Third on the Fourth, by Carrie

Ok, so obviously the stage directions--totes great--How often do I get to say crotch and erection and "pulsing movement" in an academic envirnoment? (It's usually phallus, tumescent phallus, and jouissance).

[segue into real affirmations]

AFFIRMATIONS

I loved the tension between how honest the scene is (watching porn with someone else--how often do we see this?), how personal it is, and yet how during the whole scene there is a level of dishonesty operating. I really liked the comment that "this is what Connor has to do"/his ritual of pretend accidental bonerism with Adrian. Its so clear that Connor is controlling/orchestrating this scene without wanting to take any responsibility for it--like when you to come up for coffee and your pretending, oh yeah, i'm just making coffee--oh yeah, no, we're just you know, watching porn for porn's sake and oh, well now i have an erection, and what am i going to do about that? (And I love that there are 29 other gangbang girl's)

This scene also really brought back those pictures we drew of Connor's room as musty/dirty bachelor den

-I've loved all the new scenes you've brought in, particularly the ones having to do with technology and pushing it as far as it can go--I agree with Erica N that these are the moments that the play becomes most theatrical (pushing such a non-theatrical/technological convention to its extremes). Sometimes on major holidays when everyone is trying to call one another you get those "system busy" or "call failed" messages which are super annoying/also bad news when you accidentally send a text to the wrong person which is so easy to do, or even just everyone's phone slowly running out of juice one by one. I also really liked the idea of the phone breaking at some point and (moving to question for second half of thought)

Questions:
Wonder if the breakdown in technology might coincide with some of theold fashioned "magic" of the fourth, fireworks, simpler ways that people are related, come together on this very traditional/community/homey holiday?

What if Connor's favorite moment in the porn was a blow job scene--or is that too pointed?

Does Connor watch porn with his other friends? (Dave and Gerald?) I realize that was part of the "oh no, this is just porn" but still, I wondered if this is a "guy thing" or what (this scene and the discussion of what does it feel like to be in a pussy seems like the most honest discussion/aknowledgement of Adrian's sexuality btw between Connor and Adrian--which I really liked)
(ooooh, what if it was Jessica's?)

I wondered when you raised S.'s comment of there not being more writing needed if you feel like there is (it seems like it if you raised the question)

-I still have a lot of questions about Henry (sort of in response to that) which may be repetitions of my last blog, but i wonder why he is back, what it means to leave this town (if that is rare) what it means to him to come back, why he is trying to keep such a low profile, and what his relationship is to Connor (I kind of love Michael's suggestion that he is Connor's older brother--I think the connection I feel with Connor and Henry is that Connor seems so stagnant and stuck in one place and Henry is obviously has made choices: to go and to come back--i feel like this choice/non-choice is related or in response to a similar something)

-I'm *really* curious as to what happens after the scene you brought in between Seth and Adrian--I would assume that Adrian extricates himself, but I really wanted to see what was going to happen even knowing that--though there is something a little creepy about Seth almost taking advantage of Adrian when he is wasted and flailing around in a kiddie pool, then again, kinda sad, first year he was too drunk to do anything, second Adrian was too drunk to know what was going on or remember

-I like Connor a whole lot more than I did initially (and think he is a lot more layered) but I am still not really sure what he is going through and dealing with, what he wants, why he is doing what he is doing

-Did Connor love Jessica when they were together?

OPINION
(I sort of feel like my opinions creeped into my questions and comments...so not a lot of comments)
Ok, just as someone said that they didn't believe Connor drank fancy whiskey I'm not sure i have Mia pegged as a New Castle kinda girl.

Jessica seems almost too pathetic in the voice mail scene (yes I know, she is the character who forced herself on her ex and then tried to get Henry to come over) but I wonder if she can't have just a little bit of dignity, or at least end up with one of the other porn swapping boys. Where is she when the fireworks go off? really still at home?

Really wonderful writing and workshops all semester!