The Effect

Book excerpt: A Student Edition of Lucy Prebble's acclaimed 2012 play, which looks at two people on a clinical drugs trial and investigates questions around sanity, neurology, physical attraction and the possibilities of medicine. The edition includes commentary and notes by Paulette Marty, which look at the context around depression and anti-depressant medication; as well as delving into major questions posed by the play, such as "is love real?" and "what is chemistry when applied to human beings?". Her commentary also looks at the play in production, the implications of the playwright having written the roles for particular actors, and the opportunities that arise from the playwright encouraging future actors to "mould the text around themselves".