Content Advisories
Cost of Living
By Martyna Majok
Directed by Priscilla Jackman and Dan Daw
This information contains warnings and spoilers and is subject to change without
notice.
About the Show
Former-carer turned Playwright Martyna Majok won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this
play in 2018 and it’s easy to see why. This is a beautifully rendered story about our need
to care and be cared for, no matter the distance that age, race and disability might place
between us.
Drawing on her lived experience, Majok introduces us to four seemingly disconnected
characters whose lives are at a crossroads. There’s John — a wealthy successful PhD
student with cerebral palsy -— who hires the secretive Jess to be his new carer. And then
there’s Eddie, an unemployed truck driver, desperately trying to reconcile with his ex-
wife Ani, who has become a wheelchair user after an accident.
Content Advisory
This production contains full frontal male nudity, underwater submersion, sexual
references, occasional strong language, herbal and e-cigarettes and the use of haze.
Age Suitability
Recommended for audiences 15+.
Resources for Further Support
Lifeline (13 11 14)
Lifeline has trained crisis supporters available 24/7. They also offer an online Crisis
Support Chat 7 days a week between 7pm-4am AEDT (www.lifeline.org.au/crisischat)
Translation services available via 131 450
Detailed Warnings
Full Frontal Male Nudity
The action of a male actor appearing on stage without any clothing
A clothed female character assists a male character to shower and dress. We see the
process in its entirety from nakedness to being clothed. This moment is a practical task
performed as an act of service and vulnerability.
Underwater Submersion
The action of an actor submerging themselves fully underwater for a period of time.
• The character of ANI, alone in the bath, slips into the tub and becomes
submerged. Seemingly she is unable to resurface. The character of EDDIE
eventually discovers this and lifts her from the tub.
This is a choreographed moment in which no actors are in danger at any point.
Occasional Strong Language
The use of course or derogatory language
• There are frequent use of the words, ‘fuck’, ‘fucking’, ‘prick’ and ‘bitch’
• JOHN uses the pejorative word ‘retarded’ with pointed irony, in the context of
being a person with a disability.
• JOHN uses the word ‘hooker/s’ to talk about his consideration of seeing a sex
worker.
Sexual References
• EDDIE bathes ANI as part of his caring role. She reflects on her relationship to her
sexuality as a person with a newly acquired disability.
This scene has been choreographed with an intimacy coordinator.
Depiction of smoking
• ANI and EDDIE are depicted smoking.
Real cigarettes are not used in the production.
References to Alcoholism
• EDDIE speaks at length about his struggles with alcohol addiction including
waking up in ‘vomit, say or piss’ and obtaining a DUI charge.
References to Death and Dying
• EDDIE talks about his wife’s accident and death at points throughout the play.
These are brief references.
• There are several references to death in the play, both figuratively and literally,
including the simulated drowning of ANI, a reference to carbon monoxide
poisoning and poisoning through food.
Sensitive Commentary around Disability
• The subject matter of the play is concerned with conversations about disability.
This includes how disability is perceived by people who do not live with a
disability, the varied needs of people living with disability and the relationship
between a person with a disability and their carer/s. This occurs throughout the
play. This argument is put forward by characters who have a disability and is
performed by actors with a disability. The intention of the play is to be empowering
for people with a disability and allow the presentation of multi-faceted and
complex characters.
• JOHN, a character with Cerebral palsy, has a conversation about his care needs
with a woman he seeks to employ to help him with showering and grooming.
• EDDIE, a character who does not have a disability, manipulates the hand of a
character who has quadriplegia to punch him. It is presented as a moment of
awkwardness and a faux pas on the part of EDDIE.
• There is a mention of alternative therapies found on the internet to 'cure'
quadriplegia. This is presented as something that is in no way real or medically
sound information.
• ANI describes her accident, her injury and following medical treatment including
sepsis and surgery in some detail.
• JOHN, who has Cerebral palsy, describes what his body feels on a daily basis.
• Characters at several points discuss the specific care needs of themselves or other
characters with a disability.
References to violence
• There are several references to wanting to inflict violence on others. There is no
depiction of violence on stage in the play.
