Creeps

by David E. Freeman

Creeps follows four disabled men working in a sheltered workshop for men with cerebral palsy in 1970s Toronto. The men escape from their menial work to the workshop bathroom, where the play is set. The men barricade themselves in the bathroom in protest of their work and the way they are treated. A telethon and circus performance from the Shriners occasionally interrupts the men.

Genres: Plays

39 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read within the context of disability history & the history of disability portrayed onstage. The language is outdated in many places, but many of the themes of the play are still relevant to issues of disability justice today.

Not sure how audiences would react to it now - one character raped a woman in the past and we hear her cries throughout the play, a character refers to another as a "white n----", they sexually harass one of the workers there (Mrs. Saunders - the secretary?), and there's a reference to two men being kicked out for kissing. Obviously a lot going on.

The interstitial portions that get more experimental are interesting - there's a carnival, a "freak show" barker, etc.

The ending felt rushed - like Freeman realized he needed to wrap it up.

[Beth Bauman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A thoroughly unpleasant read. The content (and the story of four men with cerebral palsy in the 1970s) is valuable, but it was filthy with swear words, crude depictions of sexuality, and one explicit section where one of the guys reads porn. A lot of verbal abuse,

I certainly will not re-read this, and wouldn't even read it if it wasn't required reading for school.

[Matheus Macena]

Does anybody has a link to download this play?