Who Am I This Time?

by Christopher Sergel (Adaptor), Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Source Material)

Play based on an episode from Kurt Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkey House.

An insecure young man, Harry Nash, searches for identity through participation in amateur theatricals. With a real life personality as blah as the leaf rakes in the hardware store where he works, he's of no interest to anyone. When handed a script, however, he asks, "Who am I this time?" and on the stage he becomes the role he plays. It can be powerful, witty or even cruel but, body and soul, Harry lives the role until the curtain falls. A girl falls in love with him but it's with the Harry who is "in character." Then she fights to keep him from his usual post-curtain collapse by trapping him into starting a new scene from a classical romance—to continue offstage!

Genres: Plays

35 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 1970

About the author

Christopher Sergel's interests and talents led him on many adventures throughout the world. As captain of the schooner Chance, he spent two years in the South Pacific; as a writer for Sports Afield magazine, he lived in the African bush for a year; as a lieutenant commander during WWII, he taught celestial navigation; as a playwright, his adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio was seen on Broadway. But throughout his life, his greatest adventure and deepest love was his work with Dramatic Publishing. During this time, he wrote adaptations of To Kill a Mockingbird, Cheaper By the Dozen, The Mouse That Roared, Up the Down Staircase, Fame, Black Elk Speaks and many more. His love of theatre and his caring for writers made him a generous and spirited mentor to many playwrights here and around the world. His inspiration and integrity attracted to the company fine writers including C.P. Taylor, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Arthur Miller, Roald Dahl and E.B. White - to name just a few. He once said he hoped to be remembered as E.B. White described Charlotte…
"…a true friend and a good writer."

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just the one story, about two people who can't connect except through roles in community theater. I'm sorry that authors don't write for the slick magazines any more. Charm is a useful skill to have in your toolbox.

[Puny Goddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story really liked it:)