References to sexual violence
• JESS refers to not serving certain patrons during her bar job to protect women
from sexual assault.
• JESS, a young woman, is nervous when entering the house of JOHN, an older man
and informs him she has mace.
Spoiler Sheet
Cost of Living
By Martyna Majok
Directed by Priscilla Jackman and Dan Daw
Below is the Scene Breakdown Spoiler Sheet for
Cost of Living
.
Please note some changes to technical elements of the production may be subject to
change.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE PLOT OF THE SHOW TO BE SPOILED – DO NOT READ
AHEAD.
Overview
The story of Cost of Living by Martyna Majok, directed by Priscilla Jackman and
Dan Daw is performed by four actors. Two actors are living with disabilities that
mirror the disabilities of the characters they play.
JOHN has Cerebral palsy. Dan Daw who plays JOHN has Cerebral palsy.
ANI has an acquired disability that requires her to use a wheelchair. The character
of ANI is capable of using one hand. Kate Hood, who plays ANI, has an acquired
disability and uses a wheelchair for mobility.
This play is scripted.
There are nine scenes. They are not chronological in order.
The play takes place in New Jersey.
The Prologue, Scenes Seven, Eight and Nine occur on the same Friday night in
December, a week before Christmas. The rest spans the months of September
through December of that year.
The set is stylistically sparse with sliding walls that are moved into different
configurations to represent the different spaces within the play. There is a
bathtub that moves downstage during Scene Eight.
The costumes are realistic, and each character wears several different outfits
The performance is supported by theatrical lighting and sound – including an
extended period of low light.
Scene by Scene
Prologue
Friday Night, December, a week before Christmas
One by one each character is revealed to the audience in a tableau.
ANI
JESS
JOHN
and lastly EDDIE.
He is in a bar, specifically St. Mazie’s bar in post Bloomberg Williamsburg,
Brooklyn. It is what could be called a ‘hipster bar’.
• EDDIE speaks directly to the audience, providing insight into his life,
struggles, and current state of mind. He is determined to move forward
despite his past mistakes. He reveals that his wife of over 20 years, ANI, has
died two weeks earlier and he misses her a great deal.
Scene One
Early September. It is raining outside. The setting is an accessible apartment in
Princeton, well-kept and costly.
• The scene opens with JESS standing alone. She is nervous. Eventually
JOHN enters to interview JESS. This is the first time they have met.
• JOHN asks JESS about her prior carer experience and her suitability for the
job.
• The interaction is awkward, with JOHN being direct and JESS being
somewhat taken aback by his bluntness.
• JOHN explains the specifics of his care routine, including his need for
physical assistance and his expectations.
• JESS hesitates but ultimately accepts the job, seeing it as a necessary
means to support herself.
Scene Two
Early September. It is raining outside. The setting is a different accessible
apartment in Jersey City, NJ. The apartment is largely empty, in transition and
clearly not fully lived-in.
• EDDIE shows up at ANI’s apartment, unannounced, attempting to
reconnect and offer his help.
• ANI is initially hostile, bringing up EDDIE's past betrayals and failures.
• EDDIE pleads with ANI to let him help her, emphasizing his desire to make
amends and prove his worth.
• ANI remains sceptical, struggling with her own pride and the pain of their
shared history.
• ANI shows a moment of vulnerability, hinting at her deep-seated fears and
struggles with her disability and the two connect.
• EDDIE reveals he has an ulterior motive. He would like to collect some
things that were accidentally packed when ANI left their shared home.
• ANI is furious.
• EDDIE decides he does not need any of his ’stuff’ and leaves as his new
girlfriend is waiting outside.
• EDDIE leaves and the scene ends with ANI, alone in her apartment.
Scene Three
September. Early Morning. JOHN’s Apartment, JESS’ first day at work.
• JESS is trying to shave JOHN’s face with a sharp razor. She is nervous and
he keeps interrupting her to ask personal questions.
• JOHN tries to establish a personal connection with JESS by asking her
questions about her life and interests.
