Ambiguity, a playwrights favorite "F you" to the audience. Detroit, by Lisa D'Amour seems to be yet another unexplainable choice made simply to confuse the reader. The play's not set in Detroit, the character's don't talk about Detroit, NOTHING in this play has anything to do with Detroit...or does it? Ultimately, the only logical connection between the two is the economic decline of Detroit.
Thirteen years ago Detroit was the nation's tenth largest city, now it's ranked 18th and is the only city in the top 20 that has had a decrease in population, by 1.01%. Because of this decrease in population the economy has decreased as well. This is mirrored in Detroit in many ways, such as the case of Ben and Mary. Ben and Mary are a middle-class family struggling in an economic decline in their city, wherever you choose that to be. They talk about how the house in their neighborhood had been abandoned for some time, mirroring the decline in population in Detroit. Also, Ben struggles with unemployment, like the city of Detroit is now. In the 1950's this was even a bigger problem then it is now since the idea of the husband being the sole provider for their families.
Excellent points! I think what D'Amour is trying to say is that any city can (and probably will) experience the decline that Detroit is currently dealing with if adjustments are not made to our idea of "the American dream." After all, it isn't Ben's fault that he is now unemployed. Yet our society frequently looks down on the unemployed and treats them as though they have done something to deserve the situation that they are currently facing, much like how the bitchy jogging neighbor looked down Kenny and Sharon.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree from where you are coming from! Detroit, even though the title of this play, is not the only city that is being affected by this whole 'American Dream' idea. This is happening all across the nation. It can happen anywhere, anytime, and to anyone.
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