Good evening, and welcome to another playwrights laboratory made possible in part with the financial assistance of the Fingerhut Corporation. I'm Nancy fusion and in just a moment. We'll bring you a new work by Erik Anderson entitled policy first though a reminder that playwrights laboratory depends on you the listener. We want your comments and reactions to the play. Your feedback is necessary for the playwright to gauge the success of his ideas and writing at this stage of the writing process. So following this evenings play will give you the opportunity to talk directly with the playwright whose here in our Studios along with to area critics. And now policy by Erik Anderson. The future of the West is not a limitless tending upwards and onwards for all time towards our present ideals but a single phenomenon of History strictly Limited in defined as to form and Euro I've read that I mustmy place who is it? Who is it? Oh, hi doesn't live here. Yes. I'm he. Oh hi. My name is Jim. Where do you and I wonder if I could have a few minutes of your time. I know you must be real busy, but it won't take very long. And I'd really appreciate it. What's this about? It won't take very long. I promise but what do you want? I'd really appreciate. All right, just a second. Hi there. Hello your Arnold, right? Yes. Nice to meet you put her there. May I come in Arnold I guess so thanks. I really appreciate it. Quite a climb up those stairs. Hey, this is a nice place real cozy kind of dark though. Don't you? Ah, whoa there what I run into my umbrella stand. I'll just turn on a light I was reading and I forgot it got dark. Hey now that's better. Did you hurt yourself? No. No, I don't think so say about this is a real nice little place. You got here. I like it the ceilings real interesting. Well, you kind of have to hunch over a little I think it's great that what you call a lot of atmosphere. Hey, I really like that wall hanging over there. That's a painting. That's great. Just great. Are you an interior decorator? Well, no. What do you want? Well Arnold, I was just getting to that mind if I sit down. Oh not there. Be careful. That's what the hell what the heck here. You've got to sit in it just right or well as you see I'll show you that I can't seem to get out there. We are. Thank you. It's a man-eater. Huh, really very simple. You see you just have to ease yourself into it like so much else. Well, I'll just sit on this crate here if that's all right now Arnold according to my records here. You're a graduate student. And what is your major field of Interest history, is that so well, I majored in history myself. I enjoyed it. I really did and now let me put a question to you. A fellow should have a good understanding of the past so he can better prepare for his future. Don't you think? Oh, I thought you were being rhetorical yeah, I was I mean, well that's why I came to talk to you tonight to discuss your future I represent the new ethic insurance company and our little group has made available a wide variety of programs one of which I'm sure you'll find can meet your individual needs life insurance. Yeah. Oh, I'm not interested. We have made available a special College Plan called the University of state and accumulated values program. This unique program will give you special benefits not ordinarily offered to college students. In fact, you could say you'd have to walk a few miles before you'd find another company's program is reasonable as ours. I'm not interested. Mr. Call me Jim now Arnold unless I miss my Mark I bet one of the biggest reasons why you may think you're not interested in life insurance is because well whenever you think of life insurance you think of death right? I mean, let's not mince words. Okay, but with our once-in-a-lifetime program we have you might say put the life back into Can share its now we add new ethical. I think that a guy should enjoy in Investments. He's made while he's young and kicking. I am not interested perfectly understandable and why the heck should you be till you hear what we and we alone have to offer you now, let me ask you this Arnold. Do you have any coverage at the moment currently? No can't afford a well. That's where we can help you because the big Advantage with our program is that you don't start making any payments at all until after you've graduated or are on your own two feet. So to speak and additionally by starting now, you can take advantage of a three to four percent savings each year. How's that sound Arnold please leave, but well sure but first I'd really appreciate stay stay if you like. Oh, well fine. Thanks. Let's take a look at this little graph that I've drawn up for you. If you have any questions, just let me know. All right, now here is your $50,000 State all premiums return plus 6% for 106 percent total if you start now at the age of how old are you Arnold 39:13 up? Oh, you almost got me there? How old are you? 22 23 24:05 your 25 I been oh, what's it matter? Well, I'm just getting to that. I don't now 6/100. Yeah. All right, if you start now at the age of 25 or thereabouts and follow through for a minimum of 20 years now at that time, you would be entitled to 4531 dollars in paid-up Insurance 1824 dollars in dividends for a total of six thousand three hundred and fifty five dollars. I've never had an umbrella in that umbrella stand. I had an umbrella but I never put it in the stand. I had a kite in the umbrella stand once I never got around to Flying it though. It is that kite I wonder. Just a couple more things and then