The Whale by Hunter, Samuel D. (2014) Paperback

by Samuel D. Hunter

On the outskirts of Mormon Country, Idaho, a six hundred pound recluse hides away in his apartment eating himself to death. Desperate to reconnect with his long-estranged daughter, he reaches out to her, only to find a viciously sharp-tongued and wildly unhappy teen. Big-hearted and fiercely funny, The Whale tells the story of a man's last chance at redemption, and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Fiction, Theatre, Contemporary, LGBT, Family

Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched the movie adaption of The Whale with my friend a couple of weeks ago. We walked in as an “emotional exercise”. Then we got picked up, squeezed, crushed, and put back down outside of the theatre. Brendan Fraser almost single handedly makes the movie worth a watch. Then I knew I had to read the play on which the movie was based. Hunter’s writing for the original was so astute that there was barely a pivot made between this and the screenplay. There are some relatively trifling details that are changed for setting, characters, and backstory. However, one or two lines are cut out from the movie which are present here, and they add a massive dimension to the entire story. I’m not sure why Darren Aronofsky chose to do away with these lines, but hey – the movie works.

On the whole, it’s a great story. Not the best I have read, but full of heart. Fraser though… bravo.

[Elle (ellexamines on TT & Substack) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author was just trying to save us from his own sad story, just for a little while.

The Whale by Samuel Hunter is bookended by two stories about whales. Jonah and the Whale is phrased by Elder Thomas as “a story of redemption… Jonah refuses the call of God, and just when you think he's going to die, God sends a whale to swallow him for three days until Jonah prays for salvation, and God commands the whale to spit him out onto shore.” He compares this to Charlie, the eponymous Whale, and Alan, his perished lover:

Your boyfriend, he turned his back on the church. He chose his lifestyle with you over God. And when his dad made him come back to church, made him really listen this story, to God's word-he knew. He knew God wasn't in his life anymore. And without God, he couldn't do anything, he couldn't go on living. But it's not too late for you. You can still know God. You can still ask God to make the whale spit you out.

A story about God is rephrased as a story about redemption. Charlie’s boyfriend, Alan, died before the play begins by starving, so now Charlie is dying by eating. Elder Thomas wants to argue that Alan starved to death because he knew he was right. This has implications for Charlie’s character as well: A sense that he felt on some level that he was also responsible.

The second metaphor is about Captain Ahab, and pertains to something different: the relationship between Charlie and Ellie, his daughter. This metaphor begins with an establishing “In the course of the book, the pirate Ahab encounters many hardships. His whole life is set around trying to kill a certain whale. I think this is sad because this whale doesn’t have any emotions, and doesn't know how bad Ahab wants to kill him.” When this metaphor is first introduced, you know who the whale is: Charlie. Towards the end, we receive an added, secondary portion to this essay: “And I feel bad for Ahab as well, because he thinks that his life will be better if he can kill this whale, but in reality it won't help him at all.” When it's revealed Ellie wrote this essay, we know, at last, who Ahab is: Ellie. Ellie believes so strongly that she wants Charlie to die, when that is the last thing she wants. (This moment made me genuinely emotional.)

Ellie in general is one of the most interesting characters in the show. Because of her mother’s alcoholism and her father’s abandonment, she has felt like she has no way of being loved, regardless of her behavior. She feels she has no chance at being judged off her own merits, and she feels as though inevitably, everyone will leave. And her mother views her as evil. When you are viewed as evil by a parent, as she was by her mother, your kindness to them is manipulative; you can never fix it, no matter how hard you try. Ellie has stopped trying because no one has ever tried to see her as good. So it really resonates when Charlie believes in her, and begins to view her as good.

I do want to point out a phenomena that appears in this play: It is defined by its reliance on derogation towards a fat body. In literary fiction, this has been done time and again. The body politic employed by this piece is one of fear, both of the smallest body and the largest. From my first reading of this novel, I was instinctually a bit hesitant as to how this would play out on stage, as I described in my first review. Reviews of the movie have only exacerbated some of my concerns:

On the page, the play transported me into Charlie’s mind, where I could share his yearning for connection; his voice, not his bulk, was what tugged at the imagination. Onscreen, his body is a special effect, and the camera can’t help but take pride in the craftsmanship.

I worry that this is a play which is essentially unplayable: In order to depict the show as a physical one and Charlie as a physical body, the camera must decide he is less worthy of humanity.

However, on page, I really enjoyed this show, and particularly its ending. It utilizes its metaphors as a way of revealing how characters feel about each other, which is both extremely clever and absolutely heartbreaking.

