History Theatre / Seminar

* CharacterFilibuster: Leonard closes the last seminar with an impressive one.

* DealWithTheDevil: [[spoiler:Leonard calls his offer to Martin to help Martin's career and be Martin's editor this]].
* DidNotGetTheGirl: Martin winds up with neither Kate or Izzy in the end.

-->''Even the freshmen!'' {{beat}} ''No'', especially ''the freshmen!''

** Douglas begins the play with a glowing review of the scenery of his latest writer's retreat and comparing it to others he's been on. The way he does it both establishes his talent at conveying imagery and that he's a totally nonsensical, pretentious and shallow goof.
** Martin goes on a [[GreenEyedMonster bitter, venom laced tirade]] at Douglas' description of the writer's retreat when Douglas leaves the room, but doesn't dare say it to his face.
** Izzy does an extended breast flash in the opening minutes for no reason other than a whim. (And maybe to tantalize Martin).

* GreenEyedMonster: One of Martin's defining traits. He is endlessly bitter and jealous about the fact that he's surrounded by people who seem to have it easier than he does, when it comes to money and material comfort.

%%* LustObject: Izzy.
* ManChild: Martin is presumably at least in his mid 20s, but often acts more like an angry, spiteful teenager.
* NeverLiveItDown: Leonard's [[spoiler:plagiarism]] is an InUniverse example. His reaction when the four writers bring it up:
-->''That was 32 years ago!''

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Don't underestimate Izzy's determination, political skills, or brains just because of her hedonistic personal life.

* ShrinkingViolet: Martin paid $5,000 that he couldn't afford to pay to get into this seminar, and then is too pathologically shy to submit his stories for review.

* TeacherStudentRomance: [[spoiler:Both Izzy and Kate sleep with Leonard before the end of the show, and it's not exactly something he's shied away from in the past either]].

* DoingItForTheArt: In-universe.
** Martin voices the belief that every page of creative writing is sacred and criticizes all of the others for plans to cash in or act in ways he considers to be dishonest as creators.
** Douglas is surprisingly distressed and sincere when, after Leonard calls him a whore who should write in Hollywood because they would give him endless scripts to write based on his last name, he protests "But I'm a fiction writer. A novelist".

* NotSoDifferent: Leonard lays out the miserable path that Martin is setting for himself, quickly making it clear that it's the same path that Leonard himself has traveled.

-->''Even the freshmen!'' {{beat}} ''No'', [[EspeciallyZoidberg especially]] ''[[EspeciallyZoidberg the freshmen]]!''

You see, Leonard is a world-weary misanthrope who cannot and will not tell a lie or go along with polite social facades. Leonard only respects the written word, (when it's done right) and that unique synthesis of inspiration, drive, and energy that makes a story come alive, turns its characters into people, and its settings into places that seize the imagination. He certainly has no use for things like your feelings, need to be supported, or your idea of what is politically correct and what is out of bounds.

The foursome are quickly challenged on everything from writing bloodless, soulless stories that only exist to amuse themselves with their own wittiness to being over privileged, entitled kids with delusions of grandeur. It's not just their stories being examined, (and usually torn apart) it's who they are, how they identify themselves, and how they perceive and interact with the world.

As the weeks go by and the seminar continues, all of the resentments, attractions, lusts, anger, untapped talents and various dramas that the four would-be writers hide just under the surface start boiling over, leading to a number of confrontations and changes.