I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have now at the age of 62. If you follow plan a will discuss plan being a second at the age of 62. You would be entitled to 40 198 dollars in cash the 3448 dollars in accumulated dividends for a total of seven thousand six hundred and forty six dollars, assuming of course payments have been left to accumulate how at this time you are. Arnold Arnold It's here the kites in the closet too along with my umbrella see hey Sharp, I really like that tight. Yeah, I can't see any reason why I never fluid too late now. On Old double. Could I talk to you about our 20 years? Stop option plan now, I think it really might interest. Are you telling me all this? What's it about? Well, uh, like I said, it's this brand new insurance policy that has these unique benefits. It was designed for you and guys like you with the maximum protection and the minimum of investment. No, that's real clever. You got quite a sense of humor not according to these calculations here the the total of all I mean a benefit dividends rather accrued by the age of 62 can be given to you in a lump sum or as a monthly income of three hundred and fifty Seven dollars. I'll bet that neck tie you're wearing cost you three hundred and fifty Seven dollars. Not quite that come on the work that went into that all those wriggling little worms burning the midnight oil to complete your wardrobe. You wouldn't think silkworms could have such a sense of design let alone On purpose it's boggling you like the tie then I don't worry. My hands aren't dirty. I washed them before your name again. What is it Jim Arnold Jim Arnold. Just Jim. Oh, sorry. I must have misunderstood you. I'm not myself tonight bad day today, huh? No, not really have a hard test tomorrow paper due. No nothing tomorrow. Well, I won't keep you much longer. So before I go on do you have any questions about planning? I don't think so. No. What exactly is plan a well this life insurance policy? I've been outlining few the last oh that oh, no, I don't have any questions anymore. Is it clear to you? Then right plan a what's that this insurance policy. I've been outlining didn't you say that before? Yes. I did. It's certainly not any clearer now than it was then For Heaven's Sake. Well, what exactly wasn't clear what you said plan a what's that? Look, maybe I'd better go you just got here. Yeah, I know but you seem kind of depressed or something. I'll come back some other time not to press whatever gave you that idea and I'm not drunk either. No, I know I don't I'll come back tomorrow not then please sit on stay. I want you to I want to hear more about your life insurance. I want to hear all about plan a and plan B plan C 2 if you got one sit down. Okay. It's a deal. Yeah, I like your spirit animal. I really do. Thank you. Oh don't sit on that. I tried to warn you. Yeah. Well, I think I'll just stay here. If you don't mind. It's really very snug now. Let's see well plan it. All right. I'll plan includes you a cup of tea. Oh, no. No, no don't go to any trouble. No trouble. I was just going to anyway, my mouth feels kind of dry. He's just the thing for it. I'll just be a second don't run away. Jesus I can hear you here. If you'd like to continue your soft sell. Isn't that what you call it? Well in talking about plan a I think I forgot to mention that the monthly income doesn't include your social security. So with that in mind you'd be receiving damn. I can't reach that Graf. Wish I could get out of this chair. Pardon. I said together. We're Social Security you be receiving approximately a considerable monthly some all things considered a tidy little Nest Egg. I like that term Nest Egg, don't you sound so trustworthy? You don't look very comfortable in that chair. I'm fine. Really Arnold. Could you hand me My Graph please write this thing? Hey, be careful. I mean, yeah, that's the one. Thank you. Now at the age has put the water on to boil only be a minute fine at the age of 62, you'll be receiving seventy five hundred seventy three dollars in cash 80 $379 and accumulated dividends for a total of fifteen thousand nine hundred fifty two dollars, you would thereby you would have 400 or think you're boring me. It's just that I didn't think it would be happening. So soon. What are they? Oh my goodness. What time is it? 8:30? Mmm had a hard day today, huh? Alright, you asked that earlier or did you I can't remember it all seems so silly. So so anyway, you'd have ten thousand dollars as well as 60 $483 in paid up additions for 16,000 $483 total which allows you to increase your cash value by three times the original Total at the age of 62. And this increase cash value will be used to Triple the Guaranteed Life income. Not bad. Eh I've taken an overdose of sleeping pills. What therefore everything you're saying seems so silly. Sorry. You're putting me up. You must be putting me on no. I'm not see her strange dude Arnold quite a sense of humor there. Thank you. Anyway, what time is it? Don't I mean if you were kidding me just now weren't you weren't you? Oh sure. You were little I don't believe you you see that little green bottle on the table beside, you know, where read this one. That's it butbut there any pills in this? It's a Now wait a minute here Arnold. Tell me you're kidding. There wouldn't be any point in that because I'm not what are you getting so excited about I don't do that. I said, oh God careful of your graph that I can't get out of this damn chair. Oh, let me help you Daisy. All right now tell me you're lying. Tell me you're making me please. Yes, tell