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[[Image:title.cube.jpg|frame|''The Cube'' title card.]]
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[[Image:title.cube.jpg|thumb|300px|Title Card]]
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[[File:"The Cube"|thumb|300px|right|A scene from ''The Cube'']]
'''''The Cube''''' was an avant-garde drama written by [[Jerry Juhl]] and [[Jim Henson]] for television. It aired over [[NBC]] as part of the anthology series ''Experiments in Television'' on February 23, [[1969]]. The hour long piece takes place within a single set, a white cubed space composed of a series of rectangular panels, in which the nameless protagonist is trapped. A steady stream of characters enter the cube, with recurring visits by the maintenance man [[Arnie]] and the Manager, but they all exit through "their own door." Topics explored include the definitions of reality and sanity, racism, sexuality, spiritual exploration, and the nature of freedom and being trapped, as well as many meta references to the play's status as a television drama.
 
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[[Image:Thecubelogo.jpg|right|300px]]
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[[Image:the.cube.1.jpg|thumb|300px|The Man meets Arnie the maintenance man]]
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[[Image:the.cube.2.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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[[Image:the.cube.3.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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[[Image:the.cube.4.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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'''''The Cube''''' was an avant-garde drama written by [[Jerry Juhl]] and [[Jim Henson]] for television. It aired on [[NBC]] as part of the anthology series ''Experiment in Television'' on February 23, [[1969]]. The program was rebroadcast two years later, on February 21, 1971.<ref>[[Jim Henson's Red Book]]. [http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2012/02/21/2211971/ 2/21/1971 – β€˜Re-play β€œThe Cube” – NBC.’]</ref>
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The hour-long piece takes place within a single set: a white, cubed space composed of a series of rectangular panels, in which the nameless protagonist is trapped. A steady stream of characters enter the cube, with recurring visits by the maintenance man [[Arnie]] and [[Mr. Thomas]] the manager, but they all exit through "their own door." Some visitors seem to know the man or want to offer advice and all are generally unhelpful to the man as he tries to unravel the mystery of where he is, how he got there, and how he can leave.
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  +
Topics explored include the definitions of reality and sanity, racism, sexuality, spiritual exploration, and the nature of freedom and being trapped, as well as many metatheatrical references to the play's status as a television drama.
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''The Cube'' can currently be purchased and rented via [[the iTunes Store]].
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
 
*[[Jerry Nelson]] appears as a monk, to provide spiritual comfort to the man. The monk tells him that "All is all. Is is." This line would be repeated almost twenty years later by [[Cantus the Minstrel]] in an [[Episode 207: Mokey and the Minstrels|episode]] of ''[[Fraggle Rock]]''.
[[Image:Cameo.jerry07.jpg|frame|Jerry Nelson's cameo.]]
 
*[[Jerry Nelson]] appears as a monk, to provide spiritual comfort to the man. The monk tells him that "All is all. Is is." This line would be repeated almost twenty years later by [[Cantus the Minstrel]] in an [[Episode 207: Mokey and the Minstrels|episode]] of ''[[Fraggle Rock]]''.
 
*During the encounter with the professor, discussing television drama, the "ending" credits for ''The Cube'', displayed on a TV set within the main scene, show "Produced by: [[Don Sahlin]]" and "Directed by: [[Joe Raposo|Joseph Raposo]]."
 
*Both ''The Cube'' and ''[[Time Piece]]'' feature brief scenes involving gorilla suits.
 
   
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*NBC's ''Experiment in Television'' had previously broadcast Jim Henson's documentary ''[[Youth '68]]''.
==Credits==
 
   
 
*During the encounter with the professor, discussing television drama, the joke credits for ''The Cube'', displayed on a TV set within the main scene, show "Produced by: [[Don Sahlin]]" and "Directed by: [[Joe Raposo|Joseph Raposo]]."
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* Featuring [[Richard Schaal]] as The Man in The Cube
 
* Written by: Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl
 
   
 
*Both ''The Cube'' and ''[[Time Piece]]'' feature brief scenes involving [[Gorilla Suits|gorilla suits]].
   
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*Excerpts from the guitarist's song, prior to the negative "you'll never get out" passage, were included in the 2005 book ''[[It's Not Easy Being Green (book)|It's Not Easy Being Green]]''. The audiobook version had Jerry Nelson reading the lines.
* Arnie: [[Hugh Webster]]
 
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* Manager: [[Rex Sevenoaks]]
 
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*In 2007, the Glassbooth Company performed a live stage production of "The Cube" at Germany's Freies Theater entitled "Kubus".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY4AzszpKG0 YouTube: Kubus]</ref>
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*[[Jerry Juhl]] makes an on-screen cameo in a projected party scene, and joins inΒ on a conversation (presumably about ''The Cube''), adding that he didn't care for the ending.
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==Credits==
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===Cast===
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* [[The Man in The Cube]]: [[Richard Schaal]]
 
* [[Arnie]]: [[Hugh Webster]]
 
* [[Mr. Thomas|Manager]]: [[Rex Sevenoaks]]
 
* Prisoner: [[Jack Van Evera]]
 
* Prisoner: [[Jack Van Evera]]
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* Straight Man & Sergeant: Jon Granic
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* Straight Man & Sergeant: [[Jon Granik|Jon Granic]]
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* Comic & Fritz: Guy Sanvido
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* Comic & Fritz: [[Guy Sanvido]]
 
* Seductress: Eliza Creighton
 
* Seductress: Eliza Creighton
 
* Black Militant: Don Crawford
 
* Black Militant: Don Crawford
 
* Scientist: [[William Osler]]
 
