Click on the name of the character in that box. View more posts. It is foolish to underestimate the anger in places like these, as the most recent presidential election confirmed. Shes is upset that Cynthia seems to be ignoring her and sucking up to management. Oscar responds that he doesnt owe anything to people like Cynthia, Tracey, and Jessie because they never acknowledge his humanity: If they dont see me, I dont need to see them" (92). Jason (Stephen Michael Spencer), with white-supremacist tattoos etched into his face and neck, reacts with sullen anger to questions about his prospects. A few days later, Chris goes to the bar, where Oscar is now the manager. Changing the subject, Oscar notes the loud party in the bar, and, the counter. I got eyes. Lynn Nottage explains how a broken city gets a turn onstage in her play Sweat.. Try it free. Time commitment: Up to 15 hours directed rehearsing (max 5 rehearsals), 4-8 . They built the house that I live in. Now, the plant is bringing in Mexican immigrants as temporary laborers. He apparently did so due to the stress of his failed marriage, debt, and rumors of cutbacks at Olsteads Steel Tubing (the mill where Tracey, Cynthia, and Jessie also work). The play flashes forward to October 2008, a couple of weeks after Jason and Chriss parole meetings. I wanna say that. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." TRACEY: Stillyou werent born here, Berks. Some of these, such as Traceys speech about the devaluing of manual labor, have a poignant lyricism. Theatre lover and actor. However, we pay actors a small stipend for expenses and a portion of performance donations in accordance with AB5. Sweat explores how industrial decline affected workers in the former steel and textile town. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Eventually, everyone but Tracey shows up, and Cynthia and Jessie reminisce about their early days at the factory. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. But, a chaotic fight ensues. var addy8a2f2e70f3ae0d82a8dceea5de10147e = 'auditions' + '@'; Im not prejudice, but thats how things are going these days. Sweat Character Tracey Gender Female Age Range Adult, Mature Adult Style Dramatic Act/Scene Act One, Scene Five Time & Place April 2000, Outside a bar Length Long Time Period Contemporary Show Type Play Tags worker working class memory nostalgia family legacy emotional Context Tracey is outside the bar smoking. And theyre right. Ive absorbed a lotta shit over the years, but I worked hard to get off that floor. More heat. The play is also set at a pivotal transitional time in American industry, when many longstanding factory jobs were outsourced to other countries (as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA). From first moments to last, this . After what went down. A week later, Chris, Jason, and other union members protesting on the line get into a physical fight with the Latinx temp workers at Olsteads. Call me selfish, I dont care, call me whatever you need to call me, but remember, one of us has to be left standing to fight. Those traits are definitely on display in Sweat, which is directed by Kate Whoriskey and features a sturdy nine-member ensemble. "They white,". If he was here I wouldnt stop you. (Both Chris and Jason, not incidentally, also work at the plant, although Chris has higher aspirations.) He struggles even with this basic task, and it is clear that Oscar employs him out of empathy, the desire to give Stan a sense of purpose. The breakup of Jessies marriage has driven her to imbibe more than usual, although Tracey doesnt feel too sympathetic, having weathered her own failed marriage. STAN: Look. Cynthia, who lost her house and now works irregular hours at maintenance jobs, is warm and tearfully apologetic to Christhough Chris doesnt think she has anything to be sorry for. We ask that you provide your own costumes (contemporary tee shirts, baseball caps, bandannas), makeup, and props (beer and shot glasses, cigarettes, keys). However, Brucie tells him its pointlessChris should follow his dreams and get an education instead. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Online Audition Submissions Checklist, 2) Upload your head shot, resume, and link to your video audition to this audition form: https://forms.gle/uAnVNMz2Q6qMVvsPA. Afterward, they go to the barwhere Jessie is once again passed out at a tableand excitedly tell Stan about it, but Stan isnt impressed. Tracey brings up an overseer job opportunity at Olsteads and the rumor that management intends to promote someone off the factory floor. (LogOut/ 308 qualified specialists online. Review: Sweat Imagines the Local Bar as a Caldron, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/26/theater/sweat-review-broadway.html, From left, John Earl Jelks, Carlo Albn, Johanna Day, Michelle Wilson and Allison Wright in the play Sweat., From left, Johanna Day, Khris Davis, Carlo Albn and Will Pullen in Sweat.. Both Tracey and Jessie feel betrayed by Cynthia. The two women begin talking about recent changes at Olsteads: theres an open position for Warehouse Supervisor, and to Traceys surprise, Cynthia is thinking of going for the job. Tracey? At the same