Detroit

This could be way off, but I believe D’Amour titled the play Detroit because of what the city represents. We all know that Detroit is a big city and the motor capital of the U.S. and stuff, but just like every other American city, it has a fake facade. People go to cities like Detroit, New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, etc. usually to chase the American Dream. What that is exactly varies from person to person, but overall the main objective is to be successful and satisfied. That’s what both of these people were in their own rights. Ben and Mary had their problems, but they were in the American Dream. Likewise, Kenny and Sharon also chased that chance despite their issues. Unfortunately, it seems that good is always balanced by bad because Detroit is also known for its drug trafficking. Kenny and Sharon are fresh out of rehab but they’re still recovering. When the two collide, things get pretty dreamy. I also think it’s titled Detroit because Detroit has over 5 million people in it and several of those individuals probably keep to themselves. I know I’m going on a rant here, but I’m one of those guys that believes that social media has just messed the world up and the easy access to constantly improving technology is only making us lazier and dumber. People interact with each other on a daily basis (sometimes accidently), but actual face-to-face engagement is a rarity now. The world is more connected than it’s ever been, yet we have more and more people with little to no social life or effort to bond with others. People just don’t seem to care like they use to. It’s even mentioned in the script; the fact that people have become so distant from one another bothers Sharon. Detroit is also noted as the home/birthplace of the automobile, so it’s a symbol of something new, something better. When the two couples meet each other, they’re skeptical at first, but they seem to grow on each other and find a common ground trying new things, hanging out and just having fun. Just like the automobile, Ben and Mary gave their new neighbors a shot and even though it costs them a lot of money, it appears that they enjoyed the company. That being said, I think ambiguity and reality are central to the plot because in my mind, I couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn’t several times throughout. I didn’t know what I didn’t know either, but I knew something bad was going to happen and that someone was lying about something.