* '''Izzy:''' The most sexually free and rebellious of the four, Izzy's stories (and personal life) are essentially SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll, with writing substituted for rock & roll. Hot, ReallyGetsAround, and is generally lusted after by all. She freely admits that ultimately her stories don't mean all that much to her and that she's OnlyInItForTheMoney. Thus she's always looking for ways to cash in, and is quick to think of angles that could turn a story or her own personal narrative into an appearance on a daytime talk show or media grabbing headline. She wants to use Douglas for his connections and has a slight soft spot for Martin, who she attempts to help (as she sees it anyway) on occasion.
* '''Kate:''' A child of an OldMoney family, most of the action of the play including the seminars with Leonard take place in Kate's (rent controlled) apartment. Kate went to school with Martin, where their mutual interest in writing and stories drew them together, despite their very different backgrounds. Kate's main work through much of the play is a story that is her ode to ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' which she has been rewriting for 6 years, due to encouragement by various teachers and critics, (most if not all of whom were DamningWithFaintPraise) and which makes Leonard want to gag after reading the first sentence. She is a liberal, feminist, and occasionally comes off as unthinkingly harsh toward others and somewhat unaware of how privileged her life is. She secretly has a thing for Martin, [[{{Tsundere}} although she will never admit it]].
* '''Martin:''' [[ShrinkingViolet A painfully shy]] and socially awkward wallflower who cannot bear to have his stories read by anyone. Martin is in many ways the odd one out in the group; he's more or less the only one truly DoingItForTheArt, he disagrees with the others who mostly plan to use this seminar as a career stepping stone, and he's by far the poorest. In fact, the $5,000 he paid into the seminar leaves him in danger of being kicked out of his apartment because he can't pay the rent without it. He hides a barely repressed anger aimed at both the world in general and specific people (especially Douglas) behind his shy exterior. He also thinks that he's morally superior to everyone else due to being poorer and true to a made-up and rather arbitrary code of what an "authentic artist" should be. Leonard derisively calls him "a pussy", and towards the end of the play, [[spoiler:Leonard amends that, with much greater respect to "a [[TheGift Talented Nobody]]"]]. He is hopelessly in lust with Izzy, ''despises'' Douglas, and has idealized Kate since high school.

* BettyAndVeronica: In a way, Kate and Izzy are this for Martin.
* BreakTheHaughty: Kate, although she takes it as a much needed wake-up call. [[spoiler:In a way, it also happens to Martin, and Leonard is in the midst of a prolonged one that has dragging on for years as well. For example, Leonard considers his past jobs as an editor and professor to be "servant's work" that is beneath him, and he hates that he has been given certain positions out of pity, but he was also in dire enough straits that he was forced to accept them.]]

* StarvingArtist: Martin.

* JerkassFacade: [[spoiler:Leonard is paradoxically a true JERK and incredibly sensitive, burnt out, and used up by life. The facade is his defense mechanism]].
* JerkWithaHeartOfGold: Leonard. For all the harm he does to the four, he does equal good, and does move their careers forward, and challenges them to grow.

* LustObject: Izzy.

* JerkWithaHeartOfGold: Leonard. For all the harm he does to the four, he does equal good, and does move their careers forward and challenge them to grow.

* GreenEyedMonster: One of Martin's defining traits. He is endlessly bitter and jealous about the fact that he's surrounded by people who seem to have it easier than he does, es when it comes to money and material comfort.

As the weeks go by and the seminar continues, all of the resentments, attractions, lusts, anger, untapped talent and various other dramas that the four would-be writers hide just under the surface start boiling over, leading to multiple confrontations...

* '''Martin:''' [[ShrinkingViolet A painfully shy]] and socially awkward wallflower who cannot bear to have his stories read by anyone. Martin is in many ways the odd one out in the group; he's more or less the only one truly DoingItForTheArt, he disagrees with the others who mostly plan to use this seminar as a career stepping stone, and he's by far the poorest. In fact, the $5,000 he paid into the seminar leaves him in danger of being kicked out of his apartment because he can't pay the rent without it. He hides a barely repressed anger aimed at both the world in general and specific people (especially Douglas) behind his shy exterior. He also thinks that he's morally superior to everyone else due to being poorer and true to a made-up and rather arbitrary code of what an authentic artist is. Leonard derisively calls him "a pussy", and towards the end of the play, [[spoiler:Leonard amends that, with much greater respect to "a [[TheGift Talented Nobody]]"]]. He is hopelessly in lust with Izzy, ''despises'' Douglas, and has idealized Kate since high school.

* BreakTheHaughty: Kate, although she takes it as a much needed wake-up call. [[spoiler:In a way, it also happens to Martin, and Leonard is in the midst of a prolonged one that has dogged him for years as well. For example, Leonard considers his past jobs as an editor and professor to be "servant's work" that is beneath him, and he hates that he has been given certain positions out of pity, but he was also in dire enough straits that he was forced to accept them]].
* BrutalHonesty: Leonard, all the time. Even about himself, in the end. An an example, here he discusses his conclusions about the narrator of Kate's story:

* DirtyOldMan: [[spoiler:Leonard sleeps with both Izzy and Kate, and his speech reveals that he slept with plenty of students when he was a professor]].

* TheDitz: Although it's easy to peg Izzy for this trope, it's really Douglas who winds up fitting this role best.

* TheLadette: Izzy, in many ways.

* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Leonard's plagiarism is an InUniverse example. His reaction when the four of them bring it up:]]

* NotSoDifferent: Leonard lays out the miserable path that Martin is setting for himself, quickly making it clear that it's the same path that Leonard himself has journeyed.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Don't underestimate Izzy's determination, political skills, or brains just because of her personal life.

* SkilledButNaive: Martin.

* TaughtByExperience: Leonard thoroughly encourages his students to get out of the house, take chances, put themselves at risk and experience everything, including the bad of the world. That, he feels, is what gives a writer something worth saying.

* '''Kate:''' A child of an OldMoney family, most of the action of the play including the seminars with Leonard take place in Kate's (rent controlled) apartment. Kate went to school with Martin, where their mutual interest in writing and stories drew them together, despite their very different backgrounds. Kate's main work through much of the play is a story that is her ode to ''PrideAndPrejudice'' which she's been rewriting for 6 years due to encouragement by various teacher and critics, (most if not all of whom were DamningWithFaintPraise) and which makes Leonard want to gag after reading the first sentence. She's a liberal, feminist, and occasionally comes off as unthinkingly harsh toward others and somewhat unaware of how privileged her life is. She secretly has a thing for Martin, [[{{Tsundere}} although she will never admit it]].

* DoingItForTheArt: Martin voices the belief that every page of creative writing is sacred and criticizes all of the others for plans to cash in or act in ways he considers to be dishonest as creators.

The story begins with four aspiring writers, (all in their 20s, acquainted with each other and living in NewYorkCity) who have just hired world renowned writer, editor and teacher Leonard for a 10 week seminar to teach them how to be better writers and help their careers along. And they have absolutely ''no idea'' what they've gotten themselves into.

* '''Kate:''' A child of an [[BlueBlood Old Money family]], most of the action of the play including the seminars with Leonard take place in Kate's (rent controlled) apartment. Kate went to school with Martin, where their mutual interest in writing and stories drew them together, despite their very different backgrounds. Kate's main work through much of the play is a story that is her ode to ''PrideAndPrejudice'' which she's been rewriting for 6 years due to encouragement by various teacher and critics, (most if not all of whom were DamningWithFaintPraise) and which makes Leonard want to gag after reading the first sentence. She's a liberal, feminist, and occasionally comes off as unthinkingly harsh toward others and somewhat unaware of how privileged her life is. She secretly has a thing for Martin, [[{{Tsundere}} although she will never admit it]].

-->''I know who your narrator is. She's an over-educated, completely inexperienced, sexually inadequate girl who has rich parents who give her everything. She's got nothing to say so she sits around and thinks of JaneAusten all day. [[EightDeadlyWords I don't give a]]'' '''[[EightDeadlyWords shit]]''' ''[[EightDeadlyWords about her]].''

-->''I know who your narrator is. She's an over-educated, completely inexperienced, sexually inadequate girl who has rich parents who give her everything. She's got nothing to say so she sits around and thinks of JaneAusten all day. [[EightDeadlyWords I don't give a]]'' '''[[EightDeadlyWoreds shit]]''' ''[[EightDeadlyWords about her]].''