time, all the characters in Sweat are given to elaborate passages of exposition, laying out the histories of their families, their employers, their city. You can also copy the link and paste it in your browser. Instead, to Chriss obvious amazement: Were hugging. Monologue - Tracey from Sweat - YouTube Tracey's monologue to Cynthia from Lynn Nottage's Sweat Tracey's monologue to Cynthia from Lynn Nottage's Sweat. Scene 2 pans back to 2000. TRACEY: Yeah? Cynthia (Kimberly Scott), the mother of Chris, has more pressing man trouble. They also discuss Freddy Brunner, an acquaintance who recently burned his own house down. Thats when Ms. Nottages characters, and the cast members who embody them, emerge in their full tragic humanity. The soliloquies might just as easily belong to a series of human-interest news features as to a play. Instant PDF downloads. Cynthia sits alone in the bar, fantasizing about going on a . Ms. Whoriskey and Ms. Nottage drew on interviews with residents of Reading, Pa., ranked among the poorest cities in America, as part of their research for the play. At the same time, Chris goes to Cynthias apartment, where hell be staying. hbbd``b`Y $+A H0@caqA,7 $&$$1&F: O ! When Oscar returns, she hurls racial slurs and goes to lunge at him, but Stan holds her back. The play is set both on the eve and in the twilight of George W. Bushs presidency. PERFORMANCE FEE: $130 per performance. The way the content is organized, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Since the twenties, okay? I dont think you get it, but if I walk away, Im giving up more than a job, Im giving up all that time I spent standing on line waiting for one damn opportunity. It makes meWhatever. JASON: Shit, I just kinda thought wed retire and open a franchise together. Tracey bitterly wonders if Cynthia received the promotion because she is Black. Then, Cynthia, Tracey, and Jessie enter, and Brucie harasses Cynthia until she agrees to talk to him. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Tracey, Jessie, and Jason make racist slurs and comments at Oscar, and Jason stands up threateningly. The play was produced Off-Broadway in 2016 and on Broadway in 2017. John Earl Jelks SWEAT was originally produced on Broadway at Studio 54 by Stuart Thompson and Louise L. Gund, premiering on March 26, 2017. Cynthia tells Tracey and Stan about how she recently kicked out her estranged husband, Brucie, againhes been abusing drugs ever since he was locked out of his job at a local textile mill. STAN: Says he got wind that they were gonna cut back his line at the plant. In Reading, Pennsylvania a group of factory workers are living their lives. The flier advertises a much lower wage than Tracey makes, and it does not mention union requirements or benefits. Mothers, sons and Jessie work for the towns venerable steel tubing factory. New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. On the national news, George Bush, the Republican presidential candidate, is traveling in the Midwest. addy8a2f2e70f3ae0d82a8dceea5de10147e = addy8a2f2e70f3ae0d82a8dceea5de10147e + 'aeofberkeley' + '.' + 'org'; Suddenly, they hear a drunken commotion from the bathroom, and Cynthia and, him out after his 21st birthday last October. Keenly observed and often surprisingly funnybut ultimately heartbreakingthe work traces the roots of a tragedy with both forensic psychological detail and embracing compassion. A.E. sweat by lynn nottage dramatists play service inc. sweat.indd 1 1/2/2018 9:40:28 am Chris agreeshe doesnt want to end up like Brucie. The issues this drama raises painfully timely ones, I hardly need add surface organically from the circumstances. Cynthia begs everyone to stop yelling, but she eventually reveals that Olsteads is going to renegotiate the floor workers contracts: in order to save jobs, there will be a 60-percent pay cut and concessions on benefits. In September, Jason and Chris run into Brucie (whos clearly high) at the bar, and Chris shares how his childhood memories of Brucie leading other men in a walkout at the mill inspire him to stay strong and keep protesting. Forget all that. Ms. Nottageis writing at the peak of her powers NY Times. Chris remembers his fingernails digging into his palms. Tell me about whats been going on. In 2000, Tracey and her best friends, Cynthia and Jessie, have worked at Olstead's Steel Tubing in Reading, Pennsylvania, for over 20 years. Its the year 2000 in Reading, Pennsylvania and a group of friends go to work at the steel mill and then decompress at the bar like theyve been doing for over 20 years. We ask that you familiarize yourself with the story to prepare your audition. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Weve just come Start: Every since her father hung himse Start: Ive taken orders from idiots who were dangerous, or even worse, racist. CYNTHIA: I didnt expect you to understand, babe. Chris and Jason are clearly apologetic but cant yet bring themselves to verbalize what theyre thinking. (The Nafta treaty is invoked with four-letter opprobrium.). You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. This poignant play takes a look at the de-industrial revolution through the lens of a history play, but also delves into the issues of today: the economy, immigration, race-relations in America, and politics. Jason is horrified to realize that Tracey is highit seems she developed an addiction to pain medication while Jason was in prison. