A Whale of a Plot: Samuel D. Hitner’s Show at Boston’s SpeakEasy
Boston’s SpeakEasy Theatre is currently presenting the New England premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s The Whale, winner of the prestigious 2013 Lucille Lortel Award.
The play revolves around Charlie, a solitary, secluded, cetaceous-like character, set on gorging himself to death. The reasons for his behavior remain unclear, even mysterious, until the play’s end. Charlie’s days are spent mostly sitting on a sprung sofa, enveloped in a huge sweat suit, gasping as he munches away. The slovenly stage and the space beneath are teeming with remnants of food packets.