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[Helga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an emotional wreck right now!!!

[od1_40reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I kinda did this the wrong way around… I saw the movie first, then wanted to read the script in the hope that it might add something additional to the film experience.

And really, I don’t think it did. But that’s not meant as negative point, it’s more that I think Darren Aronofsky has done a really good job in keeping the film as close to the original play as possible. (Plus the movie has that wonderful score from Rob Simonsen!)

So, in reading the script post movie, it was impossible really to separate one from the other. But nothing is lost in either experience.

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

این نمایشنامه‌ایه که آرونوفسکی سال ۲۰۲۲ از روش فیلمی به همین اسم اقتباس کرده. اقتباس به‌شدت وفاداریه و لحظه به لحظه شاهد اتفاقات داستان به‌طور یکسان توی هر دو مدیوم هستیم. انقدر جفت‌شون یکسان هستن که نمی‌دونم کدوم رو پیشنهاد کنم ولی احتمالاً بهتر باشه اول فیلم رو ببینید که وقت و هزینه‌ی کمتری نیاز داره. من دور اولی که فیلم رو دیدم اونقدرها ارتباط نگرفتم. خوشم اومد اما در سطحی که توقع داشتم نبود. خوندن این نمایشنامه خیلی به درک مضامین داستان (که تعدادشون به‌طرز عجیبی زیاده) کمک کرد. صحنه‌های فیلم مدام توی ذهنم میومد و تجربه‌ی خاصی بود.
ترجمه‌ی آیدین مظفری خیلی خوبه و نشر رایبد منتشرش کرده. هرچند گهگاهی ایرادات ویراستاری دیده می‌شد. دیالوگ‌های این داستان کاملاً محاوره‌ای هستن ولی یه جاهایی به‌صورت نوشتاری بیان شده‌ن.
به‌طور کلی اثر ارزشمندیه. پیشنهاد می‌کنم اول فیلم رو ببینید و اگر خوشتون اومد بیاین سراغ منبع اقتباسش.

May The Winds Rise

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This is a short play that has been both nominated for and won a large number of awards, including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play of 2013.

We meet a six hundred pound recluse in Idaho, Charlie, who is eating himself to death. There are only 4 people in the play, our protagonist, his daughter, his female friend who furnishes him with his food and a young Mormon boy trying to teach his beliefs. At 600 pounds Charlie is waiting to die and begins to show signs of decline. But first he has some amends to make, his daughter being at the top of that list. Never having been a real father to her, she is not very receptive.

Hunter is a new playwright to me. Luckily he is a young man - now only in his early 40's. I have read a number of August Wilson's plays and truly enjoyed them all, however Wilson passed at 60 yrs old in 2005, but not before writing Fences, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Piano Lesson, among others. I also enjoyed Edward Albee's play Three Tall Women. Albee has also passed recently. I am still on the sideline with Tracy Letts, I have read about half his plays and enjoyed about half of those. Luckily he is only in his late 50's so he has plenty of time to write more. I find that I also enjoyed Hunter and will try to find more of his plays.

[elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 this play made me insane

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read this 8 years ago when it first came out, but wanted to reread in anticipation of the film version, which has been getting raves. It holds up well and curious how it will play in another medium, since it is very theatrical in conception/execution.

[posthuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every character who steps onstage in The Whale is deftly drawn: riveting and flawed in the best possible way. The atmosphere in each scene is charged with hopeful, sad and sometimes hilarious dialogue exchanges that suggest hidden agendas and power plays. Laughed out loud a few times.

On the outskirts of Mormon Country, Idaho, a six-hundred-pound recluse hides away in his apartment and slowly eats himself to death. Desperate to reconnect with his long-estranged daughter, he reaches out to her, only to find a viciously sharp-tongued and wildly unhappy teen.

MacArthur-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter has been tapped to write a film adaptation, with Brendan Fraser set to star and Darren Aronofsky on board to direct.

“Adapting my play into a screenplay has been a real labor of love for me,” said Hunter. “This story is deeply personal and I’m very thankful it will have the chance to reach a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of Darren’s ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I’m so grateful that he’s bringing his singular talent and vision to this film.”

[francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this in 1 sitting. i’m absolutely floored

[Nilo0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

وال یکی از قشنگ‌ترین نمایشنامه‌هاییه که خوندم و با خوندنش خیلی متاثر شدم.
شاید چون اول فیلمش رو دیدم، تصویرسازی درستی از شخصیت‌ها و صحنه‌سازی داشتم اما قلم نویسنده و عمق اتفاقات کتاب اون‌قدر قشنگه که نمی‌شه منکر شاهکار بودن این نمایشنامه شد.