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Theyll work us down to nothing if we let em. Our experts can deliver a Lynn Nottage's "Sweat" Play Production essay. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of Sweat by Lynn Nottage. (The unobtrusively on-target set is by John Lee Beatty, with costumes in the same vein by Jennifer Moeller.). So did Stan (James Colby), the bartender, but he lost his job after a leg-maiming accident. I know its tough out there, I understand. The parolees are Jason (Will Pullen) and Chris (Khris Davis), and they were once the closest of friends. Ernestine Crump Crumbs from the Table of Joy 0 Start: Because mostly I feel rage. Girl, hes a loser. START: Well. JASON: [] Eleven dollars an hour? He encourages both men to let go of their shame and self-blame and to meet up with each other to talk. Their conversations with Evan suggest, however, that they participated in the same crime. Finally, Jason breaks and admits that he recently ran into Chris, whom Jason tried to forget while he was in prison. The play examines the intersecting stories of workers on strike, three female friends who work together in a plant, and the generational differences between these workers and their sons, Chris and Jason. Cynthia spends her birthday alone in the bar, where she confides in Stan how stressed and guilty she feels about locking her friends (and her own son) out of the plant. TRACEY: [] I know the floor as good as Cynthia. (including. Want interviews with fellow actors? Nottages characters were based on personal research and interviews she conducted in Reading throughout 2011. Chris eventually becomes angry as well, and he joins Jason in beating Oscar. Changing the subject, Tracey tells Oscar that Cynthia only got the promotion because shes black and then makes an offhand comment about Latinx people like Oscar coming to Reading to get jobsbut Oscar says that he was born in Berks County just like Tracey was. Upgrade to PRO Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama THE STORY: Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, SWEAT tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. "Sweat" is by no means a thinly dramatized op-ed piece. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs Brucie warns them that no machines means no jobshe thinks theyre about to be in the same situation hes in. Jason is hurt that Chris didnt tell him until now, and hes adamant that Chris cant leave Olsteads because theyre supposed to be a team. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. More vacation. [1] It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Right? Jason is uncooperative when Evan asks him simple questions about his living situation and employment, and their tense interactions culminate in an argument wherein Jason yells racial slurs at Evan. Learn more. urges her friends to meet them halfway unless they want to lose their jobs entirely. Though Cynthia urges her friends to accept the concessions, the floor workers choose to strike. They built the house that I live in. Cynthia tells Tracey and Stan about how she recently kicked out her estranged husband, Brucie, againhe's been abusing drugs ever since he was locked out of his job at a local textile mill. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. STAN (Shouts): What the fuck do you want him to do? This email address is being protected from spambots. You go into buildings, the walls are covered over with sheetrock, the wood painted gray, or some ungodly color, and it just makes me sad. Lynn Nottage Monologues Monologues from shows associated with Lynn Nottage Start: There you have it! Join the StageAgent community But this much-trafficked watering hole also exerts a dangerous gravitational force, the kind that holds people in place when they should be moving on. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. I hope I was able to introduce you to more monologue material! Guide written by Nemuna Ceesay You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. It begins in 2008 in scenes that switch between a parole officers interrogations of two young men recently released from prison and flashes back to 2000, to follow the road to the crime for which they were incarcerated. We can suggest monologues, just ask. TRACEY: [] It was back when if you worked with your hands people respected you for it. But a little more indirection would be more dramatically satisfying. to learn more about this monologue from Sweat and unlock other amazing theatre resources! Tracey (Jasons mother), Cynthia (Chriss mother), and their friend Jessie are celebrating Traceys birthday at a local bar in Reading, Pennsylvania. You could wake up tomorrow and all your jobs are in Mexico, whatever, its this NAFTA bullshit. