Jack Black's "The First Play" SNL Sketch Has an Ingeniously Simple Premise
Like "Washington's Dream," this sketch written by Mikey Day, Streeter Seidell, and Chloe Fineman is a basic concept that's perfectly executed.
The premise of one particular sketch from Jack Black's April 5 Saturday Night Live episode, is extremely simple: In 500 BC-era Athens, "Ancient Greeks create a new form of entertainment known as theater. Meaning, at some point, there had to have been...THE FIRST PLAY."
It's almost surprising that it's never been imagined on SNL before — but then, the same could arguably be said for Nate Bargatze's wildly popular "Washington's Dream," which some fans (including Seth Meyers) consider a perfect sketch. Its success lay in the perfect execution of the basic concept, and "The First Play" is also being praised online for delivering on its own creative idea.
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"The First Play" was written by Streeter Seidell, Mikey Day, and Chloe Fineman
Like "Washington's Dream," Jack Black's "The First Play" sketch was co-written by longtime SNL writer Streeter Seidell, his 30 Rock officemate Mikey Day, and Day's fellow cast member Chloe Fineman, Seidell confirmed on X (formerly Twitter).
Several Greek citizens (Day, Fineman, Andrew Dismukes, and Jack Black) convene in an ampitheater, wondering what they're about to see.
"All I've been told is that it's a new form of entertainment called 'a play,'" Day's character relates.
"Yes, the poster simply said, 'Tonight at 7:00 p.m., come watch a book," Dismukes adds.
But when the play begins, the friends don't understand what they're seeing and start acting like kindergartners on a field trip to a puppet show.
"I, Phobos, have returned from the Isles," an actor (Bowen Yang) says.
"Hello! I am Clymastocles!" Black shouts while waving, as his friend (Fineman) yells, "I am Philomene. Welcome!"
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The actor pushes on, continuing, "Someone fetch the king! Tell him his loyal friend and general brings distressing news."
"I will go," Dismukes' character says, walking out to run the fictional errand. The remaining friends (including Jack Black in an amazing blond wig) grow angry about all of the trickery, and then traumatized by an on-stage death.
"Why were we brought here?! To watch someone be murdered!?" Day's character cries as they look on in horror. When one actor explains that their role is to temporarily believe a pretend story is real, Black is skeptical.
"That...sounds difficult. I don't think I can," he admits.
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SNL fans are praising the sketch's creativity
Across SNL's social accounts and YouTube channel, the response to "The First Play" was overwhelmingly positive.
One YouTube commenter wrote, "Some Monty Python vibes with this one," while another deemed it "one of the best skits on SNL in recent times. Acted to perfection, even the background players."
"As a theatre kid this took me out," a fan commented on SNL's Instagram post. "Great concept!"
"This felt like some classic SNL," a YouTube viewer weighed in. Watch "The First Play" above, and stream all 50 seasons of Saturday Night Live on Peacock anytime.