* '''Douglas:''' the nephew of a well known writer and hailing from an upper class family, his chief publications thus far have been pieces for [[http://www.newyorker.com/ The New Yorker]] and similar magazines. He insists however that he is "a writer of fiction" and to prove it he frequently goes on writer's retreats to top notch writing colonies, which he mostly gets into because of his last name. Has a talent for describing scenery and conveying images, but otherwise his writing tends to be either a bland retread of things that have come before, or centered around utterly banal ideas. Leonard identifies him as "a literary whore" getting by on his [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections name and connections]]. Looking to make a move on Izzy.
* '''Izzy:''' The most sexually free and rebellious of the four, Izzy's writing pieces (and personal life) are essentially SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll, with writing substituted for rock & roll. Hot, ReallyGetsAround, and is generally lusted after by all. She's more OnlyInItForTheMoney than the others, and is always quick to think of a way that a story or personal narrative can be turned into an appearance on a daytime talk show and such. Wants to use Douglas for his connections and has a slight soft spot for Martin, who she attempts to help (as she sees it) on occasion.
* '''Kate:''' A child of an [[BlueBlood Old Money family]], most of the action of the play including the seminars with Leonard take place in Kate's (rent controlled) apartment. Kate went to school with Martin, where their skills in English classes set them apart. Kate's main work through much of the play is a story that is her ode to ''PrideAndPrejudice'' which she's been rewriting for 6 years due to encouragement by various teacher and critics, (most if not all of whom were DamningWithFaintPraise) and which makes Leonard want to gag after reading the first sentence. She's a liberal, feminist, and occasionally comes off as unthinkingly harsh toward others and somewhat unaware of how privileged her life is. Secretly has a thing for Martin, [[{{Tsundere}} although she will never admit it]].
* '''Martin:''' [[ShrinkingViolet A painfully shy]] and socially awkward wallflower who cannot bear to have his stories read by anyone. Martin is in many ways the odd one out in the group; he's more or less the only one truly DoingItForTheArt, he disagrees with the others who mostly plan to use this seminar as a career stepping stone, and he's by far the poorest. In fact, the $5,000 he paid into the seminar leaves him in danger of being kicked out of his apartment because he can't pay the rent without it. Hides a barely repressed anger and loathing of both the world in general and specific people (especially Douglas) behind his shy exterior. He also thinks that he's morally superior to everyone else due to being poorer and true to a made-up and rather arbitrary code of what an authentic artist is. Leonard derisively calls him "a pussy", and towards the end of the play, [[spoiler:Leonard amends that, with much greater respect to "a [[TheGift Talented Nobody]]"]]. Lusts after Izzy, despises Douglas, and has idealized Kate since high school.

* BreakTheHaughty: Kate is better off for the wake-up call she gets. [[spoiler:In a roundabout way, it also happens to Martin, and evidently to Leonard as well. For example, Leonard considers his past jobs as an editor and professor to be servant's work that is beneath him, and has been given certain positions out of pity, but he was also in dire enough straits that he was forced to accept them]].
* BrutalHonesty: Leonard, all the time. Even about himself, in the end. Here is what he concludes about the narrator of Kate's story from the first line:
-->''I know who your narrator is. She's an over-educated, completely inexperienced, sexually inadequate girl who has rich parents who give her everything. She's got nothing to say so she sits around and thinks of JaneAusten all day. I don't give a'' '''shit''' ''about her.''

* CanNotSpitItOut

* DoingItForTheArt: Martin voices the belief that every page of creative writing is sacred and criticizes all of the other for plans to cash in or act in ways he considers to be dishonest as creators.

** Martin goes on a bitter, venom laced tirade at Douglas' description of the writer's retreat when Douglas leaves the room, but doesn't dare say it to his face.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Don't underestimate Izzy's determination, political touch, or brains just because of her personal life.

* TheResenter: Martin.

* SleepsWithEveryoneButYou
* SmallNameBigEgo: Douglas, who on several occasions trashes true literary superstars that have accomplished something and then brags of his own genius.

* AdultChild: Martin is presumably at least in his mid 20s, but often acts more like an angry, spiteful teenager.

You see, Leonard is a world-weary misanthrope who cannot and will not tell a lie or go along with polite societal facades. Leonard only respects the written word, (when it's done right) and that unique synthesis of inspiration, drive, and energy that makes a story come alive, turns its characters into people, and its settings into places that seize the imagination. He certainly has no use for things like your feelings, need to be supported, or your idea of what is politically correct and what is out of bounds.

* '''Kate:''' A child of an [[BlueBlood Old Money family]], most of the action of the play including the seminars with Leonard take place in Kate's (rent controlled) apartment. Kate went to school with Martin, where their skills in English classes set them apart. Kate's main work through much of the play is a story that is her ode to ''PrideAndPrejudice'' that she's been rewriting for 6 years due to encouragement by various teacher and critics, (most if not all of whom were DamningWithFaintPraise) and which makes Leonard want to gag after reading the first sentence. She's a liberal, feminist, and occasionally comes off as unthinkingly harsh toward others and somewhat unaware of how privileged her life is. Secretly has a thing for Martin, [[{{Tsundere}} although she will never admit it]].

