The Exit Interview
by William Missouri Downs

Name: The Exit Interview
Brand: William Missouri Downs
SKU: 9780573700903
Rating: 3.42 (15 reviews)

The Exit Interview Book Cover — The Exit Interview Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 mins Present Day Expandable Casting Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Comedy

Synopsis

Bertolt Brecht scholar Dick Fig has been terminated by his university and is having an excruciating exit interview with Eunice - a decidedly droll administrator.

Downs' witty play ricochets through Brechtian interludes, a pair of politically-radicalized cheerleaders, a pompous newsman, communiques from God, and debates on religion, science and politics before reaching its surprising conclusion.

Press Reviews

"The laughs keep coming – even as audience members might think with a twinge, ‘Ouch, that might be me.’ Some will no doubt be offended by one non-politically correct moment or another. But with luck, all will be forced to think."
— Orlando Sentinel

"A gleefully boundary-flouting riff on religion, piety and the limits of belief... William Missouri Downs’ bonkers theatrical carnival is to conventional plays what Burning Man is to a weenie roast. It’s like an elaborate, lovingly constructed spitball aimed at the idea of divinity... Downs’ vision for it is nothing if not ambitious; he shoehorns comedy and commentary about religion into a broader construct of questioning and messing with pat perceptions of reality, taking his cues from the work of the German theater icon Bertolt Brecht."
— San Diego Union Tribune

"Downs’ rip-roaring send-up ricochets with Brechtian interludes and a cast including a pair of deranged cheerleaders, a pretentious newscaster, soccer moms and German doctors – each addressing universal questions regarding facts, faith and fate in this timely, dark comedy that breaks down all the walls of logic and realism."
— LA Theatre Beat

"Who knew school shootings could be so much gosh darn fun? If you want to get your Brecht on, and have a rip-roaring time…"
— Ed Rampell, Counterpunch.org

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Eunice A pawn in the human resources department	—	—	A pawn in the human resources department
Actress #1 CHEERLEADER #1, with pompoms; MARY, an oboe player and Dick’s ex-girlfriend; SAMANTHA, a mother with a baby carriage; BUSINESSWOMAN #2, an expert on underwear; and DR. DOBSON, PhD in religious studies from Yale	female	—	CHEERLEADER #1, with pompoms; MARY, an oboe player and Dick’s ex-girlfriend; SAMANTHA, a mother with a baby carriage; BUSINESSWOMAN #2, an expert on underwear; and DR. DOBSON, PhD in religious studies from Yale
Actress #2 CHEERLEADER #2, with pompoms; MRS. MEREDITH, Mary’s mother; CHLOE, Eunice’s young assistant; A MAKEUP LADY, can make you look good; BETH, a mother with a baby carriage; BUSINESSWOMAN IN A BRA, an expert on bras; LADY NEWSCASTER, Foxy Fox Newscaster; ACTRESS #1, Bertolt Brecht announcer; and DR. KATTS, a distinguished scientist	female	—	CHEERLEADER #2, with pompoms; MRS. MEREDITH, Mary’s mother; CHLOE, Eunice’s young assistant; A MAKEUP LADY, can make you look good; BETH, a mother with a baby carriage; BUSINESSWOMAN IN A BRA, an expert on bras; LADY NEWSCASTER, Foxy Fox Newscaster; ACTRESS #1, Bertolt Brecht announcer; and DR. KATTS, a distinguished scientist
Actor #1 MASKED GUNMAN, who has killed ten people; ACTOR #1, Bertolt Brecht announcer; A PRIEST, a celibate; BUSINESSMAN #1, an expert on underwear; DR. HUBERT, president of the LDS Church; and HANK STARLING, a professional baseball player	—	—	MASKED GUNMAN, who has killed ten people; ACTOR #1, Bertolt Brecht announcer; A PRIEST, a celibate; BUSINESSMAN #1, an expert on underwear; DR. HUBERT, president of the LDS Church; and HANK STARLING, a professional baseball player
Actor #2 WALTER, Foxy Fox Newscaster; BUSINESSMAN #2, an expert on underwear; DR. JAEGER, a distinguished scientist; and ACTOR #2, Bertolt Brecht announcerNote: This play can be produced with a much larger cast.	—	—	WALTER, Foxy Fox Newscaster; BUSINESSMAN #2, an expert on underwear; DR. JAEGER, a distinguished scientist; and ACTOR #2, Bertolt Brecht announcerNote: This play can be produced with a much larger cast.
Dick Fig A young college professor with his leg in a cast; his PhD was on Bertolt Brecht	male	—	A young college professor with his leg in a cast; his PhD was on Bertolt Brecht