Words, Words, Words
Encyclopedia
Words, Words, Words is a short comedic play written by David Ives
for All in the Timing
. The play is about Kafka, Milton, and Swift, three intelligent chimpanzees who are put in a cage together under the experimenting eye of a never seen
Dr. Rosenbaum, a scientist testing the hypothesis that three apes hitting keys at random on typewriters for an infinite amount of time will almost surely produce Hamlet
(a variation on the infinite monkey theorem
). The show's title is a reference to a line from Shakespeare's play. The performance comprises the ape characters humorously confronting and conversing with each other in order to understand the purpose of the exercise put upon them.
Although clearly a comedy, the ending tone of the play can differ much from production to production, and generally will depend on the actor's (and director's) interpretation of the Swift character. Swift drives the action, with his rebellion to Dr. Rosenbaum and his experiment, with Milton acting as either a friend or antagonist trying to convince Swift to go along with and use the system. (Swift: "Why are you so god-damned ready to justify the ways of Rosenbaum to the apes?") The portrayal of Swift is always different, but generally falls into either tragic or comic territory. If Swift's plans for revenge are portrayed comically, then they point out the folly of Hamlet's plan to ensnare the King, deepening the parody of Shakespeare's most celebrated work. If performed dramatically, the play leaves Swift as the tragic hero, a Cassandra
figure unappreciated by his colleagues, going mad in captivity. In either case, Kafka ends the play on a notion of hope, as she is the one who spontaneously begins to successfully type the opening lines of Hamlet, comically juxtaposed against Swift who merely ponders in silence and Milton who aimlessly types the words "hemorrhoid," "pomegranate," and "bazooka."
. It starred Warren Keith as Milton, Christopher Fields as Swift, and Helen Greenberg as Kafka. In December 1993, it was combined with other plays such as Sure Thing
and Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread
in a production of All in the Timing
at Primary Stages in New York City. Daniel Hagen played the role of Milton, Robert Stanton played Swift, and Nancy Opel
played Kafka.
Along with Sure Thing
and The Philadelphia, "Words, Words, Words" is one of the one-acts which is almost always included in productions of All in the Timing
. (Recent printings of All in the Timing
include upwards of twenty separate plays, and so producers and directors are usually forced to pick and choose which to use.) The opportunities for blocking and the inherent physical comedy involved have made it very popular with both directors and actors.
David Ives
David Ives is a contemporary American playwright. A native of South Chicago, Ives attended a minor Catholic seminary and Northwestern University and, after some years' interval, Yale School of Drama, where he received an MFA in playwriting...
for All in the Timing
All in the Timing
All in the Timing is a collection of one-act plays by the American playwright David Ives written between 1987 and 1993. It was first published by Dramatists Play Service in 1994, with a collection of six plays; however, the updated collection contains fourteen. The short plays are almost all...
. The play is about Kafka, Milton, and Swift, three intelligent chimpanzees who are put in a cage together under the experimenting eye of a never seen
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...
Dr. Rosenbaum, a scientist testing the hypothesis that three apes hitting keys at random on typewriters for an infinite amount of time will almost surely produce Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
(a variation on the infinite monkey theorem
Infinite monkey theorem
The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare....
). The show's title is a reference to a line from Shakespeare's play. The performance comprises the ape characters humorously confronting and conversing with each other in order to understand the purpose of the exercise put upon them.
Although clearly a comedy, the ending tone of the play can differ much from production to production, and generally will depend on the actor's (and director's) interpretation of the Swift character. Swift drives the action, with his rebellion to Dr. Rosenbaum and his experiment, with Milton acting as either a friend or antagonist trying to convince Swift to go along with and use the system. (Swift: "Why are you so god-damned ready to justify the ways of Rosenbaum to the apes?") The portrayal of Swift is always different, but generally falls into either tragic or comic territory. If Swift's plans for revenge are portrayed comically, then they point out the folly of Hamlet's plan to ensnare the King, deepening the parody of Shakespeare's most celebrated work. If performed dramatically, the play leaves Swift as the tragic hero, a Cassandra
Cassandra
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Her beauty caused Apollo to grant her the gift of prophecy...
figure unappreciated by his colleagues, going mad in captivity. In either case, Kafka ends the play on a notion of hope, as she is the one who spontaneously begins to successfully type the opening lines of Hamlet, comically juxtaposed against Swift who merely ponders in silence and Milton who aimlessly types the words "hemorrhoid," "pomegranate," and "bazooka."