me you're lying. But that would be a lie. Haleh. How long ago pardon when just follow the goddamn pillow. What time is it? Tell me Oh you mean about oh sometime before you came. Oh God. Where's your phone? I don't have one. Well, what about what about your neighbors? How do they do they what have a phone I think so, I'll be right back. They're gone for the night. Sorry. Chief will you just relax relax? You're telling me to relax now. See these dips are I should have told you maybe I did I can't remember. I can't believe this you're acting like this is some kind of a joke, but I'm not I'm serious. I'm dead serious. Well, maybe not quite yet, but I'm working on stop it. I gotta get you out of here. I gotta get help but I don't want help. That's the last thing I want last thing but that's not up to you to decide. You're not in control. What you've lost sight of yourself aren't over me. I listen to you you listen to me. Isn't that only fair? Oh my well, I think I'm starting to see double or are you just shaking your head very fast? Okay here here here. Okay a walk around. Okay. Yeah, that's right. Would you let go of me? Just keep there's not enough room. It's not enough. We would you stop it. My goodness the tea sit down make yourself at home be right back. What the hell am I doing? I can't hear you. I gotta get out of here. I gotta lie. You know, I think it's so strange that you happened by tonight. I mean you could have been anybody here. We are key things and that a nice race cozy somehow. I don't have any sugars that all right. I never use tea bags. They're too convenient. We forget the simple joy of taking a long time to do simple things. The Chinese have a whole ritual to tea-making. I believe it's a form of meditation for though. They're so clever those people. Did you don't have a think history is cyclical. Just think if I were a student of History over there my studies would only take me back to where I started sort of here you are. I'll just set it down. I should have let it seep longer still is yours. Alright, I'm sorry. I don't have any sugar. You gotta get help. I will. You can't just sit there. You don't know what you're doing. It's against the law poor logic there. I'm afraid are you telling me you you want to apparently? Yes, why? Oh, I don't know a maximum of investment in a minimum of protection. No, that's wrong. It's the other way around see what I was prepared to invest in. My life wasn't enough to protect me, but I think I need to protect me. I can't afford to invest. Yeah, I think that's vague enough don't you shouldn't ask for specifics in matters like this. I'm having a hard enough time with the generalities besides the really important things you've or maybe they just Goodness, I got lost. What was your question again? But it's wrong Arnold. Even if you don't like it you have to do it. He's getting cold. I mean, what is it? What's the deal grades your girlfriend would you can find somebody else but you might feel down now and then but but hey you always Shake yourself out of it. Okay, you feel bad the day but you never know. You might wake up tomorrow feel just great really should try some of that tea to hell with that. - if the Mind why aren't you listening to me? Because I don't hear anything and just for the record. I don't have a girlfriend. You're so self-righteous. I'm beginning to regret. I told you. Well, I wish to God you hadn't time is it? I mean, why'd you tell me Arnold? I didn't ask you if you don't want any help if you're so sure of what you're doing. Why'd you have to tell me maybe because it was the last thing on Earth you expected to hear maybe I couldn't resist the temptation you come barging in here with your life insurance. That's it. I couldn't resist the temptation. I see no, you don't that's the last thing you do is see you don't see me you look at me and see what a name on a list a signature on a policy. I make a point of finding out all I can about a perspective and sure that's exactly what I'm talking about. I'm not a prospective insurance. I'm a selfish neurotic graduate student human person with no insurance. Not much need for any at this point Jesus. You're a lunatic got to York. Hang on. I don't know what the hell you're talking about. How many sales did you make today enough to buy a pair of Gucci's? You know what you're a clone and you know, what else every day you get a little less Real by the time you turn 30 you're going to have about as much reality as a mouthwash commercial. It's people like you it's clones of people like you that make life such a joke. Well good riddance little twerp. Look. What kind of a chump do you take me for? Well, I hope you feel better. Now you feel better now now that you've made somebody else route look, don't you yawn when I'm talking to you. Shut up. Guys like you you really burn me up? Yeah. Yeah. You're just a name on a list. Yeah. I'd like to make some bucks off you without hearing your whole life story and that's real mean and low and vulgar and I lose a lot of sleep over it, but I got to make a living but I do prefer going to graduate school, but I couldn't afford it. You ought to prefer to sit around in my duffel feeling. Sorry for myself. I'm nobody's fool. Yes, sir. Well, I got all kinds of faults. I like making money and paying my bills. I like dressing good and driving a car. That's practically mine. I like having an apartment that isn't a tomb that smells like last week's garbage and on top of it all twerp. I like mouthwash. So I'm to blame guilty as charged. Hope you're satisfied. Hope