son is charged with the murder. Do they share in the guilt? Could we find ourselves in their situation?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0573622329
• ISBN13: 9780573622328
• Release Date: November 2019
• Publisher: Concord Theatricals
• Length: 106 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

PUBLISHER'S COMMENTS: TONE CLUSTERS, THE ECLIPSE

Editorial Comments from the Publisher: Toneclusters is a drama featuring 1 male, 1 female, and 1 male voice. It is intended to be performed on a bare stage. The main characters, Frank and Emily, are a nice couple with a house in a nice neighborhood. Why are they under so much strain? They are interviewed by an unseen interrogator and their story emerges: the body of a 14 year old girl was found in their basement and their son is charged with the murder. Do they share in the guilt? Could we find ourselves in their situation? This play by one of America's foremost authors won the Actors Theatre of Louisville Heideman Award. The Eclipse is a drama featuring 1 male and 3 females. The set is one interior. A middle aged professor lives with her ailing mother. The old lady, once a brilliant teacher, moves in and out of reality, has a fantasy Latin lover, and makes her daughter's life miserable. One night she whirls in a torrid dance with her lover while her daughter sleeps; death has released both from suffering. This haunting play was commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville for the Humana Festival and was subsequently produced Off Broadway.