"Extremities," written by William Mastrosimone and first staged in 1982, is a stark, theatrical exploration of violence, revenge, and the human will to survive. Set almost entirely within the confined space of a suburban living room, the play follows Marjorie, a woman who becomes the victim of a brutal sexual assault by a stranger named Joe. When Joe returns later, apparently unrepentant, Marjorie’s friends — Terry and the volatile Patricia — arrive and discover what has happened. What begins as a domestic confrontation morphs into a disturbing psychological power struggle: Marjorie seizes control, captures Joe, and forces him into a tense trial orchestrated in the room. The action interrogates moral ambiguity and probes how trauma reshapes identity, agency, and justice.
Which would you prefer? Or if you are looking for the actual published script of Mastrosimone's Extremities to download as a PDF, that is copyrighted material, and I cannot distribute it. You may find it through a library, publisher (e.g., Samuel French), or by purchasing a licensed copy.
LUCY: (trying to help) Tess, stop!
The use of play script PDFs to learn about extremities offers several benefits, including:
Character Analysis:
If you're interested in reading a gripping and intense play script that explores complex themes and features strong female characters, "Extremities" is an excellent choice. However, be prepared for a disturbing and potentially uncomfortable reading experience.
TESS: Help? They think they can just waltz in here and fix everything? They don't know the first thing about living off the land. extremities play script pdf
Extremities , written by William Mastrosimone in 1982, is a gripping dramatic play that explores the psychological and moral fallout of an attempted sexual assault. The script is famous for its visceral intensity and for "turning the tables," as the victim subdues her attacker and holds him captive, sparking a debate on justice versus revenge. Core Plot Summary