Lemons can seem like a rather complex text, especially since it moves through the story non-linearly. However, over the last several months the creative team and myself have done a deep dive into the text. Our analysis has shown us a deeper structure to Lemons that makes it much easier to understand and sink your teeth into.
87 Scenes
Lemons is broken down into 87 distinct moments/scenes/beats. They are each separated by an asterisk * . We have found that each scene happens either before the Hush Law is put in place, or after. Each scene is also numbered in the annotated script.
The scenes occurring before the Hush Law is enacted are: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52, 56, 67, 87
The scenes occurring after the Hush Law is enacted are: 1, 3, 6, 9, 21, 34, 37, 39, 41, 49, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
The scenes occurring before the Hush Law is enacted are: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52, 56, 67, 87
The scenes occurring after the Hush Law is enacted are: 1, 3, 6, 9, 21, 34, 37, 39, 41, 49, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
3 Parts
We have discovered that Lemons essentially is structured into three parts, each encompassing roughly one-third of the piece.
Part One includes scenes 1-41. While moments in Part One occur after the Hush Law, most of Part One takes place before the Hush Law is enacted.
Part Two includes scenes 42-49. Part Two occurs essentially in linear time, beginning with the morning of the vote on the Hush Law, and ending after Bernadette and Nick return home on the first day the Hush Law is in place. The one moment that occurs out of time is scene 48, which shows us the day Nick and Bernadette meet.
Part Three includes scenes 50-87. While moments in Part Three occur before the Hush Law, most of Part Three takes place after the Hush Law is enacted. Part Three is also where we have the "Lemons Scene" that gives the play its title.
Part One includes scenes 1-41. While moments in Part One occur after the Hush Law, most of Part One takes place before the Hush Law is enacted.
Part Two includes scenes 42-49. Part Two occurs essentially in linear time, beginning with the morning of the vote on the Hush Law, and ending after Bernadette and Nick return home on the first day the Hush Law is in place. The one moment that occurs out of time is scene 48, which shows us the day Nick and Bernadette meet.
Part Three includes scenes 50-87. While moments in Part Three occur before the Hush Law, most of Part Three takes place after the Hush Law is enacted. Part Three is also where we have the "Lemons Scene" that gives the play its title.
Other Observations
Interestingly, despite the general rules surrounding Parts One and Three, the play begins with a scene taking place after the Hush Law, and ends with a scene taking place before the Hush Law.
There are four sections in the play where each scene contains only one or two lines, and we rapidly move through several scenes in succession. These sections are: scenes 11-20, scenes 25-32, scenes 58-62, and scenes 72-77.
The first two of these sections occur in Part One, while the final two occur in Part Three. This further reinforces the linearity and gravity of Part Two.
There are four sections in the play where each scene contains only one or two lines, and we rapidly move through several scenes in succession. These sections are: scenes 11-20, scenes 25-32, scenes 58-62, and scenes 72-77.
The first two of these sections occur in Part One, while the final two occur in Part Three. This further reinforces the linearity and gravity of Part Two.
Timeline
As part of my research, I created a timeline of Lemons to help us see how the play flows/is structured. It will be displayed in the rehearsal room for your convenience, but if you would like to look at it in person before we begin rehearsals, let me know!
For each scene, it is noted how many lines are in that scene, and whether or not that scene occurs before or after the Hush Law. You can also see the show broken down into Parts One, Two and Three. (For reference, number of lines is calculated by including lines spoken after a pause as a separate line, to respect the intended flow of the piece.)
For each scene, it is noted how many lines are in that scene, and whether or not that scene occurs before or after the Hush Law. You can also see the show broken down into Parts One, Two and Three. (For reference, number of lines is calculated by including lines spoken after a pause as a separate line, to respect the intended flow of the piece.)