Study Questions

• Names and Naming
• What effect is achieved with some characters named and others not? For example, what difference does it make that the Brighton Miles representatives are not identified by name while many other characters are? Who else are not named?
• Why do some characters have allegorical names and others do not?
• How does the BMP representatives repeatedly mispronouncing Dr. Krisana's name affect their character?
• The character Selena Scott is "played by a distinctly different actress in each appearance" (4). What do you think this achieves?
  
• Crime and Punishment: Achara calls the BMP's actions "criminal" but Tido points out that "if we go ahead with manufacture of pills with ddl in them, we'll be the criminals" (57). If the law is to provide justice, why do legal and moral crimes seem to be in opposition?
• Why is the shadow play appropriate for the three scenes in which it is used?
• How does the title "High Noon" of scene 12 color the action that goes on in it? What meaning does the metaphor give to this confrontation between Dr. Krisana and the BMP representatives?
• Both MP Patiset and Dr. Krisana seem to agree that "It is a terrible thing. This AIDS thing" (27). What is the problem? Where do they disagree?
• How does the scene 8 question and answer between Dr. Krisana and her staff characterize the GPO? In scene 12, Dr. Krisana is similarly surrounded and bombarded with demands. What is the difference between these parallel situations?
• At the end of scene 9, entitled "Dr. Krisana decides to go it alone," our heroine asks Achara "Are you coming or not?" to which the response is "Yes, Dr. Krisana," with the secretary running after her offstage. Dr. Krisana is not doing this alone after all, or is she?
  
• Time in scene 10 "Making the pill" is indicated by actors rather than with projected text like in other scenes. Also, why might LiCata and Chong use two "Date Persons"  to give time instead of only one?
• Dr. Krisana, who does not believe in miracles ("It's just pharmacology" 42), in scene 11 calls Tido "an angel!" (47). Does this change of heart make Dr. Krisana less of a scientist? How does her pronouncement foreshadow future events?
• The persistent ticking that continues throughout most of the previous scenes abruptly disappears for scene 12. Why is this appropriate or significant?
• What effect is created by the six BMP representatives onstage in scene 12?
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Review Sheet

Characters

Dr. Krisana Kraisintu –
Dr. Bhunbhu – 
Dr./Director Likhit – 

Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer – 

MP Patiset – 
Achara – 

Horst Gebbers – father of Dirk Gebbers

Dirk Gebbers – son of Horst Gebbers
Grandmother, Buddhist Nun – 

Decha – 

Desiree – 

Selena Scott – 

Elke von Schoen-Angerer – daughter of Tido

BMP 1, Robert –

BMP 2, Jack(ie) –

BMP 3 –

BMP 4 –

BMP 5 –

BMP 6 –

Setting

Samui Island, 1957

New Orleans, 1981

Bangkok, 1991

• Vince LiCata (bio blurb and posts at the Science Creative Quarterly)

• Vince J. LiCata (faculty page at Louisiana State University)

• Ping Chong and Company: Ping Chong Bio