you're good and satisfied. Do you got cold? It's bitter? All you had to do was say so say what don't you understand? I see you know, they're you're finally coming into Focus. That's all I wanted. Does it always take so much for you to show yourself. I know what I want where I'm at. The rest takes care of itself. And are you happy Jim? No, but I'm working on it. I guess it's all that matters is all good intentions once upon a time a strange. I'm already looking back. I don't start that crap again. Got my number e All right Arnold. All right, you're a horse's ass. You know it now I know it but that's no reason to shut it it's just not enough reason. Maybe I'll have another cup of tea Arnold for God's sake aren't you scared yet? Another cup of tea. My mouth is dry. I know more cops. I don't want to talk about it. It's not enough. Don't you see it's enough for you, but not for me. It's getting cold in here. Why me if it seems like arnica, let me get help. You don't have the right. I know I don't but I'm asking you before it's too late. You really are the most astonishingly dull person I've ever met given a moral choice if that's what we've got here. You might see the moral and you might even see the choice, but you could never put the two together. You don't want to help me just to help me a clear conscience. That's all you are. That's all right, you might at least be honest about it. Isn't that the best policy? If you had any character at all, you'd get up out of that chair leave these premises and never think of me again now go on Beat It dollar. Is that what you want? It's what I expect but is it what you want? All right. Yes. Yes. All right. Just put one foot in front of the other. You'll be amazed. I'll be back. I got my car out front I can. Can get help. Jim yes, you forgot your graph. Oh and watch the ceiling it dips there how that's even my landlord ought to fix that. I'll have to leave him a note. Did you hurt yourself? No. Yes a little. I'm sorry Arnold, please just say the word. That's all I'm asking. Just say the word Jim. Yes, turn out the light, please. so long this won't do I gotta get to that chair. My chair mine you'll be back. I Wonder Woman Oh well. I should have thrown that guy. I wonder. Why did I never fly my kite? Why? All right. Policy a play by Erik Anderson directed by Mark Frost. The part of Arnold was played by Peter Moore. The part of Jim was played by John Peck has this program is a production of the playwright's lab and Minnesota Public Radio. And we are in our Studios this evening with the playwright Eric Anderson, Mark Frost who directed the show and Archie lays in Meyer who is a professor of English at the University of Minnesota. And he is also president of the playwright's lab. We'd like to get your reactions to tonight's play and you can do that by calling in the Twin Cities area 2211550 that number again 2211550 in the Twin Cities. If you're outside the metro area, you can call toll-free and that number is 1-800-695-1418 again one 800 695 hundred that's toll free. So please give us a call tell us if it worked for you as a radio play what kinds of things that you found particularly gripping what kinds of things you found yourself perhaps mind-wandering on and we will get to the collars just as soon as you dial up first. We're going to ask Archie lays in Meyer as our expert here tonight some reactions of yours, too. Play no I liked it. And what I found particularly striking about it is that it seemed to me it was a contemporary version of the old Faustus story The Scholar in his study and the messenger at the door offering life insurance. Well, we'll have you elaborate on that in just a moment. I see we do have a caller on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Hello. Yeah. Yes. Do you have a reaction? Yeah, I thought it was great. I learned some things about how to deal with salesman. Hopefully not by taking overdoses. I thought it was a great play. I really enjoyed it. I don't think the guy came back but that's my opinion interesting dilemma. Why did you not think he came back typical field? Hmm. Very interesting. Well, thank you for your thoughts Artie. I'd like you to elaborate just a moment more on the Faustus steam you found. Well, it's interesting that the graduate student here is a student of History who's interested in the past and the future who is a scholar and ironically enough. It is not he who is dealing with life but is rather embracing death and the one at the door the visitor the one who has something to offer is peddling very fake life insurance where the insurance consists of dollars and there he is a kind of Baron Iceman figure with graphs and his hands all too vulnerable to the chair which eats him up like a bug. Let me repeat the numbers again for those of you in the Twin Cities 22115502211550 and outside the Twin Cities area one 865 to 9701 865 to 9700. We have a couple other calls on the line. So we'll take the first one in order. Hello. How are you? You're on the air? Hello? Yes. Yes, I listened to the prey and I found it very reminiscent of waiting for Godot. Now. I need me that's not a very flattering thing to say that one play reminds you of another I I kind of think why I know it reminds me, but I'd like to wait for some commentary about why the the people may think that it reminds me of that. Okay, Eric. Well, I think we would have to rely on the listeners because I didn't think about waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett at all or for the record. I didn't think about fastest anyone on the panel tonight