Description
CHARACTERS
ESTHER: Central character of the play. Mid-20s or so. Pensive, sarcastic, and drily funny, but also very caring and sensitive at her core. May be somewhat of a loner, outside of her close relationships. Between jobs at play’s start due to feeling a need to start over with her life. Interesting combination of skeptical and hopeful traits.
ANNIE: Esther’s younger cousin and roommate. Upperclassman in college in Act 1, recent graduate in Act 2. She can display a bit of an attitude at times and is quick to hold a grudge, but really cares about her friends when it comes down to it. She also has a special fondness for her favorite cousin, Esther, who she looked up to as a kid.
ARIEL: Esther’s late best friend. Mid-20s “starving artist” type. The perfect foil to Esther and her clear platonic soulmate. Much like Esther in personality, but more brutally honest. She appears to Esther in an almost ghostly form, taking on the perfection of her friend’s memory.
MONA: Esther’s ex girlfriend, then later on girlfriend again. Earthy, “granola,” politely open about her beliefs even if they aren’t always the popular opinion. Probably a couple years older than Esther and Ariel, but not dramatically so; an age gap shouldn’t be emphasized. