How a 19th-century medical device for hysteria became the subject of a modern play
In short: Sarah Ruhl’s 2009 play, In the Next Room, explores the early history of the vibrator. Once used by doctors as a clinical tool to treat female hysteria, the device serves as a catalyst for examining Victorian-era intimacy, motherhood, and the profound disconnect between a husband and his wife.
Set in upstate New York during the late 19th century, the play centers on Dr. Givings, an electrical scientist who treats patients for hysteria in an operating theater within his home. Inspired by the arrival of electricity in American households, he invents a machine to induce paroxysms in women. While the doctor views his work as purely clinical, his wife, Catherine, struggles with sexual dissatisfaction and the complexities of motherhood, feeling neglected by a husband who is more fascinated by his electrical inventions than by their marriage.
The narrative unfolds as various patients, including the pianist Sabrina Daldry and the artist Leo Irving, interact with the Givings household. The play delves into themes of Victorian ignorance regarding female desire, the role of wet nurses, and the societal constraints placed upon women. As the characters navigate their personal frustrations, the vibrator becomes a focal point for their hidden longings and anxieties. The play’s climax sees the characters stepping beyond the physical boundaries of their domestic spaces, culminating in a scene of emotional and physical connection in the snow.
Sarah Ruhl’s work was influenced by historical research, including Rachel P. Maines’s book, The Technology of Orgasm. Since its premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009, the play has been staged globally, from London to Lima. It received critical recognition, including three Tony Award nominations for its 2009 Broadway production, and continues to be studied for its exploration of the intersection between early medical technology and the private, often unspoken, realities of human intimacy.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)
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