View source for Six Degrees of Separation (play)

{{Short description|1990 play by John Guare}}
{{Infobox play
| name       = Six Degrees of Separation
| image      = SixDegreesPoster.jpg
| caption    = Original poster by [[James McMullan]]
| writer     = [[John Guare]] 
| characters = 
| setting    = [[New York City]]
| premiere   = 1990
| place      = [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts|Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater]]<br>[[New York City]]
| orig_lang  = English
| subject    = 
| genre      = Drama
}}

'''''Six Degrees of Separation''''' is a play written by [[Americans|American]] playwright [[John Guare]] that premiered in 1990. The play was nominated for the [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] and the [[Tony Award for Best Play]].<ref>[http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Drama "Pulitzer Prize for Drama"] pulitzer.org, accessed November 13, 2015</ref>

The play explores the existential premise that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else in the world by a chain of no more than six acquaintances, thus, "[[six degrees of separation]]".

It was adapted into a [[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|film of the same name]] in 1993.

==Synopsis==
A young black man named Paul shows up at the home of art dealer Flan Kittredge and his wife Louisa, known simply as "Ouisa", who live overlooking [[Central Park]] in New York City. Paul has a minor stab wound from an attempted mugging, and says he's a friend of their children at [[Harvard University]]. The Kittredges are trying to get the money to buy a painting by [[Paul Cézanne]]<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Krasner|editor1-first=David|title=A Companion to Twentieth-Century American Drama|date=2008|publisher=Wiley|isbn=9781405137348|page=364}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Plunka|first1=Gene A.|title=The Black Comedy of John Guare|date=2002|publisher=U of Delaware P|isbn=9780874137637|page=190}}</ref> and now have this wounded stranger in their home. Paul claims he is in New York to meet his father, [[Sidney Poitier]], who is directing a film version of the [[Broadway musical]] ''[[Cats (musical)|Cats]].'' Paul continues to charm them with his story, though in reality, it is all a lie: Paul is no Harvard student and obtained details on the Kittredges from a male student he had seduced. Eventually Paul uses their home for an encounter with a hustler, but is caught red-handed. The police are called, but Paul escapes.

Soon after, Paul starts up another con against a sensitive young man named Rick and his live-in girlfriend, Elizabeth. The naive young couple are new to the big city having just moved to New York from [[Utah]] and, based on Paul's con, invite him to live with them until he gets everything sorted out with his wealthy father—who Paul tells them is Flan Kittredge. The trio become good friends, with Paul spinning a tale of being estranged from his racist father; the girlfriend tells Rick not to lend Paul any money. One night Paul takes Rick out on the town, and seduces him in order to get the money. Later that night, Rick tells Elizabeth that Paul is gone, that he has all their money, and that he and Paul had sex. In a fit of fury, she cruelly suggests that Rick's father had always questioned his son's sexuality. Soon afterwards Rick commits suicide.

In desperation, Paul calls the Kittredges for assistance. Partly due to strained relations with her children, Ouisa finds herself feeling emotionally attached to Paul, hoping to be able to help him in some way despite the fact that he has victimized them. Over a protracted and laborious phone call, he agrees to give himself up to the police; however, during the arrest, he and the couple are separated. Despite their efforts—Ouisa's more than Flan's—his fate is unresolved, except for a possibly tragic end. Towards the end of the play, in a climactic moment of reflection, she delivers the play's most famous [[monologue]]:

{{cquote|''I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people. Six degrees of separation. Between us and everybody else on this planet. The president of the United States. A gondolier in Venice. Fill in the names. I find that A) tremendously comforting that we're so close and B) like [[Chinese water torture]] that we're so close. Because you have to find the right six people to make the connection. It's not just big names. It's anyone. A native in a rain forest. A [[Tierra del Fuegan]]. An Eskimo. I am bound to everyone on this planet by a trail of six people. It's a profound thought. How Paul found us. How to find the man whose son he pretends to be. Or perhaps is his son, although I doubt it. How every person is a new door, opening up into other worlds. Six degrees of separation between me and everyone else on this planet. But to find the right six people.''}}

==Historical casting==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! Character
! 1990 Off-Broadway cast
! 1990 Broadway cast
! 1992 West End cast
! 1993 Film cast
! 1st National Tour cast
! 2017 Broadway revival cast
|-
! scope="row"| Ouisa Kittredge
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"| [[Stockard Channing]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Marlo Thomas]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Allison Janney]]
|-
! scope="row"| Flan Kittredge
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| John Cunningham
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Paul Shelley]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Donald Sutherland]]
| style="text-align:center;"| John Cunningham
| style="text-align:center;"| [[John Benjamin Hickey]]
|-
! scope="row"| Paul
| style="text-align:center;"| [[James McDaniel]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Courtney B. Vance]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Adrian Lester]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Will Smith]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Ntare Mwine]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Corey Hawkins (actor)|Corey Hawkins]]
|}