* Scientist: [[William Osler]]
 
* Monk: [[Jerry Nelson]]
 
* Monk: [[Jerry Nelson]]
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* Decorator: Sandra Scott
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* Decorator: [[Sandra Scott]]
 
* Dr. Conners: [[Claude Rae]]
 
* Dr. Conners: [[Claude Rae]]
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* Professor: Don McGill
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* Professor: [[Don McGill]]
 
* Guitarist: [[Ralph Endersby]]
 
* Guitarist: [[Ralph Endersby]]
 
* Liza 1: [[Trudy Young]]
 
* Liza 1: [[Trudy Young]]
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* Liza 2: Ruth Springford
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* Liza 2: [[Ruth Springford]]
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* Father-in-law & Dr. Birmingham: Moe Margolese
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* Father-in-law & Dr. Bingham: [[E.M. Margolese|Moe Margolese]]
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* Mother-in-law & Mrs. Stratton: Alice Hill
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* Mother-in-law & Mrs. Stratton: [[Alice Hill]]
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* Margaret: Loro Farell
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* Margaret: [[Loro Farell]]
 
* Dr. Bradowski & Old Man: [[Eric Clavering]]
 
* Dr. Bradowski & Old Man: [[Eric Clavering]]
 
* Nurse: Jean Christopher
 
* Nurse: Jean Christopher
   
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===Crew===
βˆ’  
 
* Written by: [[Jim Henson]], [[Jerry Juhl]]
 
* Directed by Jim Henson
 
* Produced by Jim Henson
 
* Produced by Jim Henson
 
* Casting: Pat Barney
 
* Casting: Pat Barney
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* Set Design: Jack McAdam of Design Service Associates
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* Set Design: [[Jack McAdam]] of Design Service Associates
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* Electronic Music: Walter Sear
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* Electronic Music: [[Walter Sear]]
 
* Associate Producer: David Robertson
 
* Associate Producer: David Robertson
 
* Production Assistant: Joan Chilcott
 
* Production Assistant: Joan Chilcott
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* Video: Percy Brinkworth
 
* Video: Percy Brinkworth
 
* Video Tape Editing: Keith Robinson, Ed Brennan
 
* Video Tape Editing: Keith Robinson, Ed Brennan
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* Production Facilities: Glen-Warren Productions Limited, Toronto
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* Production Facilities: [[Glen-Warren Productions Limited]], Toronto
   
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<gallery orientation=landscape widths=210 spacing=small>
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the.cube.5.jpg|Straight man and comic laugh at the Man
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the.cube.6.jpg|The guitarist and band torment the Man
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the.cube.7.jpg|
 
Cameo.jerry07.jpg|Jerry Nelson as the monk
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</gallery>
   
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==Sources==
* Directed by Jim Henson
 
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<references/>
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[[Category:Henson Films|Cube, The]]
 
[[Category:Henson Films|Cube, The]]

Revision as of 23:56, 19 June 2014

Title

Title Card

File:"The Cube"

A scene from The Cube

The.cube

The Man meets Arnie the maintenance man

The.cube
The.cube
The.cube

The Cube was an avant-garde drama written by Jerry Juhl and Jim Henson for television. It aired on NBC as part of the anthology series Experiment in Television on February 23, 1969. The program was rebroadcast two years later, on February 21, 1971.[1]

The hour-long piece takes place within a single set: a white, cubed space composed of a series of rectangular panels, in which the nameless protagonist is trapped. A steady stream of characters enter the cube, with recurring visits by the maintenance man Arnie and Mr. Thomas the manager, but they all exit through "their own door." Some visitors seem to know the man or want to offer advice and all are generally unhelpful to the man as he tries to unravel the mystery of where he is, how he got there, and how he can leave.

Topics explored include the definitions of reality and sanity, racism, sexuality, spiritual exploration, and the nature of freedom and being trapped, as well as many metatheatrical references to the play's status as a television drama.

The Cube can currently be purchased and rented via the iTunes Store.

Trivia

  • NBC's Experiment in Television had previously broadcast Jim Henson's documentary Youth '68.
  • During the encounter with the professor, discussing television drama, the joke credits for The Cube, displayed on a TV set within the main scene, show "Produced by: Don Sahlin" and "Directed by: Joseph Raposo."
  • Excerpts from the guitarist's song, prior to the negative "you'll never get out" passage, were included in the 2005 book It's Not Easy Being Green. The audiobook version had Jerry Nelson reading the lines.
  • In 2007, the Glassbooth Company performed a live stage production of "The Cube" at Germany's Freies Theater entitled "Kubus".[2]
  • Jerry Juhl makes an on-screen cameo in a projected party scene, and joins in on a conversation (presumably about The Cube), adding that he didn't care for the ending.

Credits

Cast

Crew

  • Written by: Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl
  • Directed by Jim Henson
  • Produced by Jim Henson
  • Casting: Pat Barney
  • Set Design: Jack McAdam of Design Service Associates
  • Electronic Music: Walter Sear
  • Associate Producer: David Robertson
  • Production Assistant: Joan Chilcott
  • Unit Manager: Jack Spiers
  • Floor Director: Gerry Bean
  • Make-up: Carol Davidson, Janet Nethercot
  • Set Dressing: David Jaquest, Gerry Holmes
  • Hairstyles: Max Axler
  • Technical Director: Jay Gellner
  • Lighting Director: Howard Galbraith
  • Audio: John Grimsditch
  • Video: Percy Brinkworth
  • Video Tape Editing: Keith Robinson, Ed Brennan
  • Production Facilities: Glen-Warren Productions Limited, Toronto

Sources