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Tracey's rude behavior toward Cynthia is driving a wedge in their decades-long friendship. For full extended monologue, please refer to clips or the script edition cited here: Nottage, Lynn, Sweat, Theatre Communications Group, 2017, p. 49. Nottage never tells us whos right or whos wrong, but always shows us whos human. Not us. Generations dictated by the factory floor and the whims of American capitalism: A scene from Sweat, Lynn Nottages new drama, in a production at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Brucie ends up begging Cynthia for another chance, but she stays strong with Tracey and Jessies support. Its searing and human. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. I believe the arts should be fun and I just want to help my fellow theatre lovers in the neverending quest to find the perfect monologue! Stan enters the room, wiping down tables just as Oscar did in the plays early scenes. The mood becomes tense, and Tracey and Cynthia get into a spat: Tracey clearly resents Cynthia for getting the promotion over her. Just as Jessie is vulnerably sharing her unrealized dreams of seeing the world as a young woman, Tracey bursts in. Though Cynthia and Tracey make light of such rumors, Stan is adamant that because of NAFTA, steel workers jobs could easily be outsourced to Mexico. 239 0 obj <> endobj Though Chris initially attempts to calm Jason and prevent an eruption of violent anger, he joins Jason as he beats Oscar. The scene switches to Evans parole meeting with Chris, a black man whos struggling to integrate back into society since his release because hes ashamed of being a felon and consumed with remorse over what he did. From first moments to last, this compassionate but cleareyed play throbs with heartfelt life, with characters as complicated as any youll encounter at the theater today, and with a nifty ticking time bomb of a plot. Thats all I need to know. Chris asks about, more leadership opportunities for minority employees. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, (Points to the skin on the back of her hand). But I meancmonyou guys coming over here, you can get a job faster than. However, Cynthia is adamant that she cant give up the opportunity shes been given; Tracey and Jessie dont understand what its like to walk in her shoes. Jacking aint for softies! But they know they can always find somebody willing to get their hands sweaty. But Chris has his heart set on following his own pathits just something he has to do. Management is trying to cut wages and benefits, and despite Cynthias protestations and pleas on her friends behalf, she feels her concerns are being ignored. Tracey comes into the bar while Oscar is in the back, and she tells Stan about how lost and humiliated she feels without a job. This confuses Tracey, as shes adamant that theyre not hiring. Sweat by Lynn Nottage marlenaeckel March 13, 2020 Drama, Medium, Men, Monologue, Short, Women Monologue, Monologues, Theater, Theatre What is it about? First and only job. He went through hell when his plant locked him out, I understand, but I cant have it. Ms. Nottages colloquial dialogue doesnt approach or even attempt his singing lyricism, but Jessie delivers a beautiful monologue about the life she might have led had she not, when still a teenager, started working in a factory. Forget all that. [2] The play premiered at the Oregon The full script is available in print and e-book at multiple area libraries. CYNTHIA: Ive stood on that line, same line since I was nineteen. Youve always been cool. CYNTHIA: More money. I dont know why. There is a rich eloquence in his inarticulateness that this well-spoken play could use more of. She attributes Cynthias selection to tokenism. Management is for them. MONOLOGUE: Sweat Cliff Rooks 32 subscribers Subscribe 1.6K views 5 years ago This is a monologue from the play "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage We reimagined cable. Though the women are friendly with Stan, they do not acknowledge Oscar as he works in the background. TRACEY: Well, I got you beat by two. The production team was the same as the Public Theater's, with the following change made to the cast: JESSIE .. Alison Wright 5 Though it is steeped in social combustibility, Sweat often feels too conscientiously assembled, a point-counterpoint presentation in which every disaffected voice is allowed its how-I-got-this-way monologue. TRACEY: Listen, that piece of paper youre holding is an insult, it dont mean anything, Olsteads isnt for you. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In the bar, Stan and Oscar look on as. Note: We are restricted by licensing concerns to casting to type. Instant PDF downloads. Stan is now severely disabled with a traumatic brain injury; he struggles to hear or speak. Cynthia receives the promotion, and her change in status generates tension between her and Tracey. Stan warns Oscar that he is putting himself in a dangerous position and stirring animosity among longtime employees. A month after this, Olsteads workers have rejected the deal they were offered, and the lockout goes forward. Sweat examines the changing lives of factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania, between the years of 2000 and 2008. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem.

Catnapp Thunder, Articles S