Extremities (play)
Encyclopedia
(This article is about the off-Broadway play. For the 1986 film, see Extremities (film)
Extremities is a play by William Mastrosimone
that was first performed off Broadway in 1982. It opened at the Westside Theatre
in New York
on December 22, 1982 and ran for 325 performances.
Terry and Patricia, the roommates, express different points of view about rape in society. Terry, a rape victim herself as a teenager, believes that Raul will not be convicted since a rape did not actually occur and there is no proof. Patricia believes in the judicial system and insists on calling the police.
The three friends are also turned on each other at various points in the play, due to Raul's knowledge of each of them through stalking them. For instance, close to the play's opening, Raul reveals to Terry that Marjorie had been dating Terry's boyfriend.
originated the lead role of Marjorie in the 1982 off-Broadway production. Farrah Fawcett
later took over the role to great critical acclaim, establishing herself as a serious actress. Fawcett also appeared in the 1986 film adaptation
. Karen Allen
also played Marjorie in the stage production, and actresses who have variously played the roommates include Ellen Barkin
, Glenne Headly
, Priscilla Lopez
, and Lorna Luft
.
James Russo
portrayed the would-be rapist in both the play and its 1986 film adaptation. He was replaced by Thomas G. Waites
in the original off-Broadway production.
Lauren Hutton
played Marjorie in the original Los Angeles production.
During one performance of the play, a Farrah Fawcett stalker was in the audience, and he disrupted the show by asking if she had received the pictures and letters he had mailed her. He was removed from the theatre, and police were only able to issue a summons for disorderly conduct
.
Extremities (film)
Extremities is a 1986 film starring Farrah Fawcett, Alfre Woodard, Diana Scarwid and James Russo. It was adapted from the successful, yet controversial, 1982 off-Broadway play by William Mastrosimone. Farrah Fawcett had also appeared in the play to great critical acclaim, taking over a role...
Extremities is a play by William Mastrosimone
William Mastrosimone
William Mastrosimone is an American playwright and screenwriter from Trenton, New Jersey. He attended high school at The Pennington School and received a graduate degree in playwrighting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, a part of Rutgers University....
that was first performed off Broadway in 1982. It opened at the Westside Theatre
Westside Theatre
__notoc__The Westside Theatre is an off-Broadway venue located at 407 West 43rd Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The building houses two auditoriums: the Upstairs theater, which seats 299, and the Downstairs theater, which...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on December 22, 1982 and ran for 325 performances.
Plot
A young woman, Marjorie, is attacked in her home by a would-be rapist, Raul, and manages to turn the tables on him, tying him up in her fireplace. Her roommates come home to discover the attacker bound with cords, belts and other household items.Terry and Patricia, the roommates, express different points of view about rape in society. Terry, a rape victim herself as a teenager, believes that Raul will not be convicted since a rape did not actually occur and there is no proof. Patricia believes in the judicial system and insists on calling the police.
The three friends are also turned on each other at various points in the play, due to Raul's knowledge of each of them through stalking them. For instance, close to the play's opening, Raul reveals to Terry that Marjorie had been dating Terry's boyfriend.
Memorable cast members
Susan SarandonSusan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
originated the lead role of Marjorie in the 1982 off-Broadway production. Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
later took over the role to great critical acclaim, establishing herself as a serious actress. Fawcett also appeared in the 1986 film adaptation
Extremities (film)
Extremities is a 1986 film starring Farrah Fawcett, Alfre Woodard, Diana Scarwid and James Russo. It was adapted from the successful, yet controversial, 1982 off-Broadway play by William Mastrosimone. Farrah Fawcett had also appeared in the play to great critical acclaim, taking over a role...
. Karen Allen
Karen Allen
Karen Jane Allen is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...
also played Marjorie in the stage production, and actresses who have variously played the roommates include Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
, Glenne Headly
Glenne Headly
Glenne Aimee Headly is an American actress of film, stage and television.-Early life:Glenne Headly was born in New London, Connecticut and her first years were spent living under the care of her mother in San Francisco and her maternal grandmother in Pennsylvania...
, Priscilla Lopez
Priscilla Lopez
Priscilla Lopez is an American singer, dancer, and actress.-Early life:Lopez was born in the Bronx, New York to Francisco Lopez, a hotel banquet foreman and Laura , who were moved to New York from their native Puerto Rico...
, and Lorna Luft
Lorna Luft
Lorna Luft is an American television, stage, and film actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and Sid Luft, and the half-sister of singer and actress Liza Minnelli.-Biography:...
.
James Russo
James Russo
James Vincent Russo is an American film and television actor. He has starred in over 90 films in three decades.-Early life:...
portrayed the would-be rapist in both the play and its 1986 film adaptation. He was replaced by Thomas G. Waites
Thomas G. Waites
Thomas G. Waites is an American actor and acting instructor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Waites runs an acting studio in New York City which is named for him. He has been a member of the Actor's Studio since 1984....
in the original off-Broadway production.
Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton is an American model and actress. She is best-known for her starring roles in the movies American Gigolo and Lassiter, and also for her fashion modeling career.-Personal life:...
played Marjorie in the original Los Angeles production.
Physical challenges and Farrah Fawcett's stalker
Because of the physicality between the two lead roles, injuries were often the norm. It wasn't uncommon to see the lead actress with bandaged and splinted fingers during the run of the play.During one performance of the play, a Farrah Fawcett stalker was in the audience, and he disrupted the show by asking if she had received the pictures and letters he had mailed her. He was removed from the theatre, and police were only able to issue a summons for disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
.
External links
- Extremities at Internet off-Broadway Database