*Stage Directors 1, 2, 3 (SD1, SD2, SD3)
*Jacob
*Harry
*Heather
Characters
Choose the character you will play.
*Starred characters have large speaking parts.
Peter Bollinger
The Experiment
Dr. Heidegger’s water will keep you young forever. Want a sip?
Based on the short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
By Jennifer Dignan and Spencer Kayden
From the May 2022 Issue
Learning Objective: to analyze the theme of a story through a narrative, in-role writing prompt
Complexity Factors
Lexile: 770L
Featured Skill:
Theme,
Other Key Skills: setting, foreshadowing, inference
Common Core Standards
TEKS Standards
Lisa K. Weber
SD1: The curtains open on a study. On a small table at the center of the room sit a crystal pitcher full of water and four crystal glasses.
SD2: Around the table are four scratched wooden chairs, their cushions covered in worn and faded fabric.
SD3: Tall bookcases, crammed with leather-bound books and covered in cobwebs, loom in the shadows.
SD1: On one wall hangs a faded photograph of a young woman. On another hangs a cloudy mirror.
SD2: Over everything lies a blanket of dust.
SD3: Two men and a woman, as old and decrepit as their surroundings, glance awkwardly about the room.
Jacob: What is Heidegger up to, inviting the three of us here after all these years?
Harry: Who knows? He’s always been an odd fellow.
SD1: Heather tilts her head toward the mirror.
Heather: They say that the ghosts of Heidegger’s patients watch from that mirror.
Jacob (pointing at the photograph): Remember Sylvia?
Heather: She was Heidegger’s college girlfriend.
Harry: That’s right! Whatever happened to her?
Jacob: She and Heidegger were going to get married—but then she died.
Heather: There were all kinds of rumors about it.
Jacob: I heard that Sylvia was helping with some secret experiment—and something went wrong.
Harry: Ah, yes, Heidegger was always conducting some sort of strange experiment or another, wasn’t he?
Heather: He was indeed. But who knows what really happened? It was all so long ago.
SD2: The guests stare thoughtfully at the photo.
Lisa K. Weber
Scene 2
SD3: Jordan shows an elderly woman into the room.
Jordan: Hello, everyone. Clara is here! Clara, you remember your old friends Jacob, Heather, and Harry.
SD1: No one speaks.
Jordan: Well, ah, I’ll let you catch up.
SD2: Jordan exits.
Heather (to Clara): Well, look who it is.
Clara: You three! It’s been what, 60 years since we last saw each other? I would not have recognized you had that young assistant not given your names.
Jacob: It’s true. We are much changed since last we met.
SD3: The four drift about the dreary room, avoiding each other. Finally, Harry speaks.
Harry: Do you remember how much we used to fight back in college?
Jacob: We were terribly competitive—so jealous of each other’s successes.
Harry: I can barely recall what it’s like to have such strong feelings. These days, my deepest wish . . . is for the grave.
Clara: What an awful thing to say. And yet—I admit I often wish the same.
Heather (quietly): Time is cruel.
Jacob: Are your riches not a comfort, at least, Heather?
Heather: What riches? It’s true that I made a fortune after graduation. But I took many foolish risks with my money and got involved in schemes anyone could have seen were too good to be true. Now I have nothing.
Jacob: You are not the only one with regrets. I was once a politician with a promising future. Remember? I was the youngest mayor in the history of the city. Then . . . well, no doubt you’ve heard the stories.
Clara: You took bribes.
Jacob: Among other things, yes. Not that it matters now. Today, no one even knows my name.
Clara: Everyone knows my name: Clara, who can’t be trusted. Clara, who will reveal your secrets. In town I am reviled. So I keep to myself, day after lonely day.
Jacob: And you, Harry? What is your tragic tale?
Harry: When you knew me, I was a strapping young man with a bright future on the field. Thought I would be a pro. But I destroyed my health with alcohol, tobacco, decadent meals. . . . Now look at me. I cannot take one step without pain.
Lisa K. Weber
SD1: The study door opens, and Dr. Heidegger enters.
Heidegger: My dear old friends!
SD2: Heidegger is as old and unsteady as his guests, but his eyes burn with a flame long extinguished in the eyes of the others.
Harry: Why have you brought us here?
Heidegger: I am hoping you can help with an experiment.
Heather: Ah, yes, your famous “experiments.” Will we be examining a spider under a microscope?
SD3: The guests chuckle.
SD1: Dr. Heidegger gestures toward the table.
Heidegger: Please, have a seat.
SD2: As his guests sit down, Heidegger retrieves a large book from a bookshelf.
SD3: He unfastens the silver clasps that hold it shut and removes a dried flower from between the pages.
Heidegger: My beloved Sylvia gave me this rose 60 years ago. I was to wear it at our wedding.
SD1: Heidegger lifts the brown and crumbling rose.
Heidegger: Do you suppose this rose could bloom again?
Clara: What a silly question!
Jacob: You might as well ask whether this brittle old body could dance again.
Heidegger: Watch.
SD2: The doctor dips the rose in the pitcher of water.
SD3: Slowly, the rose’s petals turn a deep red and its leaves turn green.
SD1: It soon looks like a freshly cut flower.
Jacob: What a clever trick. How did you do it?
Heidegger: Have you heard of the Fountain of Youth?
Heather: Of course. But it’s just a myth.
Heidegger: I assure you, it is quite real. An acquaintance of mine found it, down in Florida. He sent me the water in this pitcher.
Harry: That seems unlikely.