Characters
- MiltonJohn MiltonJohn Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
is the most realistic of the three; he knows what has to be done and knows how to do it. The rough draft on his typewriter involves the opening lines from Paradise LostParadise LostParadise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
(written by John MiltonJohn MiltonJohn Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
in 1667), though it concludes with nonsensical words. - SwiftJonathan SwiftJonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
(also called "Swifty") is ambitious and something of a rebel. He figures out far-fetched plans to break out of the cage, despite Milton's sarcastic and annoyed discouragement. He is the most philosophical, though his writing reflects only utter nonsense. - KafkaFranz KafkaFranz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
(also called "Franz") is the dreamer. She has only managed to press one button on her typewriter repeatedly, and has done so for twenty lines. She likes to put her two-cents in, but rarely uses very big words. Kafka plays the naïf (and is the only female of the trio), agreeing that the experiment is stupid, but hoping for a great reward if she succeeds. By the end of the play, she begins to type the first act of Hamlet suddenly and without any apparent inspiration.
History
Words, Words, Words premiered in January 1987, in the Manhattan Punch Line Theater of New York CityNew 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...
. It starred Warren Keith as Milton, Christopher Fields as Swift, and Helen Greenberg as Kafka. In December 1993, it was combined with other plays such as Sure Thing
Sure Thing (play)
Sure Thing is a short comic play by David Ives featuring a chance meeting of two characters, Betty and Bill, whose conversation is continually reset by the use of a ringing bell, starting over when one of them responds negatively to the other....
and Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread
Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread
Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread is a one-act play by David Ives, published as part of his 1994 "All In The Timing" collection and first produced at the Manhattan Punch Line Theatre in New York City, January 1990. The short play imitates composer Philip Glass's minimalist style; that is to say...
in a production of All in the Timing
All in the Timing
All in the Timing is a collection of one-act plays by the American playwright David Ives written between 1987 and 1993. It was first published by Dramatists Play Service in 1994, with a collection of six plays; however, the updated collection contains fourteen. The short plays are almost all...
at Primary Stages in New York City. Daniel Hagen played the role of Milton, Robert Stanton played Swift, and Nancy Opel
Nancy Opel
Nancy Carol Opel is an American singer, actress, and teacher. She grew up in the communities of Prairie Village and Leawood, Kansas. She graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and later trained at Juilliard....
played Kafka.
Along with Sure Thing
Sure thing
Sure thing or Sure Thing may refer to:* Certainty* A Sure Thing, a 1962 album by jazz trupeter Blue Mitchell* The Sure Thing, a romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner* Sure Thing , a short play by David Ives...
and The Philadelphia, "Words, Words, Words" is one of the one-acts which is almost always included in productions of All in the Timing
All in the Timing
All in the Timing is a collection of one-act plays by the American playwright David Ives written between 1987 and 1993. It was first published by Dramatists Play Service in 1994, with a collection of six plays; however, the updated collection contains fourteen. The short plays are almost all...
. (Recent printings of All in the Timing
All in the Timing
All in the Timing is a collection of one-act plays by the American playwright David Ives written between 1987 and 1993. It was first published by Dramatists Play Service in 1994, with a collection of six plays; however, the updated collection contains fourteen. The short plays are almost all...
include upwards of twenty separate plays, and so producers and directors are usually forced to pick and choose which to use.) The opportunities for blocking and the inherent physical comedy involved have made it very popular with both directors and actors.