FAT PIG NEIL LABUTE NEIL LABUTE Early Life

FAT PIG NEIL LABUTE

NEIL LABUTE Early Life: La. Bute was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Marian, a hospital receptionist, and Richard La. Bute, a long-haul truck driver. He studied theater at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed the envelope of what was acceptable at the conservative religious university, some of which were shut down after their premieres. However, he also was honored as one of the "most promising undergraduate playwrights" at the BYU theater department's annual awards. La. Bute did graduate study at the University of Kansas, New York University, participated in a writing workshop at London's Royal Court Theatre, and the Royal Academy of London. Honors: In 2013, La. Bute was named one of the winners of the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Arts and Letters Awards in Literature. Style: La. Bute's style is very language-oriented. His work is terse, rhythmic, and highly colloquial. His style bears similarity to one of his favorite playwrights, David Mamet. La. Bute even shares some similar themes with Mamet including gender

NEIL LABUTE • • • • Click Filthy Talk For Troubled Times (1989) • Helter Skelter/Land of the Dead (2008) In the Company of Men (1992) • The Break of Noon (2009) Bash: Latter-Day Plays (1999) • The New Testament (2009) The Shape of Things (2001) • Some White Chick (2009) The Distance From Here (2002) • The Furies (2009) The Mercy Seat (2002) • Strange Fruit (2011) Autobahn (2003) • In a Forest, Dark and Deep (2011) Fat Pig (2004) • Lovely Head & Other Plays (2013) This Is How It Goes (2005) • Reasons to Be Happy (2013) Some Girl(s) (2005) • Money Shot (2014) Wrecks (2005) • The Way We Get By (2015) In a Dark House (2007) • How to Fight Loneliness (2016) Reasons to Be Pretty (2008)

FEMALE CHARACTERS Helen- the plus- sized woman who falls in love with Tom who doesn’t usually fall for "fat girls". Helen also has never really had a boyfriend which makes her insecure about talking to men. Jeannie- She works at the same office that tom does. Jeannie is the exact opposite of Helen she is very skinny and knows what she wants from a man. She also used to date Tom and is very upset he has moved on.

MALE CHARACTERS Tom- He works in a office and is your average guy. He likes to hang out with his friends who are the typical group of guys. He falls in love with Helen who isn't his "type". He also doesn’t care about peoples out ward appearances. Carter- Toms work friend who is a very judgmental about other people and their bodies. He also likes to keep Tom on his toes and likes to play practical jokes on Tom in the office ad unlike Tom he cares a lot about outward appearances

SUMMARY The play "Fat Pig" is based on a woman named Helen who is an overweight adult. Helen meets a man named Tom in a cafeteria one day on both of their lunch breaks. Tom and Helen instantly hit it off with their love for war movies. Tom at first does not care about Helens outward appearance and starts to really like her based off her personality. Tom's work friend Carter and his ex, Jeannie, who also works with Tom find out that Tom is dating a new women. Carter the nosey friend he is follows Tom one night to a restaurant and sees Tom and Helen together. Tom makes up a lie saying Helen is a work friend from another state. However as weeks past, Carter and Jeannie find out that Helen is actually Toms girlfriend. Carter and Jeannie make fun of Tom and print out a picture of Helen and post it all over the work place.

SUMMARY Tom at first does not care about what Carter or Jeannie have to say about Helen. As weeks pass, Tom and Helen's relationship starts to heat up and get more sexual. Helen actually thinks Tom cares about her like no other man has. However, Tom will not invite her to meet any of his friends and she starts to question his actions. Tom invites Helen to a company beach party and Helen is so excited to meet Toms co workers. At the beach party Tom and Helen stay secluded with plates of food while other co workers like Carter and Jeannie play volleyball, dance, and socialize. Tom does not want Helen to socialize with anyone and when Helen asks why Tom starts to open up on how he's been feeling. Tom tells Helen that he just can not be with her because of her weight and because all of his friends make fun of him for being with her. The play ends with both Tom and Helen crying realizing they can never be together.

GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES Geographical location: A big city near a beach. Examples; LA, NYC, Long Beach, Miami. Climate would be summer time since a beach party happens during the play. Date/Year: Current date and year. Season is summer. Time of day would be from morning until night. Economic environment: Working class. Tom, Carter, Jeannie getting paid more because they are business workers. Helen would probably get paid less because she is a librarian.

GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES Political environment: Currently how the U. S. Political system is. Social environment: Social media is a big impact. People are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and want to be with people like "them". Whoever does something "different" is criticized. Religious environment: The play does not indicate any religion in it.

PREVIOUS ACTION Tom and Jeannie have previous dated before the play started. The relationship ended badly and Jeannie still has obvious feelings for Tom in the beginning of the play is kind of playing with Jeannie's emotions saying he wants to "try it out again". Helen has not had a boyfriend who really accepted her for herself. She does not know what love is. Knows she is overweight and makes jokes about herself which drives people away.

IDEAS OF THE PLAY A. ) The title "Fat Pig" is representing body image for people and trying to show society views the human body. B. ) " Right, the thousand ships and all. But that was just so they could carry me back. . . because it would take that many to lift me. . . " - Helen "I've got this fucking sumo wrestler in a housecoat trailing around behind me. " -Carter "Then it could just be you and me, and that'd be so great. . But. . I guess I do care what my peers feel about me. " - Tom

IDEAS OF THE PLAY C. ) Tom- keeping Helen a secret put more pressure on their relationship. Carter- on pages 71 -72, he gave Tom an ultimatum on whether to date Helen. Jeannie - yells at Tom pretty much the whole play criticizing him about dating Helen- makes fun of herself and makes Tom uncomfortable. D. ) "That First Meeting With Her" ; the purpose of this scene is Tom and Helen meeting. "The Work Friends Figure It Out" ; Carter and Jeannie figure out that Tom is seeing a girl. Jeannie gets upset because she loves Tom. "A Surprising Night Out Together"; Tom and Helen go out and Carter spots them but Carter doesn't know that Helen is Tom's girlfriend and thinks she is Toms work partner from Chicago. "Getting Back To Business" ; Carter and Jeannie find out that Helen is actually Toms girlfriend and not a work partner from Chicago.

IDEAS OF THE PLAY D. ) "Old Territory For The New Couple"; Tom and Helen are getting pretty sexual in bed but Helen keeps asking Tom why he hasn’t introduced her to any of his friends. Tom realizes he is going to have to introduce her to his friends soon. "Twists and Turns At The Office"; Jeannie confronts Tom on dating Helen and not dating her. Carter gives Tom a decision on whether or not to keep dating Helen. "One Of Those Blustery Beach Days"; Helen and Tom go to Tom's office beach party. Helen is introduced to Carter and Jeannie. However, Tom keeps them secluded from everyone. Helen confronts Tom on why he is keeping them secluded and Tom comes clean on how he views her body and relationship. At the end of the scene, Tom breaks up with Helen because he can not deal with other peoples criticism on their relationship.

SOURCES "Fat Pig" By Neil La. Bute Wikipedia Berit Brattlie, Brianna Dagostino, Katie Moncrief