Mr. Brownstone
is an 11-page play by Seung-Hui Cho, written in 2006.
The play focuses on three high school students- John, Jane, and Joe- who illegally enter a casino and attempt to win the jackpot, while discussing their sadistic teacher, Mr. Brownstone, who regularly persecutes and possibly molests them. While not as infamous as Richard McBeef, the play still gained considerable attention following the Virginia Tech massacre.
Mr. Brownstone contains examples of the following tropes:
- Alphabetical Theme Naming: John, Jane, and Joe.
- Antagonist Title: Mr. Brownstone is the play's main antagonist.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Mr. Brownstone lies that the three teenagers have illegally picked up the winning ticket, claiming it was he who won the jackpot, and is believed.
- Cluster F-Bomb: The students frequently direct these toward Mr. Brownstone.
- Depraved Bisexual: Mr. Brownstone is accused of molesting students of both genders.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Mr. Brownstone is said to do this regularly. He apparently gave John detention and possibly molested him in response to a "harmless joke."
- Downer Ending: Mr. Brownstone falsely claims that he won the jackpot, and the three teens had stolen the money from him. Brownstone is believed, and the teenagers are thrown out while futilely vowing revenge.
- Drugs Are Bad: John briefly mentions that the song "Mr. Brownstone" is about heroin addiction.
- Hate Sink: It's very clear that Mr. Brownstone is meant to be hated, as he's a Sadist Teacher who abuses and apparently molests his students, and enjoys making them suffer for no apparent reason.
- Hope Spot: The teens are thrilled to win the jackpot, believing they'll be able to escape from their miserable lives. However, Brownstone lies that the winnings are his, and the teens are thrown out.
- I'll Kill You!: The three teens repeatedly say they want to kill Mr. Brownstone.
- Insistent Terminology: The three students repeatedly use the phrase "ass-rape" while claiming Mr. Brownstone molests them.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Mr. Brownstone turns the teens in for being underage and using fake ID to get into the casino, though he only does it for self-serving reasons.
- One-Steve Limit: John has the same name as the character in Richard McBeef, but since that John died at the end of the play (and was younger), it's presumably not the same character.
- Sadist Teacher: Mr. Brownstone is said to constantly stalk and threaten his students, regularly gives them harsh punishments for petty reasons, and even molests them.
- Slasher Smile: According to the stage directions, Brownstone has a "menacing grin" when he spots the teenagers.
- Tempting Fate: Joe mentions that he taunted Mr. Brownstone by saying he didn't have a phone in his house, so Brownstone wouldn't be able to call his parents. Instead, Brownstone came to his house in person.
- True Companions: The three students seem to be close friends and are concerned for each other's problems.
- We Will Meet Again: The play ends with the students shouting at Brownstone that they won't let him get away with his actions.
