Monologue Analysis: Peak Stuff by Billie Collins
Character Context
Character: Charlie
Age: Early 20s
Speaking to: Audience (direct address)
Synopsis
In Billie Collins' play Peak Stuff, Charlie, a university graduate, grapples with feelings of isolation and a desire for human connection. Amidst a late-night party in their shared house, Charlie engages in an online yoga class, reflecting on their detachment and the overwhelming nature of consumer culture. This introspection leads to a radical decision to commodify their own body parts, highlighting the extremes one might consider to attain a sense of presence and value.
Original Text
It’s three twenty-two a.m.
My housemates are having a party downstairs
And I’m doing an online yoga class.
I’m not really into yoga
But I’ve been on my laptop all night
So I can’t feel my legs.
I’ve been on ASOS
Filling my basket with things I can’t afford
Putting in my card details
And clicking ‘cancel transaction’
At the last…Possible…Second…
My room’s tiny, so when I lie in shavasana
My head’s under the desk
And the teacher’s voice is disembodied
Like an angel or … Alexa.
She says:
Don’t push yourself too far.
It’s not a contest.
All you have to do
Is find the appropriate amount of sensation.
And if you asked me to identify the moment, this would be it.
Lying under my desk
In my damp-smelling room
Suddenly aware
Of every inch of my skin
The floor throbbing with
Muted laughter and muffled bass,
Trying, really trying to
‘Find the appropriate amount of sensation’ but …
Sometimes I feel like I’m not really here.
Then sometimes I feel like I’m too here,
Like my body is ….
And that’s when the idea arrives
Fully formed, like when a giraffe gives birth.
Have you seen that? Google it, it’s awful –
The idea arrives and it is perfect.
I pause the video and start with my finger
The pinky, on my left hand.
I figure I won’t miss it too much.
I close ASOS and log on to www.etsy.co.uk.
Within ten minutes, I’ve made my first listing.
One finger, human, home-made.
Within twenty I have interest from seven different buyers.
Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing
It’s three twenty-two a.m.
My housemates are having a party downstairs
And I’m doing an online yoga class.
I’m not really into yoga
But I’ve been on my laptop all night
So I can’t feel my legs.Charlie sets the scene, contrasting the lively atmosphere downstairs with their solitary activity, hinting at feelings of isolation.
I’ve been on ASOS
Filling my basket with things I can’t afford
Putting in my card details
And clicking ‘cancel transaction’
At the last…Possible…Second…They reveal a compulsive habit of online shopping without purchasing, indicating a struggle with consumer impulses and financial constraints.
My room’s tiny, so when I lie in shavasana
My head’s under the desk
And the teacher’s voice is disembodied
Like an angel or … Alexa.
She says:
Don’t push yourself too far.
It’s not a contest.
All you have to do
Is find the appropriate amount of sensation.Charlie describes their cramped living conditions and the surreal experience of the online yoga class, emphasizing a sense of confinement.
And if you asked me to identify the moment, this would be it.
They pinpoint a moment of clarity or realization amidst their routine.
Lying under my desk
In my damp-smelling room
Suddenly aware
Of every inch of my skin
The floor throbbing with
Muted laughter and muffled bass,
Trying, really trying to
‘Find the appropriate amount of sensation’ but …Charlie becomes acutely conscious of their physical presence and the surrounding environment, struggling to achieve the mindfulness the yoga instructor advocates.
Sometimes I feel like I’m not really here.
Then sometimes I feel like I’m too here,
Like my body is ….They express a fluctuating sense of existence, oscillating between detachment and overwhelming presence.
And that’s when the idea arrives
Fully formed, like when a giraffe gives birth.
Have you seen that? Google it, it’s awful –
The idea arrives and it is perfect.Charlie experiences a sudden, vivid inspiration, using a striking metaphor to convey its impact.
I pause the video and start with my finger
The pinky, on my left hand.
I figure I won’t miss it too much.
I close ASOS and log on to www.etsy.co.uk.
Within ten minutes, I’ve made my first listing.
One finger, human, home-made.
Within twenty I have interest from seven different buyers.They take a drastic step, listing their finger for sale online, highlighting a desperate attempt to find value or connection through commodification.
Journey Keypoints
Hook: Charlie introduces their late-night routine, juxtaposing their solitude with the social activity of their housemates.
Turning Point: They reflect on their disconnection and the overwhelming nature of their physical existence.
Climax: Charlie conceives a radical idea to sell their body parts online, acting upon it immediately.
Resolution: The swift interest from potential buyers underscores the extremity of their actions and the commodification of self.
About the Playwright: Billie Collins
Billie Collins is a British playwright whose works explore contemporary issues with wit and depth. Peak Stuff examines consumer culture and its impact on personal identity, presenting three interwoven narratives that delve into the complexities of materialism in modern society. Collins's writing is characterized by sharp dialogue and a keen observation of human behavior, offering audiences a thought-provoking theatrical experience.