Jacob: And what does this water do to humans?
Heidegger: Judge for yourselves.
SD2: The doctor pours water from the pitcher into the four glasses.
Heidegger: Before you drink, my friends, consider this: You have had a lifetime of experiences. It would be a shame if, passing through youth a second time, you were to repeat the mistakes of your past.
Heather: If this water could make me young again—which, no offense, I very much doubt—I would certainly NOT repeat my past mistakes.
Clara: Indeed. We understand how we became the miserable creatures we are today. I am sure we would all behave differently if given the chance to do it all again.
Heidegger: Wonderful! It seems you four are indeed the perfect subjects for my experiment. So please, drink—and be restored to the bloom of youth!
SD3: With trembling hands, Heidegger’s guests lift their glasses to their lips.
SD1: The lights fade.
Lisa K. Weber
Scene 4
One hour later
SD2: The lights come up on Dr. Heidegger and his guests. The guests’ clothes have not changed, but in all other ways, the four are transformed.
SD3: They appear to be in their 20s and full of strength and energy.
Harry: This is simply amazing! I don’t know when I last felt so cheerful.
Jacob: It’s like I’ve come out of a nightmare.
SD1: Heather examines a lock of her l0ng hair.
Heather: My hair is the same blazing red it was years ago. This is truly a miracle!
SD2: Her eyebrows shoot up.
Heather: I have just had the most brilliant idea! I’m going to build an elevator to the moon and sell tickets. I’ll be rich!
Harry: Heidegger, give us more of this wondrous water!
Clara: Yes—give us more!
SD3: The doctor refills their glasses.
Jacob: I was just thinking: I could run for office again. I am sure there are plenty of people who would help me. All it takes is a favor here, a favor there...
Clara: You wouldn’t do anything illegal, would you?
SD1: Harry shrugs and laughs.
Harry: Heidegger, may I have another glass of that wonderful water? And perhaps a steak and some chocolate cake and a bottle or two of your best wine? And say, do you keep cigars in your study?
Heidegger: I’m afraid I’ve nothing on hand, but I am happy to refill your water.
Harry (laughing): Can you believe how old we were?
SD2: Jacob limps across the room.
Jacob: Ooh, look at me, I am so old. Oh oh oh, everything hurts! Everything is so terrible!
SD3: The four young people laugh heartily as Heidegger again refills their glasses.
SD1: Clara gulps down the water and walks over to where Heidegger is watching them.
SD2: She whispers in his ear and points at the others.
Heather: Clara! What are you whispering about?
Jacob: Yes, Clara, what is it you don’t want us to hear?
Clara: It’s nothing!
Harry: Let me guess. You’re telling Heidegger lies so that he will give the rest of the water to you!
Clara: I would never!
Heather: Ignore whatever she told you, Heidegger. Give the rest of the water to me, and I’ll make you a partner in my new business!
Jacob: Do not listen to this nonsense, Heidegger. Give the water to me, and once I’m in office, I will return the favor!
Heather: What fools you are! I will RUIN all of you!
Clara: How dare you! Do you think I’ve forgotten the secrets all of you told me freshman year?
Harry: If any of you think you’re getting that water, think again! I will rip you apart with my bare hands!
SD3: The four are soon a tumble of arms and legs. Heidegger quietly observes their behavior.
SD1: His attention drifts to the mirror, which—though it is hard to see in the gloom—seems for a moment to reveal four withered figures fighting like wild animals.
SD2: Suddenly, there is a crash. The table has been knocked over, sending the pitcher of water to the floor and dashing it into a thousand pieces.
Clara, Harry, Jacob, and Heather: Nooo!!
SD3: The lights go out.
Lisa K. Weber
Lisa K. Weberer
SD1: Heidegger’s guests are old once again. They are seated around the table.
Heather: No, no, no! How can this be? How can this BE?
Harry: This is torture!
Clara: How can we have grown old again so fast?
Heidegger: Yes, my friends, you are old again. And the Water of Youth is gone. I can’t say I am sorry, though. You have taught me an important lesson today. Even if the Fountain of Youth gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to sip from it.
SD2: But the guests do not seem to hear the doctor.
Clara: Listen, I have an idea. We must take a trip together.
Heather: Whatever do you mean?
Clara: To Florida! We will go to the Fountain of Youth.
Jacob: Yes! Yes! We will find it!
Harry: And drink from it morning, noon, and night!
Heather: Just imagine!
SD3: As his friends chatter with excitement, the doctor goes to the study door and calls out.
Heidegger: Jordan?
SD1: Jordan appears a moment later.
Jordan: Yes, Doctor?
Heidegger: I believe my guests are ready to depart. Please see them out.
Jordan: Of course. Everyone, please follow me.
SD2: Heidegger’s guests, still murmuring about their trip, pay little notice to the doctor as they shuffle out the door.
SD3: Heidegger slowly walks across the empty room. He stoops to lift a dried-up rose from the floor.
SD1: The lights fade.
Writing Prompt
Write Dr. Heidegger’s notes about his experiment. Be sure to include the purpose of the experiment, his observations, and his conclusions.
This play was originally published in the May 2022 issue.
Activities
(9)
Reference
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Quizzes
(1)
Answer Key
(1)
Activities
(9)
Reference
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Quizzes
(1)
Answer Key
(1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building
1. PREPARING TO READ (20 MINUTES)
2. READING AND DISCUSSING (45 MINUTES)
3. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING (30 MINUTES)
Text-to-Speech