Tape

by Stephen Belber

Jon, an aspiring filmmaker on the verge of hitting it big, hooks up for the weekend with his best friend from high school, Vince, a volunteer fireman who makes his money selling dope. Jon's new film is being shown at a festival in Lansing, Michigan, and Vince has come from Oakland to see it. Over the course of the evening, Vince finally gets Jon to admit that ten years ago he date-raped Amy Randall, a girl whom they both dated in high school only then to reveal that he's taped their entire conversation. And not only that, he's invited Amy to have dinner with them that night. Beneath its suspenseful, high-stakes surface, TAPE examines questions of motive, memory, truth and perception.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Stephen Belber is an American playwright, screenwriter and film director.

Reviews

[Leo Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kinda get it but also don't.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

How slippery is memory? Pretty slippery the experts tell us, yet we rely on it as a deliverer of truth in our most important and high stakes moments. Stephen Belber's Tape reminds us of this. It does it well. But is that enough to deliver the short play Belber has delivered? I'm not so sure.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely intriguing. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and that kept me reading, but I felt that once we got to the ending, a lack of clarity plagued the story. Amy's actions were confusing. Did I misunderstand this or (spoiler alert) she never saw what happened as rape? I'm going to pretend that's the case cause that's a lot more interesting. But then why did she act spiteful afterwards with the pretend call? "I felt like it", says Amy. A person might say that in real life, but to read that line in a work of fiction is really annoying/lazy. Must do better, sir.

[Marcela · Rating 3 out of 5]

No real likable character and you can't expect there to be one with such a plot, but the execution doesn't seem to go according to plan.

Sounds like it'll be a great play, and it wasn't awful, but when the anticipated encounter actually occurs, you're thinking two things: "Why did she even go there?" and "This fell flat."

Am willing to give it a re-read, but I wasn't blown away by this in the least.

[izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

me gusta pero a la vez no entiendo nada y aun no se si adoro a amy y vince o estan psicóticos perdidos

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better to see the Richard Linklater film than to read this play, because I don't think they're still staging the play?

The film is likely the most intensely claustrophobic sort of film you might ever see. In a drama way. In a form way. Probably even more than the play itself because in the film everything's so close up, it all takes place in a motel room.

The added bonus of this text though is there are several prologues and preludes added at the end that tell us more about the characters' pasts and futures.

[Mike LaRosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after having seen the Richard Linklater film version a couple of times. The premise and script are great but it really needs some strong and nuanced performances to really bring it to life and do justice to all the minutiae of the various layers to the plot. Reading the screenplay just made me appreciate the movie that much more.

[Sean Aiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

dialogue was really well written, in the sense that i feel like i could get it just by reading it (can be kinda tough for plays, which are primarily meant to be seen). three optional secret endings is kinda wild. the one thing i don’t get is the the very beginning, which the notes say is omitted if you do the optional prologue??? like bro make up your mind

[Cary S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read. Took a bit to cut to the chase, but it’s a short play to begin with, so that didn’t truly bother me...

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Intense and funny as well as thought provoking.

[Stephanie Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one that I’ll need to re-read slowly. Analyze.

[Oliver Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, this shit is fire

[Thalia Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mumble of almost saying something but not 😭

[Zac Stojcevski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda sorta messed up - beware your memory and your high school friendship groups particularly ones who mess with non prescription drugs. Intense.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of weird. A lot of laughing for something that wasn't funny. Didn't care for the characters or the story.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best quotes on vengeance I've ever heard:

Jon: ...and I want you to know that I'm sorry about it.
Amy: Well you should be! And I hope you die for it and go to hell. And if there is no hell, I hope you suffer on your way to death.

[kayla michelle pisano ✮ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two men use and exploit a woman in two contrasting ways, one who deliberately hurt her and one whose actions to help her are really only done with the motive of helping himself. Very fascinating while personally not in my taste.

[Ahmad · Rating 2 out of 5]

مزخرف.