The Prop's the Thing: Props as Powerful Agents of Transformation in Intimate Apparel and In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play

Authors

• Theodora Mantzari

Abstract

Sarah Ruhl’s In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play (2009) and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel (2004) are two powerful plays that examine the complex interplay between societal constraints and human desires in late 19th- early 20th century America. The playwrights shed light on the often-overlooked experiences of marginalized individuals, particularly women, during a time of significant social and technological change, exploring how characters navigate repressive norms to pursue intimacy, desire, self-expression, and personal fulfillment. To achieve this, both use props on stage in such a way that the latter go beyond their strict professional use, with the vibrator becoming more than a medical device and the fancy creations of the sewing machine more than a means of making ends meet; instead, they transform to serve as conduits for desire, agency, and fulfillment, embodying the characters' struggles and aspirations. By examining the symbolic objects beyond their professional dimensions from a minority perspective, we uncover how the playwrights offer profound insights into the human condition and the enduring struggle between restrictive societal expectations and the unconquerable force of Eros. Incorporating thing theory into the analysis of these props will offer a deeper understanding of how material objects can become powerful vehicles for expressing human affect and challenging societal norms. The vibrator and the various articles of clothing transcend their physical forms to become potent symbols of repressed longings and aspirations, inviting audiences to reflect on their own relationships with desire, identity, and social expectations.

Recommended Citation

Mantzari, Theodora (2026) "The Prop's the Thing: Props as Powerful Agents of Transformation in Intimate Apparel and In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play," Comparative Drama: Vol. 60: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/compdr/vol60/iss1/7