In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)

Two weeks after the end of Act I, Dr. Givings is seeing a male patient, Leo Irving, in his operating theater. After listening to Leo’s story about a woman who spurned him, leaving him feeling weak and with an increasing issue with his vision, Dr. Givings declares Leo a “rare […] case of hysteria in a man” and tells Leo to disrobe (70). In the living room, Elizabeth has just finished feeding Lotty and hands the baby back to Catherine. Catherine sings the lyrics she made up for the song that Sabrina played in Act I, jealous that Lotty smiles for Elizabeth and not for her. Dr. Givings uses an adapted version of the vibrator on Leo that is inserted into the rectum to stimulate the prostate. Leo seems anxious but experiences an orgasm. Catherine listens to him cry out, surprised to hear a man’s voice through the door. Dr. Givings exits the office to bring Leo some tea, and Catherine questions him. Dr. Givings returns to his operating theater with tea, and Leo, now clothed, seems perplexed as Dr. Givings prescribes daily treatments.