[[Kristin Griffith]] and [[Swoosie Kurtz]] read the role of Ouisa Kittredge in workshops in 1989 before Stockard Channing was cast. Channing was originally unavailable and was committed to coming to Broadway in another play, [[Neil Simon]]'s ''[[Jake's Women]]''. The play's Broadway run was canceled. Channing had starred previously in John Guare's ''[[The House of Blue Leaves]]'', and he offered her the role for the official Off-Broadway run. Kurtz later replaced Channing during the Broadway run.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-07-ca-638-story.html Jake's Women canceled] accessed 11/23/2016</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Six-Degrees-Separation-John-Guare/dp/0822210347 Play script notes] accessed 11/23/2016</ref>

==Production history==
The play premiered [[Off-Broadway]] at the [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts|Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Lincoln Center]], on May 16, 1990. Stockard Channing won an [[Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress|Obie Award]] for Best Actress for her performance. Guare won an Obie Award for his script. The cast included 

The production was transferred to the [[Vivian Beaumont Theater]] for its [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut on November 8, 1990. The production closed on January 5, 1992 after 485 performances, directed by [[Jerry Zaks]].<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11250/Six-Degrees-of-Separation "'Six Degrees of Separation' Broadway"] playbillvault.com, accessed November 13, 2015</ref> [[John Cameron Mitchell]] originated the role of Trent, which was his non-replacement debut on Broadway. [[Kelly Bishop]] played the role of Ouisa as a replacement on Broadway, and [[Laura Linney]] made her Broadway debut as a replacement for the role of Tess. The original Broadway production was nominated for four [[Tony Awards]], winning for Best Direction for Zaks. A US. National tour was launched in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-04-04-9302030976-story.html|title=MARLO THOMAS WOMAN OF DEGREES IN SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, THE ACTRESS FOUND AN ENTICING MIX OF INTELLIGENCE AND CONTROVERSY -- JUST THE THING TO DRAW HER OUT OF TV STUDIOS AND ONTO THE ROAD.|first=JACK ZINK, Theater|last=Writer|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|date=4 April 1993 |access-date=Aug 31, 2019}}</ref> [[Veronica Hamel]] also played Ouisa in the first production in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-07-24-9203060876-story.html|title=HAMEL ADDS WARMTH TO 'SIX DEGREES'|first=Sid Smith, Entertainment|last=writer|website=chicagotribune.com|date=24 July 1992 |access-date=Aug 31, 2019}}</ref>

The play made its UK debut in 1992 at the [[Royal Court Theatre]] and then transferred to the West End's [[Comedy Theatre]]. In 2010, the play was revived at the [[Old Vic]] theatre in London starring [[Lesley Manville]] as Ouisa.<ref>Billington, Michael. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/jan/20/six-degrees-of-separation-review "Review. 'Six Degrees of Separation'"] ''The Guardian'', 19 January 2010</ref>

A 1995 production at [[Canadian Stage]] in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] starred [[Fiona Reid]] as Ouisa, Jim Mezon as Flan and [[Nigel Shawn Williams]] as Paul.<ref>"Theatre Notes". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', January 12, 1995.</ref> Both Williams and Reid won [[Dora Mavor Moore Awards]] for their performances, Williams as [[Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Play|Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Play]] and Reid as [[Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role – Play|Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role – Play]].<ref>"Dora Winners". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', June 27, 1995.</ref>

In May 2004 [[Michael Buffong]] directed a production at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester]]  with [[Lisa Eichhorn]] as Ouissa Kittredge, Phillip Bretherton as Flanders Kittredge and [[O-T Fagbenle]] as Paul. O-T Fabenle won a [[Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards|MEN Award]] for his performance.

The play was revived on Broadway at the [[Ethel Barrymore Theatre]] in a limited engagement opening on April 5, 2017, starring [[Allison Janney]], [[John Benjamin Hickey]] and [[Corey Hawkins]], with direction by Trip Cullman.<ref>Paulson, Michael. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/19/theater/allison-janney-returns-to-broadway-six-degrees-of-separation-revival.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/arts "Allison Janney to Return to Broadway in ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ Revival"], ''The New York Times'', October 18, 2016</ref><ref>Clement, Olivia. [http://www.playbill.com/article/six-degrees-of-separation-announces-rush-policy# " 'Six Degrees of Separation' Announces Rush Policy"] Playbill, March 29, 2017</ref>

==Background==
The play was inspired by the real-life story of [[David Hampton]], a [[confidence trick|con]] man and robber who managed to convince a number of people in the 1980s that he was the son of actor [[Sidney Poitier]]. The writer John Guare was a friend of [[Inger McCabe Elliott]] and her husband [[Osborn Elliott]]. In October 1983 Hampton came to the Elliotts' New York apartment and they allowed him to spend the night. The next morning Inger Elliott found Hampton in bed with another man and later called the police. The Elliotts told Guare about the story and it inspired him to write the play years later.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9ugCAAAAMBAJ&dq=stockard+channing+inger+elliott&pg=PA43 New York Mag The Story of David Hampton ] accessed 7-27-2015</ref>

