Synopsis

In a stark, minimalistic office, the boundaries between reality and fiction blur as a desperate film producer pitches his latest project.

James, a driven and somewhat unhinged film producer, is attempting to convince Olivia, a successful actress, to star in his new film. The monologue unfolds as James vividly describes the film’s plot, a controversial and intense narrative that interweaves themes of terrorism, cultural conflict, and personal trauma. The storyline he pitches involves a Western woman, Amy, who becomes romantically entangled with a Middle Eastern terrorist, Mohammed. As James details the story, he delves into graphic and provocative imagery, aiming to seduce Olivia with the role’s emotional depth and complexity.

The play explores themes of exploitation, cultural stereotypes, and the commodification of trauma. The play is a sharp, satirical commentary on the film industry’s tendency to sensationalize and exploit serious issues for profit. Through James’s pitch, Ravenhill exposes the often grotesque lengths to which producers will go to create a marketable story, highlighting the moral compromises and ethical ambiguities involved. The tone of the play is both darkly humorous and unsettling, reflecting the absurdity and brutality of the entertainment industry.