CN Waiting for Godot. Well, he is waiting for something's waiting for death. I suppose I don't want to get into a pseudo intellectual Quagmire here. Well, since you've stumped the panel, why don't you give us your interpretation? I thought it had a great deal to do with the philosophy of life and death and certainly selling Insurance, you know is kind of a metaphor for that and I thought that Waiting for Godot I had had a lot to do with with that kind of dilemma what Quagmire if you want to well we appreciate you calling. Thank you for your thoughts. We have another caller on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Yes. I tuned in Midway and I thought it was interesting and gripping and I did not get or understand what he swallowed and I couldn't wait to find out what he swallowed. My didn't. Good call uh-huh. Well, it turns out that he swallowed pills. I see ya. All right. Does that make sense? Yes, it does make sense now puts it all together. Okay. Thank you for calling Eric. I'm gonna ask you a question when someone comes up and says it reminds you of it reminds them of waiting for Godot or are in Archie's case. It summons up Faustus themes. I going what's your what's your response to that? Well, I think it usually depends on whom I mean compared to I certainly don't mind fastest and Samuel Beckett. That's I'm in good company there and it also depends I think to an extent on exactly two. How I'm similar how it struck them. I don't want to be accused of copycatting or anything, but it's nice when the style or maybe some of the themes I get into our reverberate another playwrights. Again, the numbers to 2115502211550 outside the Twin Cities area one 800 695 hundred you might want to call again and tell us somehow it worked for you just sitting in front of a radio listening. If you found that the sound effects were effective or not effective whether you found the dialogue flowing fairly smoothly or not. Just what kinds of environments it painted for you in your mind's eye and we have a couple of callers on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Yes. I found that striking strikingly real. I really enjoyed it. As far as the picture it painted that's interesting that you mentioned that because I wondered during the end of it how it would be visually, you know if it was performed on stage. What have you found the personality of the salesman particularly valid in that he seemed really real because he he was honest in the end that he said, you know, I got to make a buck somehow. This is how I choose to do it. But you know he put him in a such a position that he had. You know, he just got wound up in in the students on trip in that he didn't go on and fulfill his own conviction if he wanted to save him. He should have just done it. What about the character of Arnold the student? Yes, he seemed like the what the decision he had made was the one that he felt was right towards the end when he said I wonder obviously he's had a second thought but Not too many people that have committed suicide been around to tell how it was eye towards the end. So you kind of have to use conjecture I wanted to touch on the idea of the salesman is a valid character. I think that was really the strength of the story that the salesman could have been set up to make them satiric points only right and very easy Target and I think Eric really succeeded in humanizing him and I found it really funny but it just was its Vivid, you know, it was very intense very familiar. I think it strikes a lot of familiar notes. If you've dealt with people like that is no I think I heard this just the beginning of it week or so ago. He has it been on it may have been in one of the promotional announcements. Hmm because I heard I just remember hearing some of the dialogue before hmm. Well, thank you very much for your thoughts think that was waiting for Godot. We have some more callers on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Okay, Nancy wasn't meant to be a radio play. Eric wasn't meant to be. Your play no I'd have to say yes, and no to that. But first the idea when I first thought of it was for a stage play and then when I got wind of this radio project, I tried to convert it into a radio drama concentrating more on sound effects and knowing the whole time that people would not be seeing it would only be listening to it. So I think it could with very little difficulty turn back into a stage play in my opinion. What do you think? Oh, I just I really felt that it was a radio play and that's what I wanted to say was that I really felt I was in that room. I'm good at pulling down avoid bumping the I could visualize everything very nicely and I compliment you on achieving that thank you. Thank you. I think the effects are largely psychological in the piece and I think that's why it's so suited for the medium. That's an interesting point see if some of the other callers agree with that. Hello, you're on the air howdy. I just wanted to say that people haven't said anything about there being some good Yuk's in it. Well, if you'd like to you can throw to do so, is there besides being entertaining there are some good points of humor, which is nice to see we're here in also, I really no one was talking too much structure and I guess at the risk of sounding getting back into academics structurally the thing that's really nice. I'd like the I thought the sort of role reversal between the salesman and the student was nice. We have a member of Academia on the panel here tonight who actually has structure a down as one