Hampton was tried and acquitted for harassment of Guare after the play became a critical and financial success; he felt that, as the real life protagonist of the story, he was due a share of the profits that he ultimately never received.<ref>{{cite news | author=Larrt McShane | title=Six Degrees' Inspiration Hampton Dies | url=http://slick.org/deathwatch/mailarchive/msg01075.html | agency=Associated Press | date=19 July 2003 | access-date=2008-08-17}}</ref>

A strong influence on the play is the novel ''[[The Catcher in the Rye]]'' by [[J. D. Salinger]]. There are some very overt references to it, as when the protagonist explains the thesis paper he has just written on ''The Catcher in The Rye''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/exploring_citr/sixdegrees.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027114943/http://www.geocities.com/exploring_citr/sixdegrees.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-10-27 |title=Catcher references in Six Degrees of Separation |access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> to the family who takes him in for the night.<ref>{{cite web | author=Colin L. Ryono | title=Six Degrees of Separation | url=http://www.whysanity.net/monos/sdop.html | publisher=Colin's Movie Monologue Page | date=2008 | access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref> There are also more subtle [[allusions]] made both in the script and in the [[cinematography]] of the film version, such as when various characters begin to take on [[Holden Caulfield]]-esque characteristics and attitudes.

==Film adaptation==
{{main article|Six Degrees of Separation (film)}}
Guare adapted the play for a film released in 1993 directed by [[Fred Schepisi]]. Channing was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] for her performance in the film.

==Awards and nominations==

===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:25%;"| Award ceremony
! style="width:40%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| 1991
| rowspan="4"| [[Tony Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Play|Best Play]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play]]
| [[Courtney B. Vance]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play|Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play]]
| [[Stockard Channing]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play|Best Direction of a Play]]
| [[Jerry Zaks]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Drama Desk Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play|Outstanding New Play]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play|Outstanding Actress in a Play]]
| [[Stockard Channing]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play|Outstanding Director of a Play]]
| [[Jerry Zaks]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Outer Critics Circle Award]]
| colspan=2| Outstanding New Broadway Play
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Actress in a Play
| [[Stockard Channing]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Director
| [[Jerry Zaks]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[New York Drama Critics' Circle|New York Drama Critics' Circle Award]]
| Best Play
| [[John Guare]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Clarence Derwent Awards]]
| Most Promising Male Performer
| [[James McDaniel]]
| {{won}}
|}

===Original London production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:25%;"| Award ceremony
! style="width:40%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1993
| rowspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play|Best New Play]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress|Best Actress in a Play]]
| [[Stockard Channing]]
| {{nom}}
|}

===2017 Broadway revival===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:25%;"| Award ceremony
! style="width:40%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2017
| rowspan="2"| [[Tony Award]]
| colspan=2|[[Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play|Best Revival of a Play]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play]]
| [[Corey Hawkins]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Outer Critics Circle Award]]
| Outstanding Actress in a Play
| [[Allison Janney]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Drama League Award]]
| colspan=2|Outstanding Revival of a Play
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Distinguished Performance
| [[Corey Hawkins]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Allison Janney]]
| {{nom}}

|}

==See also==
* [[Small world phenomenon]]
* [[Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon]] (game)
* [[Erdős number]]

==References==
<references/>

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | last=Guare | first=John | title=Six Degrees of Separation: A Play | edition=First | location=New York | publisher=Random House | year=1990 | isbn=0-679-40161-X}}
* {{cite book | last=Salinger | first=J. D. | title=The Catcher in the Rye | url=https://archive.org/details/catcherinrye0000sali | url-access=registration | edition=First | location=Boston | publisher=Little, Brown | year=1951 | isbn=0-316-76953-3}}
* Wolfe, Graham. (2012). “Doorways and Blank Spaces: Intertextual Connection in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation.” ''Intertextual Exchanges in American Drama''. Eds. Drew Eisenhauer and Brenda Murphy. Jefferson: McFarland. 217–231.

==External links==
* {{IBDB show|||(list of productions)}}
* {{IBDB title|4622||(1990 production)}}
* {{IOBDB title}}
* [https://www.academia.edu/2040178/_Doorways_and_Blank_Spaces_Intertextual_Connection_in_John_Guares_Six_Degrees_of_Separation._ Article on ''Six Degrees of Separation'']

{{OlivierAward Play 1976–2000}}

[[Category:1990 plays]]
[[Category:American plays adapted into films]]
[[Category:Broadway plays]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award–winning plays]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related plays]]
[[Category:New York Drama Critics' Circle Award winners]]
[[Category:Off-Broadway plays]]
[[Category:Plays about race and ethnicity]]
[[Category:Plays based on actual events]]
[[Category:Plays set in New York City]]
[[Category:Plays set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:West End plays]]