* BreakTheHaughty: Kate is better off for the wake-up call she gets. [[spoiler:In a roundabout way, it also happens to Martin, and evidently to Leonard as well. For example, Leonard considers his past jobs as an editor and professor to be servant's work that is beneath him, and has been given certain position out of pity, but he was in dire enough straits that he was forced to accept them]].
* BrutalHonesty: Leonard, all the time. Even about himself, in the end. This also seems to be one core elements of the play and its humor. Here is what he concludes about the narrator of Kate's story from the first line:
-->''I know who your narrator is. She's an over-educated, completely inexperienced, sexually inadequate girl who has rich parents who give her everything. She's got nothing to say so she its around and thinks of JaneAusten all day. I don't give a shit about her.''
* CanNotSpitITOut
* CanNotTellALie: Leonard actually does ''try'' the whole being polite and DamningWithFaintPraise routine at one point, and is barely able to keep it up for even a few seconds. He looks physically relieved when he can go right back to BrutalHonesty again.

* TheDitz: Douglas winds up fitting this role best.

* TeacherStudentRomance: [[spoiler:Both Izzy and Kate sleep with Leonard before the end of the show]].
* {{Tsundere}}: Kate has most of the qualities down pat. [[spoiler:Except that she never actually voices her crush on Martin, and it's unknown if it ever will go anywhere]].

* WhosLaughingNow: Kate is delighted when Leonard lavishes praise on a story from her college friend Luis. [[spoiler:Because it's really a new story Kate has churned out in a couple of days. Fooling Leonard lifts her self esteem right back up after Leonard had crushed it before]]. That said, it's strongly hinted that Leonard [[spoiler:knows about the deception and that Kate is the writer]].

-->''I know who your narrator is. She's an over-educated, completely inexperienced, sexually inadequate girl who has rich parents who give her everything and who has nothing to say. I don't give a shit about her.''

* {{Tsundere}}: Kate has most of the qualities down pat. [[spoiler:Except that she never actually voices her crush on Martin, and it's unknown if it ever will] go anywhere].

* TheResetner: Martin.

* DontYouDarePityMeMultiple characters have shades of this. Leonard is probably the strongest case, most notably in his monologue that reveals a lot about his life and history in the last seminar.

* WideEyedIdealist

* WidEyedIdealist

* '''Douglas:''' the son of a well known writer and hailing from an upper class family, his chief publications thus far have been pieces for [[http://www.newyorker.com/ The New Yorker]] and similar magazines. He insists however that he is "a writer of fiction" and to prove it he frequently goes on writer's retreats to top notch writing colonies, which he mostly gets into because of his last name. Has a talent for describing scenery and conveying images, but otherwise his writing tends to be either a bland retread of things that have come before, or centered around utterly banal ideas. Leonard identifies him as "a literary whore" getting by on his [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections name and connections]]. Looking to make a move on Izzy.

* '''Martin:''' [[ShrinkingViolet A painfully shy]] and socially awkward wallflower who cannot bear to have his stories read by anyone. Martin is in many ways the odd one out in the group; he's more or less the only one truly DoingItForTheArt, he disagrees with the others who mostly plan to use this seminar as a career stepping stone, and he's by far the poorest. In fact, the $5,000 he paid into the seminar leaves him in danger of being kicked out of his apartment because he can't pay the rent without it. Hides a barely repressed anger and loathing of both the world in general and specific people (especially Douglas) behind his shy exterior. Leonard derisively calls him "a pussy", and towards the end of the play, [[spoiler:Leonard amends that, with much greater respect to "a [[TheGift Talented Nobody]]"]]. Lusts after Izzy, despises Douglas, and has idealized Kate since high school.

* ComfortFood: The first seminar drives Kate into a wild potato chips and ice cream frenzy.

** Douglas begins the play with a glowing review of the scenery of his latest writer's retreat and comparing it to others he's been on. The way he does it both establishes his talent at conveying imagery and that he's a totally nonsensical and shallow goof.
** Martin goes on a bitter, venom laced tirade at Douglas' description of the writer's retreat when D
** Izzy does and extended breast flash in the opening minutes for no reason other than a whim. (And maybe to tantalize Martin).
* TheGhost: Luis, an acquaintance of Kate's who has a story about his life as a cross dressing gang leader that actually impresses Leonard. [[spoiler:Because he doesn't exist, and the story is a new one Kate wrote]].

* WhoWritesThisCrap: Leonard does this to Kate's story in two different seminars.

-->''An over-educated, completely inexperienced, sexually inadequate girl who has rich parents who give her everything and who has nothing to say''

* BettyAndVeronica

* CynicalMentor

* DidNotGetTheGirl
* DirtyOldMan

* JadeColoredGlasses

* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Leonard's plagarism]].

* SugarAndIcePersonality