of the points he wanted to make so why don't we bring him in now Archie? Well, it's what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and stoppard's play are looking for it to story with a beginning a middle and an end with variations in between. We had talked also about the blending of comedic elements and dramatic elements and sometimes it's very difficult to get that without really detracting from one of the other. Well, I think this is one of the strengths of the play that there is such a melding of very very realistic elements particularly in the dialogue. The salesman I think comes across as a very recognizable character. I think we in the back of our heads. We recognize that dialogue that sales pitch from our own experience and yet the whole situation is more than realistic. It is very comic and at the same time there are philosophical things fluttering around the edges and it's a nice combination by salesman and it was kind of nice to see the salesman victimized by the guy who's trying to do the pigeon. Uh, thank you for your thoughts. Even at the state state at the sake of one's life. We do have some more callers on the line. Hello, you're on the air. I just have a couple of quick comments. First of all, I thought that that Arnold's play with language was beautiful. His logic was Was beautiful it made me wish that I had had tried that about a month ago with an insurance sales. And another comment that I have is as much as I hate television to Reliance on having a series and bringing bringing the same characters and plot back week after week. I'd love to see how Eric would have developed the salesman's reaction after he left his home what happened to him in the ensuing weeks and months. It would be difficult to bring Arnold back at this point one doesn't know well that could be another series on top of it. Thank you flyer something. Thank you. We have some more callers on the line. Hello. Hello. I was really pleased by the play. I thought it worked very well with in this present format. However, I wonder if the playwright wasn't somewhat limited by the by the extent allowed a radio play and and I felt that Some things you may be could have developed further. I kind of felt really interested to see some things. He started dealing with developed further I would have wanted to I felt a need to maybe be allowed a deeper understanding of Arnold's character. I would have wanted to get a little bit more deeply inside of him. I also thought there was some there was the opportunity any way to to address certain questions of history from a philosophical standpoint. And and I don't know whether that was the the playwright's intent or not, but it might have been a good forum for a more philosophical. Dealing about about history and stuff Eric anything to say well as a writer, I've always tried to operate on the less is more. I know that Arnold and Jim I guess are both somewhat unfulfilled maybe not quite three dimensional and therefore ambiguous. But the less, you know about them, perhaps the more you are asked to fill in yourself or perhaps identify with them and the same goes with the philosophy not the ambiguous part, but I didn't want to get too talky. I thought it might impede the action from practical standpoint from the standpoint of the genre you were working with wood. You've been allowed a little more time if you'd want it to or are you pretty much limited within this time span first action? No, not terribly limited. I wouldn't want it to go on and on as far as this particular series is concerned. They don't like most scripts to go over 30 minutes. If only for the fact that it's nice to have a discussion period afterwards but I didn't feel limited when I wrote this particular plate. Now one last comment or are kind of Quasi question didn't didn't you feel a need to complete the questions you stated in the in this in this in this series of action or whatever a little more than then happened react with with a bit of frustration course, maybe that's the art of writing. That's a frustration writing to I guess I would be curious to know how you would complete it. I guess maybe that's So much of modern writing now, you know hesitates to offer an answer and perhaps Place burden on The Listener perhaps unfairly. I'm not sure I'm not sure either. I know sometimes I'm in the audience. I am often want an answer to more than I'm given on the stage, but it gets so we've gotten so good at stating questions. We forget whether there may well be answers or are there none right? I know, you know and I I tend for my own philosophical point of view tend to want to struggle toward toward toward answers an interesting point Thank You Archie. I'm just going to add whether answers are provided are not all good art is ultimately a calculated trap for meditation and seems to me that one of the successes of this thing is that people are thinking about it and the Very fact that they're still probing beyond the confines of the play pleases me know. He has well, we have some more comments. We hope hello. You're on the air. Hello. I was interested in one particular thing and that is because you can't see the action because it's radio play. Do you choose the actors with particular attention to their voices? I found them really good and I don't know maybe it just it's just because the two different voices were so different and we're so expressive, you know, they just seemed to fit. I'm going to let Mark Frost the director answer that well, you want the voices to suggest a physicality and I think in this instance