• JOHN, who has Cerebral palsy, describes what his body feels on a daily
basis.
• JESS is guarded, trying to keep the relationship strictly professional.
• JOHN becomes annoyed and suggests she is not the right person for the
job.
• JESS needs the job and shares a personal story about how she got her
name.
• JOHN is seemingly dismissive of her story.
• JESS returns to her professional role, but a connection has started to form
between them.
Scene Four
October. Evening. ANI’s Apartment.
• ANI’s carer has not turned up.
• As her emergency contact EDDIE has turned up her apartment.
• EDDIE and ANIi have a significant confrontation, addressing their deepest
grievances and unresolved issues.
• EDDIE offers to come and care for ANI, it will save money, he knows her
better than anyone and he seems genuinely keen to spend time with her.
• After some resistance, ANI agrees to allow EDDIE to come for the next two
weeks.
• ANI remembers her birthday is coming up.
• During this scene both characters reflect on their past, revealing more
about their history and the pain they have endured.
Scene Five
December. Early Morning. JOHN’s Apartment.
• JESS showers JOHN.
• JOHN disrobes, bathes and is helped into clean clothes by JESS. There is a
brief period for full frontal nudity.
• Some time has passed since JESS started the job. Their relationship has
deepened, and they are at ease with each other.
• JESS speak candidly about her other jobs at ‘bars that stay open late’ and
how she makes sure the girls who work at these places are not in danger.
JESS declares ‘No Rapes On My Watch’.
• JOHN speaks of loneliness and JESS teases him for never going out.
• At the end of the scene JOHN asks if JESS will come over that evening.
• JESS has never been to JOHN’s house in the evening and misinterprets his
intention. She cancels her work plans so that she can come over and spend
time with JOHN, thinking that his request is romantic rather than
professional.
Scene Six
October. ANI’s Apartment.
• ANI is bathed by EDDIE.
• EDDIE assists ANI, showing a significant step towards reconciliation. They
reflect on their past as lovers and ANI discusses how sensuality is different
for her after acquiring her disability.
• ANI and EDDIE share a cigarette.
• When EDDIE briefly leaves the room to find an ashtray ANI slips underwater
and is unable to resurface.
• ANI is submerged for approximately fifteen seconds before EDDIE
returns and pulls her out of the bath. Both are shocked and fearful of
ANI’s near death experience.
Scene Seven
Friday Evening. JOHN’s Apartment
• JESS enters carrying a bottle of wine, appearing to have added additional
effort to her appearance for JOHN. She sprays herself with perfume,
including her thighs, before entering the apartment.
• JOHN compliments JESS’ appearance. They chat flirtatiously but it
becomes clear the flirting is one sided as JESS has misinterpreted why she
has been invited.
• JOHN needs JESS to assist him preparing for a date. JESS is deeply hurt.
JOHN does not seem to notice this.
• JESS then asks if she can stay in his apartment while he is on his date
because it is warm. JOHN tells JESS ‘No’ because he thinks she might steal
things, noting that he suspects she has previously stolen a bar of soap.
• JESS exits the apartment abruptly.
Scene Eight
Immediately after. Outside JOHN’s Apartment. It is snowing.
• JESS has fled the apartment and is cold and crying. She calls her mother
who does not answer her call.
• JESS leaves a message in her first language, which is not English. It is clear
she misses her mother, communicating with despair and loneliness.
Scene Nine or Epilogue
Later the same night, EDDIE’s Apartment. Outside it is snowing.
• On his way back from the bar (from the Prologue) EDDIE finds JESS parked
nearby sleeping in her car with no heating on a bitterly cold night.
• EDDIE is searching for a blanket to lend to JESS. The blanket used to
belong to ANI.
• JESS remains in the doorway while he searches. She is suspicious. EDDIE
offers her food and eventually suggests she stays in the house with him.
• JESS is deeply suspicious and leaves, but returns a few moments later.
• The play ends with EDDIE and JESS, together, but ultimately separately,
dealing with change, loss and forgiveness. Although we do not see ANI and
JOHN, it is implied that these intersecting relationships reflect the enduring
power of human connection.
