George
Has she spoken to you?
Gwen
Can she?
George
I am asking you directly, Elizabeth Gwendolyn. Did she speak to you?
Gwen
No, father. I was trying to talk to her about Ireland.
George
Why would you talk to her?
Gwen
It’s for class. We need to talk about family mythology. Grandfather said she’d be the best person to ask.
George
She isn’t. You aren’t Irish. You’re British. One day Ireland will be too. Once they collapse under their own weight, law and order will be restored, and then we can go home.
Gwen
Yes, Father. What should I do my project on?
George
Why not Dragons? That’s a proper beast. I can tell you all about them after dinner. Go wash up.
Gwen
Yes, Father.
George
Good girl. Did you give her water?
Gwen
She looked thirsty.
George
Don’t. Unless I’m supervising, you are not to go near her. Do you understand me?
Gwen
Yes. May I get ready for dinner?
George
Yes, dear. Of course.
Gwen turns to leave
Merwyn
Only by returning to the waves, can you find yourself m-
George slaps her
The living room of the Barebone home, it is October of 1941 and a storm is raging outside. The young daughter, Gwen, begins to investigate her family origins as her mother tries to escape, her father to conceal, and her grandfather to squirm before the truth of this family.
Skin Deep
George
Has she spoken to you?
Gwen
Can she?
George
I am asking you directly, Elizabeth Gwendolyn. Did she speak to you?
Gwen
No, father. I was trying to talk to her about Ireland.
George
Why would you talk to her?
Gwen
It’s for class. We need to talk about family mythology. Grandfather said she’d be the best person to ask.
George
She isn’t. You aren’t Irish. You’re British. One day Ireland will be too. Once they collapse under their own weight, law and order will be restored, and then we can go home.
Gwen
Yes, Father. What should I do my project on?
George
Why not Dragons? That’s a proper beast. I can tell you all about them after dinner. Go wash up.
Gwen
Yes, Father.
George
Good girl. Did you give her water?
Gwen
She looked thirsty.
George
Don’t. Unless I’m supervising, you are not to go near her. Do you understand me?
Gwen
Yes. May I get ready for dinner?
George
Yes, dear. Of course.
Gwen turns to leave
Merwyn
Only by returning to the waves, can you find yourself m-
George slaps her
Gwen Barebone
It is physically impossible to explain how wrong you are, but deal.
William Barebone
As long as you don't let her out of her chains or let your father find you.
Dr. George Barebone
Who let her out?
Merwyn Barebone
Nowhere could help be found, except from a prince without a crown.
Ruthie DeWitt
Do you like knives?
Janice Albin
So far, I'm coping. I'm not coping.
G.W. Watanabe
Don't you know about us school people? We never leave, we just hang upside down in the classrooms till daybreak.
Margaret Higgins *
You're here, aren't you? That's wrong enough.
Oliver Gilder *
I am a confirmed bachelor until Mother says otherwise. Thank God, she's mute.
Agnes Guybetaut *
I haven't done anything wrong.
Mrs. DeWitt *
She brought you your homework, dear. Isn't that nice? I'll go throw it in the furnace.
Cast
* indicates double
Gwen Barebone
Female presenting. Irish accent. Teen.
It is physically impossible to explain how wrong you are, but deal.
William Barebone
Male presenting. 60's-70's. Ulster Irish accent.
As long as you don't let her out of her chains or let your father find you.
Dr. George Barebone
Male presenting. 30's-40's. Ulster Irish accent.
Who let her out?
Merwyn Barebone
Female presenting. 30's-40's. Irish accent.
Nowhere could help be found, except from a prince without a crown.
Ruthie DeWitt
Female presenting. Teen. Jewish.
Do you like knives?
Janice Albin
Female presenting. Biracial woman passing herself as white. 20's - 30's.
So far, I'm coping. I'm not coping.
G.W. Watanabe
Male presenting. Japanese-American. 20's - 30's
Don't you know about us school people? We never leave, we just hang upside down in the classrooms till daybreak.
Margaret Higgins *
Female presenting. White. 40's-50's
You're here, aren't you? That's wrong enough.
Oliver Gilder *
Male presenting. White. 20's-40's.
I am a confirmed bachelor until Mother says otherwise. Thank God, she's mute.
Agnes Guybetaut *
Female presenting. Teenage. Romani.
I haven't done anything wrong.
Mrs. DeWitt *
Female presenting. Jewish. 30's-40's.
She brought you your homework, dear. Isn't that nice? I'll go throw it in the furnace.
Role | Description |
|---|---|
Gwen Barebone | Female presenting. Irish accent. Teen. |
William Barebone | Male presenting. 60's-70's. Ulster Irish accent. |
Dr. George Barebone | Male presenting. 30's-40's. Ulster Irish accent. |
Merwyn Barebone | Female presenting. 30's-40's. Irish accent. |
Ruthie DeWitt | Female presenting. Teen. Jewish. |
Janice Albin | Female presenting. Biracial woman passing herself as white. 20's - 30's. |
G.W. Watanabe | Male presenting. Japanese-American. 20's - 30's |
Margaret Higgins * | Female presenting. White. 40's-50's |
Oliver Gilder * | Male presenting. White. 20's-40's. |
Agnes Guybetaut * | Female presenting. Teenage. Romani. |
Mrs. DeWitt * | Female presenting. Jewish. 30's-40's. |