Characters’ Maturization through Metatheatrical Strategy in Sarah Ruhl’s Stage Kiss

The purpose of this study is to examine the course of characters' maturization through metatheatrical strategy in Sarah Ruhl's Stage Kiss (2011). Ruhl uses metatheatrical devices in this play: two plays within a play, multiple roles and Brechtian alienation effect for awakening consciousness of actors and audiences. If the first play-within-a-play imitates She and He's past, the second play-within-a-play includes a metaphor on what they are like now. Since the main characters, named just She and He, they were lovers twenty years ago, their old desire is rekindled in rehearsal of the first play within a play. However, their autobiographical memories recall their irritations (his violence and immaturity, her cheating) in rehearsal of the second play within a play. Finally She and He get out of their fantasy for a scene partner and return to their places by their objective perspective which is induced by a multi-layered play. This proves that they became mature enough to realize "Love is the extremely difficult realization that something other than oneself is real" from Iris Murdoch.