H2O

by Jane Martin

After arriving to the City of Angels, an aimless young man catapults to movie stardom and into Hollywood's sleazy celebrity culture. Banking on his fame (and name), he is soon selected to appear on Broadway in Hamlet. Given full casting approval, he embarks to New York City to seek out his Ophelia and encounters his muse and his match -a young evangelical Christian woman set on getting the role...and saving his life. Originally produced at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in 2013, H

Genres: Plays

68 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2014

About the author

Jane Martin is the pen-name of a playwright speculated to be former Actors Theatre of Louisville artistic director Jon Jory. Jon Jory, Martin's spokesperson, denies being Jane Martin but has directed the premieres of Martin's shows.

Martin has traditionally been billed as a Kentucky playwright. While speculation about her identity centers around Jory, other theories have cited former Actors Theatre of Louisville Executive Director Alexander Speer, former Actors Theatre Literary Manager Michael Bigelow Dixon, and former intern Kyle John Schmidt.

Jane Martin's key credits include Anton in Show Business, Back Story, Coup, Cementville, Criminal Hearts, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage, Vital Signs, and Talking With... Martin's Keely and Du won the 1994 American Theater Critics Association New Play Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Reviews

[Amanda Milone]

Infuriating and outrageous, and shockingly real yet fantastical. I thought it would reward a second read, which it did, but only because I strongly identify with both of the only two characters in the play. I gasped with recognition of myself and others I know coming to life through these ridiculous characters on the page. Otherwise, pointless, pretentious, and baffling. Not edifying. And I can’t tell what playwright Jane Martin was trying to say. Lastly, this has no business being classified as a partial comedy.

[Raegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not a good representation of evangelical Christians or troubled stars. Has points that are really good and very honest. However, a good portion of the dialogue is forced, especially the monologues to the audience.

[Sarah Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this for acting class and was actually pleasantly surprised. I would have like more explicit character development and the transitions felt a little choppy, but it was an interesting, insightful, and quick read.