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DOUBLE INDEMNITY by James M

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DOUBLE INDEMNITY by James M 2012 – 2013 SEASON DOUBLE INDEMNITY by James M. Cain Adapted for the stage by David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright CONTENTS 2 The 411 Directed by Michael Evan Haney 3 A/S/L & IYLT 4 FYI 6 F2F 7 RBTL 8 B4U 9 HTH 10 IRL 12 SWDYT? MAJOR SPONSORS: ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY: WELCOME! At The Rep, we know The desire to learn, insatiable when awakened, can that life moves fast— sometimes lie dormant until touched by the right teacher or okay, really fast. But the right experience. We at The Rep are grateful to have the we also know that opportunity to play a role supporting you as you awaken the some things are desire for learning in your students. worth slowing down There has always been fascination with the perfect crime, for. We believe that live theatre is one of those wishes for an quick route to getting what we want and pit stops worth making and are excited that you are going endless discussion on what one would do for love. Though to stop by for a show. To help you get the most bang for your students are certainly not living in the ethical gray areas your buck, we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an of film noir, they are working on drawing their personal lines IM guide that will give you everything you need to know to in the sand. It never hurts to show them that actions can get at the top of your theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find have dire consequences and the easy road often isn’t. character descriptions (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), biographical information (F2F), historical context (B4U), It would be a good idea to take a minute on the bus to give and other bits and pieces (HTH). Most importantly, we’ll your students these quick theatre etiquette reminders: have some ideas about what this all means IRL, anyway. • This show has an intermission; there will be time for bathroom breaks before the show and partway through. • The actors can hear the audience and appreciate responses; however, talking, moving around and eating is distracting and can affect the action on stage. • Pictures, phone calls and texting are not allowed at any time during the performance. The Teacher’s Live theatre won’t allow your students to take a passive role—they must work with us to create the experience which Lounge takes the learning deeper. Our unique ability to fuse words In an effort to make our and images onstage allows your students to explore new educational materials accessible ideas as well as excites their imaginations. We will do our to students and easy for educators to part so your students will be stirred to understandings and incorporate into the classroom, our study self-awareness while delving into new and familiar worlds. guide is written in a student-oriented format. We hope You are doing your part by using The Rep to extend your that you will circulate this guide among your students in intellectual and aesthetic curriculum. Thank you! the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, encouraging them to browse it before and after class and as time allows, using it as a launch point for both pre- and post- performance discussions.You may also want to visit our Marsha Coplon website, www.repstl.org, for additional information Director of Education including educational games, activity suggestions and behind-the-scenes information. Any materials, either from this guide or from our website may be reproduced for REP EDUCATION DEPARTMENT use in the classroom. As always, we appreciate your making live theatre a part of Director of Education Marsha Coplon your classroom experience and Associate Director of Education Sarah Brandt welcome your feedback and Education Programs Manager April Strelinger questions. Study Guide Writer Laura Schlereth WALTER HUFF: An insurance agent who is LOLA NIRLINGER: Herbert’s good-hearted smart and good at his job but whose inner daughter from his marriage before Phyllis decency can be compromised easily NINO SACHETTI: Lola’s scheming boyfriend PHYLLIS NIRLINGER: A beautiful woman JACKSON: A friendly and chatty train who is married to Herbert; she appears passenger gentle and coy at first, but there’s more to her than meets the eye NORTON: The president of Huff’s insurance company KEYES: Huff’s friend and investigator for the insurance agency NETTIE: Huff’s secretary HERBERT NIRLINGER: Phyllis’ husband who works in the oil fields If you like this play and its themes, you’ll probably love these similar tales! Dial M for Murder: Based on the successful play by Fredrick Knott, this film is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s classics! Starring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly as married couple Tony and Margot, the thriller’s storyline is similar to Double Indemnity in that Tony arranges to have Margot killed so he can inherit her fortune. .the fact that she had been having an affair didn’t help either. The Postman Always Rings Twice: Another one of James M. Cain’s crime novels, Postman resembles Double Indemnity’s tale of a femme fatale seducing a man to help her kill her husband, but this time it’s to inherit the diner that they run together. Also like Double Indemnity, this novel was adapted into a successful movie, so if you prefer to view rather than read, check out the film starring Lana Turner. It’s a Wonderful Life: If you’re looking for something a bit more uplifting, watch Frank Capra’s famous film, which many think of as a Christmas classic! Starring Jimmy Stewart as good-hearted guy George Bailey, the film also examines the value of life versus the value of money via life insurance. George gets into some financial trouble and considers committing suicide so that his life insurance money will solve the problem. Might sound depressing, but just wait until George’s guardian angel Clarence comes to give him a reality check! 3 SPOILER ALERT! THE PLAY BEGINS as insurance agent for railroad accidents, which can result in a Walter Huff visits the home of Herbert payout of $50,000. He tells Phyllis they have Nirlinger to talk about renewing Nirlinger's to be bold, yet careful, carrying out the plan. auto insurance. Phyllis, Nirlinger’s wife, She must look innocent by dissuading her answers the door and tells Walter that her husband from buying the policy. Phyllis does husband isn’t home, but he should come just that, but later Walter uses his tricks to back after dinner. When Walter is back in his make it look like Nirlinger bought the policy office, his secretary, Nettie, informs him that after all. After the meeting, Walter offers to Phyllis decided it would be inconvenient for give Nirlinger’s daughter Lola a ride to the Huff to come after dinner, but she would let movies but she actually directs him to take him know a better time. her to meet her boyfriend Nino Sachetti. LATER ON, Phyllis invites Walter over for LATER ON, Phyllis informs Huff that her tea, which he assumes is because she spoke husband plans on taking the train to a to her husband about the insurance, but class reunion in Palo Alto. At first it seems he is surprised to learn she hasn’t. Instead, Nirlinger might be unable to go because he Phyllis tells him that she hates the idea of breaks his leg, but Phyllis convinces him talking to her husband, who works in the to go anyway. As she’s driving her husband oil fields, about accident insurance. For this to the station, Walter hides in backseat. As reason, she asks Walter if they can insure they drive, he attacks Nirlinger and breaks Nirlinger without him knowing it. There’s an his neck. Walter then disguises himself obvious attraction between the two of them; as Nirlinger, and boards the train. After one thing leads to another and Phyllis and the train starts moving, he jumps off, and Walter begin to kiss, but then she asks him together, he and Phyllis drag Nirlinger’s to leave. Later, Phyllis visits Walter at his lifeless body on the track so it appears he office where she apologizes for her behavior. died in a fall from the train. Walter says he strongly suspects she wants to kill her husband to get the insurance money. ONCE THE ACCIDENT is reported to the When Phyllis denies this, Walter pursues the insurance company, Walter’s co-workers point and says that as an insurance agent, Norton and Keyes discuss the case. Norton he can help her do it. Phyllis is frightened thinks it was suicide, but Keyes’ instincts at the prospect of the deed because she tell him it was murder. However, when they says Nirlinger has been a good husband, but file an inquest with a jury, it comes to the she doesn’t love him; plus he’s not happy, conclusion that it was just an accident. so she feels she would even be doing him Keyes is still suspicious and tells Walter a favor. Walter says he has a good idea of he’s going to watch Phyllis like a hawk, how to make sure it doesn’t look suspicious. so the two lovers decide not to meet until He mentions how all the big money on an everything dies down. accident policy comes from railroad accidents because, although many people think of railroads as dangerous places, figures show MEANWHILE, LOLA VISITS Walter in his that not many people get killed or even office and tells him the story of how her hurt there.
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