Defying Gravity

by Jane Anderson

Drama / Characters: 3 male, 4 femaleScenery: Exterior with set pieces and projections. This free structured look at the 1986 Challenger disaster places the teacher who died with six others as they hurtled into space at the center of an exploration of our need to reach beyond ourselves and dare the universe. Defying Gravity artfully interweaves the past with the present and the lives of participants and bystanders, drawing parallels among painter Claude Monet's artistic quest, the zest of the teacher selected to the first civilian astronaut, the perspectives of her grieving daughter, the aspirations of elderly tourists who drive their Winnebago to Florida to watch the space shot and dream of hotels in space, the guilt felt by a NASA mechanic and his girl friend's fear of heights. . "Flies high in its attempt to describe man's fascination with space and its conquest.... You will certainly not be bored." N.Y. Post. . "[A] clever and uplifting fantasy ... [with] ear catching musings about art, religion and the outer limits of human possibility." N.Y. Times. . "A lovely piece.... It floats gracefully in the big blue yonder of the imagination ... letting Anderson's delicate, tender and human attitude toward her characters come through.... One by one they rise out of their earthbound selves ... to look down on the world from a new perspective." N.Y. Daily News.

Genres: Plays, Historical Fiction

89 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Multiple authors with the same name. This author is entered with three spaces.



Jane Anderson’s plays have been produced Off-Broadway and in theaters around the country, including Actors Theater of Louisville, Arena Stage, Williamstown, The McCarter Theater, Long Wharf, and The Pasadena Playhouse. Plays include: The Quality of Life (2008 Ovation Award, Best New Play), Looking for Normal (2001 Ovation Award, Best New Play), The Baby Dance, Defying Gravity, Food & Shelter, Tough Choices for the New Century, Lynette at 3AM, and The Last Time We Saw Her. Her most recent play, The Escort (nominated for an LA Drama Critics Circle Award) was commissioned by the Geffen Playhouse and had its premiere in 2011. Works written and directed for film and television: The Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio; Normal (Emmy nominations for best writing, directing and best made-for-TV film, three Golden Globe nominations and Director’s Guild and Writer’s Guild nominations for best directing and writing); When Billie Beat Bobby; The Baby Dance (Peabody Award, a Golden Globe nomination and three Emmy nominations for best writing, directing and made-for-TV film); the first segment of If These Walls Could Talk II, starring Vanessa Redgrave (Emmy nomination for best writing). She wrote The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom for which she received an Emmy, a Penn Award and Writers Guild Award for best teleplay. Her other screenwriting credits include: How to Make An American Quilit and It Could Happen to Your.

Reviews

[Tanis Blount · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember The Challenger’s explosion from a child’s view, watching the launch on tv and seeing the shock and sadness in the eyes of my parents. This play takes that event and shows us it from a very personal view, a community’s view and finally a country’s perspective. It is sweeping in it’s scope and stunningly, achingly beautiful. The message of good even in bad, depth coming from something terrible, growth coming from tragedy is on the page and the stage for all to see. The wish all humanity has for the world to go on after us is so beautifully written here.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Has some beautiful moments in it.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Defying Gravity is about the 1986 challenger explosion. The play uses impressionist art and Claude Monet as a statement about creating a legacy and capturing moments. The plot follows the teacher that was part of the challenger mission (literally named teacher I. The script), her daughter, a nasa mechanic C.B., the bartender Donna, and the married couple Ed and Betty (on a Winnebago cross country trip). Each helps paint the picture of what it felt like to be involved with the mission and tragedy directly and indirectly. What miracles will we see in our lifetime and what miracles will man make in their existence. The play begins to fall apart near the end in my opinion, and almost sticks the landing.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'll say 2.5 stars. I wanted to enjoy this more than i did. i found it predictable and somewhat anti-climactic. It had i's moments.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly unusual format, lovely monologues and dialogue, great set and lighting design challenges, great parts for a small cast.

[Reesie :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone visited tumblr once and thought they could write a play after. So one note and fake-deep

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really beautiful ideas in this play, although the execution is a bit clunky. A few great dialogues & monologues, which I hope to use with students. I would have given the play 3 1/2 stars, but there no halves. . . . The challenge with staging is that the play becomes more ethereal/dreamlike as it goes. I would love to play with pictures, projections, and especially lighting to achieve this.

[Alyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

In typical 80's female playwrite fashion, this play is very accessible. It has a few over used conventions ("hidden" identites, character now and character 20 years from now...) but over all, a very strong play. 2 very good female roles.

[Cheryl Ann Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very powerful play. The relationship between the Teacher and Elizabeth is touching. C.B's moments are also well written.

The only thing I did not like was throwing Monet into the mix.