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McKinlay, Bill (American playwright, 1961-____), “Anatomy,”

a 17-minute drama in English, set on a bare stage, 1999,

1m1f;

  •  © 1999 by Bill McKinlay;  •  script/rights available from Bill McKinlay,  2400 County Line Road, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003, U.S.A., e-mail mckinlay@bellatlantic.net, telephone (home) 610-642-3119, (work) 610-642-3119, fax 610-642-2458.  •  Cited by Bill McKinlay, via ftp, September 22, 1999; McKinlay says,

  §  Dramatis Personae Andrea (f), naked woman revealing herself through her relationship with Steve; Steve (m), naked man reveleaing himself
through his relationship with Andrea.

  §  Synopsis “Andrea and Steve begin the piece naked and don clothing as the piece progresses and their relationship regresses.

  §  Comment “‘Anatomy’ is a relationship play that uses clothes as a metaphor for the armor we don and the walls we build when involved with a lifelong relationship. When we are free, open and naked, we enjoy the fruits of an open exchange of ideas and ourselves. When we begin to wear our armor and build our walls, whether as a result of failed dream realizations or external pressures, we lose that exchange as well as the relationship we once enjoyed. We all start every relationship naked. How much we decide to cover determines how far the relationship will go.  •  The set consists of two stools center stage and two ‘hat racks’ or other suitable clothing repositories, which are behind the stools. The stools serve as bar/restaurant booths, car seats and kitchen table. The racks serve as hotel/apartment/home settings.”

  §  Themes anatomy, armor, clothing, failed dream, first encounter, freedom, longtime relationship, metaphor, nudity, openness, philosophy, relationship, wall.

See also Bill McKinlay’s

• “Thanks for the Ride,” a 28-minute horror drama in English, set in a car on the way home from college, evening, 1999, 1m1f
• “Uninvited Guest,” a 22-minute drama in English, set at an out-of-town wedding reception, evening, 1999, 1m1f

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Page mounted November 28, 1999, by the site Webmaster.