Mortified

By (author): Amy Rutherford

A woman runs into her former abuser and is surprised by the power he still holds over her. In an attempt to uncover the truth of what really happened between them, she recalls her adolescent self: a synchronized swimmer struggling to make sense of the world around her. Humorous and dark, Mortified explores sex, shame, and transformation and how we reckon with the traumatic experiences that have shaped us.

AUTHOR

Amy Rutherford

Amy Rutherford is a Canadian playwright and actress who has worked for twenty years in TV, film, and theatre with some of the country’s leading artists. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and the Stratford Festival’s Birmingham Conservatory, Amy has co-written several plays, including The Public Servant and Out of the Woods. She currently divides her time between Toronto and Vancouver with her partner Jonathon Young.


Reviews

“Taking on the suffocating feeling of a young woman dealing with sexual assault and trauma, Mortified does so with grace and humour. It is a beautiful and memorable piece of theatre that will not be easily forgotten.”


“The very fearlessness of Mortified is the biggest strength in a play that has many.”


Mortified feels whole and perfect in the same way that a body can feel whole and perfect: it’s just that organic, sensual—and complicated.”


Awards

  • Carol Bolt Award 2019, Winner
  • Excerpts & Samples ×

    We hear a phone ringing as the Woman enters.

    WOMAN
    I need your help! I screwed up.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 4
    Who are you?

    WOMAN
    Jesus!

    GIRL
    Relax!

    WOMAN
    Who are they?

    GIRL
    They’re, they’re my friends.

    WOMAN
    Well, I’ve never met them before.

    GIRL
    They usually disappear when you show up . . .

    WOMAN
    This isn’t good. I’m getting worse.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    Is she your mom?

    WOMAN
    No!

    GIRL
    She’s—

    WOMAN
    I’m her!

    GIRL
    But I’m not her.

    WOMAN
    (taken aback) You’re me.

    GIRL
    But I’m not you. Not yet. Thank god.

    WOMAN
    What the hell is this?

    The Woman starts tearing down the cartoon penises.

    GIRL
    Hey!

    The Girl steps in to gather up the drawings.

    WOMAN
    (to Girl) I did a bad thing.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 2
    What did you do?

    WOMAN
    It’s none of your business!
    (to the Girl) He’s going to call any minute.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 4
    Who?

    WOMAN
    Nobody!!
    (to Girl) It’s my fault—

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    Why is she lying?

    WOMAN
    What do I do?

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 2
    What’s the secret?

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 4
    Yeah.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    What did you do?

    WOMAN
    Shut the fuck up!

    SYNCHRO SWIMMERS
    (overlapping) Whoa. That is— I can’t believe you just said that . . . that is so . . . why would you say that?

    WOMAN
    (to Girl) I texted him.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    “Tested him?”

    WOMAN
    No, “texted.” I texted . . .

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    “Texted.”

    WOMAN
    It’s like leaving an e-mail—

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    E-mail?

    WOMAN
    Forget it. I “paged” him, okay? I told him that we should meet.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMERS
    Oooh . . .

    WOMAN
    It’s not like that.

    The Woman’s phone vibrates.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 3
    Oh my god, what is that?

    She pulls it out of her back pocket.

    What is that?

    WOMAN
    (to Girl) It’s him.

    SYNCHRO SWIMMER 4
    It’s a flashlight!

    GIRL
    Answer it!

    WOMAN
    What . . . ?

    SYNCHRO SWIMMERS
    Answer it!

    WOMAN
    I don’t want to.

    The Synchro Swimmers grab at the phone, as the Woman attempts to evade them. “What is it?” “A computer?” “How do you answer it?” “It’s so tiny and flat? Somehow, in the scuffle, the phone is answered.

    TY’S VOICE
    Hello?

    They all go dead quiet and listen to TY’s voice coming through the phone.

    Princess? It’s Ty. You there?

    GIRL
    Yes. Say yes!

    WOMAN
    Yes. Hi.

    TY’S VOICE
    What you up to?

    WOMAN
    Uh, nothing. Just here with some, friends, or, (fading out) um . . .

    TY’S VOICE
    Hello?

    WOMAN
    Sorry, this feels a little weird.

    TY’S VOICE
    No kidding.

    WOMAN
    It’s been a long time.

    TY’S VOICE
    You haven’t changed.

    WOMAN
    I still look thirteen?

    TY’S VOICE
    Nah . . . You’re still pretty.

    The Synchro Swimmers shriek and giggle. A few follow the Woman offstage.

    Reader Reviews

    Details

    Dimensions:

    128 Pages
    8.50in * 5.40in * .30in
    .25lb
    180.00gr

    Published:

    January 11, 2022

    ISBN:

    9780369102935

    Book Subjects:

    DRAMA / Women Authors

    Featured In:

    All Books

    Language:

    eng

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