they do and I chose these two particular actors for that reason because I think that vocally they do suggest a type of person that you can conjure up that you don't have to see it was really striking. What what pictures did they have in your mind? What do they look like to you? Be really hard to describe. It's not really they they don't suggest went to physicality to me as they do a personality that that was really nice. That was that really added to the enjoyment of Supply. Also, I found the direction really fine and the timing with the sound effects was just ideal. I really really enjoyed it. Thank you one point. That's interesting about this particular production. It was done in a continuous take we had no stopping from from start to finish. We're very unusual very unusual extremely unusual for I think it gives it a greater continuity in terms of the performances. The actors are really good. Thank you very much for your comments. Hello. You're on the air you can we started listening to the show. I guess towards the end. It was about the year cyclical history joke, which we enjoyed and we were not aware that the fellow had. You can some pills in front of the other Phil which colored things great deal. Now when I understand from some of the previous comments that this insurance fellow actually saw Arnold take the pills. Is that right? No. No, that was that now unfortunately you missed a key element has what I what we originally thought was that he didn't know that actually in that we assume something within the Teague interesting because we came in at the end of it you bring up a dilemma though for a radio drama writer that somebody can tune in at any moment and get a completely different interpretation. I don't I can't think right now any way around that you'd have to just repeat things like a soap opera or not have any unforeseen elements introduced and that would be probably tedious. Hmm as far that he had taken something first. I was sure you're taking something in the tea with Of the insurance prison knowing it as he was trying to get towards the chair at the end of the of the play. He was thinking of all the things that he should have done is symbolized by trying to fly his kite now to the universe instead of curling Inward and shielding himself from the experiences of life. And then when someone called in about the pills without all the insurance person knew that but in the typical modern non-involvement thing did not feel that he had any right or prerogative do anything about it. Well confused about that point you're partially right and partially wrong what happened was that the student has taken the pill sometimes put some time before the insurance salesman arrived and then somewhere in the middle of the play the student tells the and salesman that he has done this. It's on page 11. Thank you very much of 23 Pages. Well, thank you very much for your call. We remind listeners that you can call in with your comments reactions questions. Whatever at 2211550 in the Twin Cities 2211550. If you're not in the metro area outside the metro area, you can dial US toll-free one 800 695 100. That's one eight hundred six hundred fifty to ninety seven hundred and we have some more callers on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Yeah. Hi. I really like to play. I thought as a radio play it worked extremely well, but instruction was very tight. And I think there was no confusion whatsoever because that may be helped by having only two characters that are you know that you can very well identify with but I just thought it was just superb no one has mentioned. I think the irony of the play at least this is what struck me the most is kind of a question of whose failure is this I think it's ironic that a man who was supposed to be selling life insurance fails. He simply does not sell life insurance. He can't really either convinced the guy or even himself that he ought to be saved and I think that's the ironic thing both play. I really liked it. I thought it was very very good. Another thing is that in the environment in which the player set Arnold is very happy and very comfortable very at home in his in his environment. He doesn't have trouble with the chair. You didn't have trouble bumping his head. He doesn't have trouble with the dark and yet the salesman who supposed to be more real person in a quote real we're supposed to believe that Arnold is very neurotic. I fail to see that he's at neurotic, but at least people who kill themselves or want to kill themselves are supposed to be neurotic and yet I find that Arnold is far more real and and You know as a person in a person sense than the salesman is well, thank you for your thoughts. We have another caller on the line. Hello. Hello. I'm not sure if I missed something or not, but did Arnold at the beginning I read from a book when it was dark. Yes, right? Okay hiding by thinking he was blind is Reading in the dark and does not know it's dark and then the man coming and stumbles over a hat rack made me wonder what was going on. And as I said, I thought he was blind and when I found out he could see it was when he was finding the tie that's it hasn't even occurred to me. I should probably thank you for listening so closely. We'll take some more calls. Hello. You're on the air. Yeah. I thought the play was quite interesting. I really enjoyed especially the first half of this exchange between Salesman and student there and what I was left wondering at the end of it was you know, did he really take the pills? I was never really convinced