وال داستان چارلی، مردیه که به‌شدت چاقه (250 کیلو یا بیشتر) و مرگ پارتنرش اون رو به این روز انداخت و به‌خاطر اضافه وزن و شرایطی که داره، رو به مرگه. اما همچنان با فداکاری و ازخودگذشتگی به فکر اینه که پولش به‌جای اینکه خرج درمانش بشه، برای دخترش الی بمونه.
الی دخترش که سال‌ها با مادرش زندگی کرده و از همه‌چیز و همه‌کس متنفره و نسبت به پدرش که بعد از 2سالگی تازه اون رو دیده، رفتار سرد و بی‌رحمانه‌ای داره.
اما چارلی همچنان با خوش‌بینی، خوبی رو در دخترش می‌بینه و به فکر آینده روشن اونه.
دین و تاثیر مخربش بر زندگی چارلی و پارتنرش هم بخش دیگه‌ای از داستانه.
و اما داستان موبی دیک یا وال که ارتباط تنگاتنگی با داستان کتاب داره. مقاله‌ای که الی در 8سالگی نوشته و چارلی تا لحظه مرگش عاشق این مقاله دخترشه.
شخصیت چارلی در عین چاقی بیش‌ازحد، بیماری، شرایط رقت‌انگیز و رو به مرگ بودن یکی از زیباترین شخصیت‌هاییه که تا الان توی کتاب‌ها دیدم.
واقعا کتاب عمیق و متاثرکننده‌ای بود. خیلی دوسش داشتم.

[Jennie Haines · Rating 3 out of 5]

maaaaybe like a 3.5. charlie's weight was used solidly as a device to give the play a sense of urgency but the nature of his eating habits, his severe BED, wasn't really explored.
i've not seen the film and don't really want to. i think morally, perhaps, this is a story that should remain on the page (questionable ethics of fat suits/spectacle-making of fat bodies) but i'm glad i got to experience it.
hunter is inarguably a great writer and the unique relationship between charlie and ellie, and ellie's fascinating characterisation, is undoubtedly the what will stick with me from this reading. but i think i just wanted a little more.

[سارا · Rating 5 out of 5]

About Charlie, who is a two hundred and fifty kg man. The name of the Whale is a symbol of Charlie's loneliness and greatness. On the other hand, there is a reminder of Moby Dick's whale book, which the author keeps avoiding during the play. Charlie, a lovable but abandoned character in the story, is isolated and rejected from the family and society because of obesity. In the story, we see and read about the encounters with a very fat person, and our hearts are full for Charlie... The interesting thing is that Charlie is gay and accepted by everyone .. I really liked the It , it had a fast rhythm and the type of narration was new to me. A movie has been made from this book, which I don't want to see now, so that the book remains the same.

[Maigs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This did not disappoint. The movie the Whale was really true to the source material. I found the play to be extremely captivating and moving.

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

"نویسنده سعی می‌کند ما را صرفا برای مدت کوتاهی از داستان غم‌انگیز خود نجات دهد."

چارلی بعد هیفده سال درس دادن مرورنویسی و این‌ها، برمی‌گرده به الی، دخترش، و از یه جایی شاگرداش، می‌گه که فراموش کنین هرچی توی این کلاس‌ها و چیزهایی که برای بهتر مقاله نوشتن خوندین و یاد گرفتین. فقط بشینین و یه چیزی بنویسین. یه چیز روراست و صادقانه. نمی‌دونم حالا چه‌جوری جمع کنم حرفم رو. فکر کردم باید یه کاری بکنم و فقط امتیاز خالی نداده باشم و گذشتن. فیلم رو که دیده بودم یاد اون سالی پررنگ شد برام که سر دوره آنلاین داستان‌نویسی مجتبی گلستانی می‌رفتم. نمی‌خوام تصویر چارلی رو بندازم روی خاطره‌ی گلستانی. گلستانی یه قصه‌ی دیگه داره کلا. ولی یه گوشه‌هایی از این‌ها میفته روی هم. روزهایی که دوربین رو روشن نمی‌کرد و می‌گفت حالم خوب نیست. ویلچرش. و مرگ. خب مرگ همه‌ی تفاوت‌هارو پاک می‌کنه.

[Fahimeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

یک نمایشنامه ی نقلی و کم حجم بود که در یک نشست و
در دو سه ساعت می‌شود، آن را خواند .
ساده و روان بود ، پیچیدگی خاصی نداشت .
نویسنده در نوشتن ش از کتاب موبی دیک الهام گرفته بود .
داستان مردی تنها و سنگین وزن که در جنگ با خودش و دردهاش بود ، و برای فراموشی درد روانی ، خود را محکوم به تحمل درد جسمانی کرده بود .
داستان غم انگیزی داشت اما زیبا بود و به دل می‌نشست حرفهایی که در پس داستان داشت .

[Emily Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's an astounding sense of satisfaction in reading something that exemplifies well-crafted. The ending was physically present and moving, bringing together the depth of story and characters.

[Lucaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense, ripe emotions bubble at the surface of this play, hinting at something big and mysterious lurking beneath. Think a lone paddleboarder on the open ocean, paddling, unaware, over the shadow of a massive creature under the waves. A whale, perhaps.

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn,,,

[Samuel Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried!…

Ellie’s over the top hatred and unpleasantness took me out a bit, I found myself rolling my eyes more than anything with her scenes.

Lovely play though very interesting cast of characters

[Kat Loberiano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found out Brendan Fraser will be starring in Aronofsky's (whose movies I have a love-hate relationship with) adaptation of this (BRENAISSANCEEEE!!!) so I read the play. Having read it I reallyyyy wish the movie is much more nuanced and non voyeuristic, and without any sense of meanness or making light of the subject matter. With a polarizing plot it's one of those things that could end up being painfully awful but with care it could be brilliant. A24 is producing so I'm hoping for the latter! That ending was very up Darren Aronofsky's alley.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got a literary bent so a play that effortlessly incorporates "Moby Dick" and the tale of Jonah and the Whale into its very contained storyline has founds its ideal audience in me. Throw in a pot-smoking Mormon missionary, an enabling nurse, and an absolutely vicious teenager who dopes her overweight dad with Ambien, and you've really got me hooked. I'd never heard of Samuel D. Hunter before. Now I can't wait to read another play by him.

[Georgeanne Yehling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be thinking about this play for a long time -- and potentially the ramifications of staging it.

[JL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that anyone who intends to read this screenplay should go into it knowing that this is a text that strongly deals with people who are experiencing and coping with trauma in very different ways. This translates into some characters being problematic in the way they speak, and causes others to exhibit behavior that could be triggering to some readers. Proceed with caution.

This is my favorite story of all time. It really is the line “This book made me think about my own life” for me.
The text is not only a deep dive (pun intended) into the way we deal with and attempt to conceal our trauma, but it also explores different *types* of trauma and trauma responses.

But, more than that, it is a story about the important of being authentic and honest. It’s a story of remembering your own worth and value even if no one else sees it.

I cannot wait to read this through again. I highly recommend that anyone taking on these 90 pages, really read through this carefully and think about the words these characters are saying. Think about the unspoken meaning and the connections between Moby Dick, Jonah and the Whale, and the ocean sounds. Think about your own experiences with trauma and how they shaped your new reality. Think about the last time you were ever truly honest.

Also, do yourself a favor and go see the movie.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And I felt saddest of all when I read the boring chapters that were only descriptions of whales, because I knew that the author was just trying to save us from his own sad story, just for a little while.”

It was a moving play which dealt with weighty themes of grief and the human need for connection. The play tackled loneliness, loss, and our innermost struggles, paralleling Moby Dick to invite empathy rather than judgment for Charlie's complex humanity.

[Chet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read Armond White's review of the film and decided to read the play instead of slog through the movie. I want to check out the alternatives White outlined in his article, Midwestern-set films about conflicted gay experiences with a religious backdrop. But The Whale was awful. Hunter portrays the Midwest as a wasteland. I was reminded of the international art house circuit, wherein filmmakers from countries villainized by Western media portray their homelands as dreary, trashy oppressive shitholes to the condescending approval of New York, LA and European liberals who hand them shiny trophies at festivals for validating their prejudice. Now it's time to recognize that this dynamic also plays out intranationally: "red states" condemned for voting Bad Orange Man are sold out and distorted by their hometown traitors to the same coastal crowds. Hunter is one such traitor.

[Daniel Pivonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Felipe Follador · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely fascinating play.

It tackles so many things: sexuality, relationships, teenage angst, religion, the importance of one’s true calling and the search for redemption.

Fascinating.

[Nicholas Poveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking quick read. I read this to prep for Darren Aronofsky’s movie, and I’m excited to see how well it adapts to film.

[Zoe Hertzberg]

this is very sad and this is my showcase scene.