Quote of the Day: The title “A Jumping-Off Point” comes from a phrase Craig-Glaván commonly heard in the TV writing world when adapting an existing piece into a new work. In the play, Leslie refers to Andrew’s play as “a jumping-off point” for her script. from the article Jungle Theater play asks who has the right to tell a story by Anna Koenning, The Jungle Theater website’s link to Southwest Voices article. 

Vinecia Coleman as Leslie Wallace in A Jumping-Off Point at the Jungle Theater, thru 5/19/24. Photo: Lauren B. Photography

The play A Jumping-Off Point opens with Leslie (Vinecia Coleman) sitting on a chair downstage, talking to the audience, like she’s at a conference about her work. She has had some success as a playwright and one of her scripts has been picked up by HBO. She talks about representation in entertainment, who gets to tell their stories and how. Then, the scene changes. From the clever set design (by Daniel Allen), the center back portion of the stage moves foreword, like a pop-out book, or dollhouse, to reveal Leslie’s apartment that she shares with her best friend Miriam (Ashawnti Sakina Ford). The entire apartment is painted in shades of yellow. It’s shocking and a little unsettling, and I’m not quite sure why they chose yellow. Yellow can be a cheerful, sunny color, but when overdone, or in certain shades, it can be irritable. I think that’s what they were going for! The play and its themes can be a bit disconcerting. 

Gabriel Murphy as Andrew, Vinecia Coleman as Leslie, and Ashawnti Sakina Ford as Miriam in A Jumping-Off Point at the Jungle Theater, thru 5/19/24. Set design by Daniel Allen. Photo: Lauren B. Photography

While Leslie and Miriam are discussing, and celebrating, Leslie’s success with the HBO show, she receives an email from a former classmate, Andrew (Gabriel Murphy). He shows up the next day accusing her of stealing his work and rising to success because of it. She doesn’t quite deny it by saying that she looked at his play and improved on it, making it both a better play and because of the changes – her own work. Besides, she says, who is he, as a white man, to tell the story of Black Americans living in the Mississippi Delta?

The entire play is built around the themes of Who has the right to tell a story? When is a story original? And, what does plagiarism really look like? At what point is someone’s work truly a “jumping-off point” and when is it flat out stealing? Is an historical event up for grabs? Couldn’t we all write about the same events, but in our own voices with our own spin on it? Playwright Inda Craig-Galván presents this story from both sides. She makes these characters seem very real as they deal with their own pride and shortcomings, and their interactions. Leslie presents herself as quite confident in her success and her decisions. Andrew questions her, and we see a bit of hesitation there. She agrees to let him on her writing team, but proceeds to stifle his voice, as if she’s punishing him for something. Director Shá Cage does a brilliant job of bringing out all the nuances of these characters and their story.

Vinecia Coleman as Leslie Wallace and Gabriel Murphy as Andrew in A Jumping-Off Point at the Jungle Theater, thru 5/19/24. Photo: Lauren B. Photography

A Jumping-Off Point would be a great play to attend with a playwriting class or with someone who likes discussing these difficult and pertinent themes. The playwright certainly brings to light some poignant topics. You can see the regional premiere of A Jumping-Off Point at the Jungle Theater through May 19, 2024. Costumes by China Bleu Simmons. Lighting design by Dante Benjegerdes, and sound design by C. Andrew Mayer.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: Have you had any experiences with plagiarism? Do you wrestle with diversity in your writing, or other people’s writing? Have you ever felt silenced?