that he had had taken the pills. I thought he was just kind of turning the tables on the salesman there because halfway through the play when he asked the salesman to leave, you know, all of a sudden he changes his mind and it leads you to wonder. Well does he, you know have something you know that he's trying to get at something up his sleeve so to speak and I kind of enjoyed it from that aspect because just through the you know, right up even through the Andy wasn't you know, making the contrast between running out to the kitchen and making tea and you know committing suicide at the same time was you know was to me just not, you know, really believable that he actually had done it but he, you know sure convinced. Salesman of it Eric. What do you think about that? That is an ambiguity that did occur to me. But again, I wanted to leave it unclear. I think you can believe that he faked it and I think you can also believe that he did in fact take them take the pills and was going to die. Thank you very much. Hello, you're on the air. We have another caller on the line. Oh, I want to say first that the play was interesting and well done, but about the character of Arnold. I don't quite understand why they're so easily an audience identification with them. His reaction are his supposed acts seemed like a fairly sterile Bohemian reaction to visualize if it wasn't anything particularly new or interesting why but obviously the audience does identify with them very strongly as if it was a well-thought-out and intelligent act or at least that seems in the background of some of the reactions. I think it's because he's a tea drinker. Well, I was wondering if they were reacting or people identify more with his reaction to the salesman than they do with. With Arnold the person because it's the kind of situation again. I wish I could have thought of that at some point. Yeah, certainly wasn't it was interesting Ploy get the salesman if it wasn't fact that but he was really committing suicide. That's it. Hardly seems a person you want to emulate certainly nobody reacting would really go through with it themselves was that may be why you left it ambiguous? Yes. I'm delighted by this dissension as to whether Arnold or Jim for that matter is admirable or not. It's nice to know that they are eliciting different responses. Thank you for your comments and some more callers on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Yes. I know. I just wanted to say that I know exactly what the two characters look like you brought that up with somebody else describe them. Well Arnold, of course is a very tall in extremely slender with Sandy here in a Long face, he has a mount that turns up a little bit at the corners. That's what makes me dizzy. Probably did not take the pills. The salesman is he's a rather short stocky and his very sincere dark brown eyes. I just see them and it was obvious to me that that Arnold didn't he didn't he didn't take the pills and he had a very good way of handling them. It was a good play well structured and will well done that the two actors were excellent. Thank you very much for calling. Should we burst her Illusions and describe the actors? Well, don't do that works. We have some more callers on the line. Hello. You're on the air her eye. I'm eight years old and I'm like I listen to the play and I really enjoyed it and I thought it kind of reminded me. Of the Marx Brothers and go west. What why do I feel funny? Well, thank you for your comment. And another caller one more caller on the line at the moment. Hello. You're on the air. Yes. Hello. I'm calling from my shop. Really. I just wanted to say that I identified real wealth the frustrations of the insurance salesman. I happen to be drinking teeth repairing my broken tractor trying to get my corn in the ground. Thank you for your thoughts. And yes a caller on the line. We understand. Yes. Hello. You're on the air? Hello. I just thought it was interesting that my opinion of what the to man must look like a great exactly with the other ladies and I felt that Arnold being so interested in history at the very end could still not look anywhere into the future. He was still looking totally back. He was still worried about the things he hadn't done. Well, we are just about out of time and we have one last caller on the line. This will be the last phone call of the evening. Hello. You're on the air. Yeah. I just wanted to say I listened to the two other radio plays that you had on and I didn't really enjoy them very much but I had planned on this evening to this one anyway, and I really did enjoy it in the comment you made about what the actors really looked like wasn't really what the characters had to be what they look like because like There's on the state dress up differently to portray different characters. And I had also thought that he was tall and then to thank you again for your call. And I'd like to thank our panelists this evening Eric Anderson, who is the author of the play you heard policy and Mark Frost who is the director of the production and archelaus Meyer who is professor of English at the University of Minnesota and president of the playwright's lab and that's about all the time we have for this evening. This has been another in our series playwrights laboratory made possible in part with the financial assistance of the Fingerhut Corporation technical director for this evening's program has been Paul Kelly with production assistance from Tom Mir Osman. I'm Nancy fusion, and these are the Stations of Minnesota Public Radio.