The Lulu Plays
Written by Frank Wedekind, 1895
A brutal dance of objectification, captivity, and collapse. In a surreal Barbie-inspired world, Lulu is first presented as a "Perfect Doll" — unboxed, admired, and controlled by those who collect and possess her. Throughout her many marriages, she transforms like a "Costume Change Barbie," each new role reducing her further into an object for display — Bride Barbie, Career Barbie, Luxury Barbie. As her Dreamhouse cracks apart, Lulu becomes a "Broken Doll," tossed aside by the very society that once celebrated her. Her final moments, in a wasteland of discarded toys, come at the hands of Jack the Ripper — a chilling child who destroys what he no longer values. The horror is cyclical: as Lulu falls, another identical doll is unboxed, ready to begin again. Lulu fights to carve out her freedom but is trapped in a relentless cycle of exploitation, fantasy, and betrayal. She never truly escapes the brutal roles forced upon her.
