The Flick Play Analysis

The Flick is Pulitzer Prize winning play written by Annie Baker. It is set in an old movie theater, appropriately called “The Flick”. The movie theater is currently being upgraded from using an old 35 millimeter projector to a digital one. Just like the theater is undergoing changes, so are the lives of the play’s three characters, Avery, Sam, and Rose as they learn more about each other in the time they share at The Flick. The play begins by introducing to Sam and Avery, both of whom are seen cleaning up the theater after a screening. Avery, a 20-year-old bespectacled boy, is clearly a new hire and loves movies. Sam, a 35-year-old bald white man, is an experienced employee and is seen teaching Avery how to clean up after the dirty patrons …show more content…
He says that his Dad was supposed to give him a ride but couldn’t so he had to take the bus, which is why he was late. Sam was very irritated because he had to do a lot of work on his own, but accepts Avery’s apology in the end. Sam talks about the fact that he hasn’t been promoted, even after working there for 7 years, and how it irritated him. He says that part of the reason that he hasn’t been promoted is because Rose refuses to teach him how the projector works. He also mentions that Rose is a lesbian. Rose is seen for the first time in the projector booth and Sam calls out to her but is ignored. Sam calls out to her a few more times and seems disappointed when she doesn’t acknowledge …show more content…
She is really forward and starts dancing but Avery doesn’t join in so eventually she stops. Sam and Avery talk for a little while before they play the movie and Avery asks if she could teach him and to work the projector, purely because he wanted to know. She says okay and that he could start filling in for her on sick days, and possibly even get a promotion. They begin to watch the movie and soon after the movie starts, Rose starts coming on to Avery. She kisses his neck and fondles his groin but Avery isn’t comfortable with it and soon she stops and apologizes. They start talking and Avery accidently mentions that Sam’s brother is retarded. She tells Avery about Sam’s past and how he had a crazy ex-girlfriend. They continue talking and it becomes more and more personal. Rose talks about how she’s a nymphomaniac and she can’t be in long relationships without getting bored. Avery talks about how he’s depressed and how he had tried to kill himself in the