Boy Gets Girl
By Rebecca Gilman

Oct. 14 - Nov. 5, 2005

Directed by Doobie Potter

BOY GETS GIRL could be the title of a frothy romantic comedy, but in Rebecca Gilman's play, the title has a chilling meaning when we see how far a young man goes to "get" the object of his obsession.

The modern thriller has its Oklahoma premiere at Carpenter Square Theatre October 14 and plays through November 5 in Stage Center's Arena Theater at 400 W. Sheridan in downtown Oklahoma City.

Using deft touches of humor mixed with tension, playwright Gilman explores both obsession and sexism in her true-to-life tale. Theresa Bedell hasn't had a date in a year and a half. She's a successful, career-driven writer at The World, a New Yorker-style magazine, but she is now at the point where a relationship would complete the picture.

A friend sets Theresa up on a blind date, and there she meets Tony, a seemingly nice enough young man, but she quickly surmises that they have nothing in common. The conversation is strained. Her jokes and references go over his head; he pushes too hard. Theresa isn't interested, but Tony is smitten. He barrages her with flowers, calls her repeatedly and bursts in at unexpected times. When Theresa is adamant about not seeing him again, things rapidly turn nasty, and Theresa's friends and co-workers become embroiled in her fearful dilemma. How far will this boy go to get the girl and how far will she have to go to get away?

In her relatively short writing career, Rebecca Gilman has garnered tremendous recognition for her work. BOY GETS GIRL was named Time Magazine's #1 Play of 2000, and was featured in the collection "The Best Plays of 2000-2001". In Chicago, the play received the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Play. In addition, Ms. Gilman holds the distinction of being the first American ever to win London's Evening Standard Award for most promising playwright for "The Glory of Living", which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2001.

Carpenter Square Theatre is the recipient of a project assistance grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council for this production. The theater is an Allied Arts member agency and this production is an Allied Arts Star Card event.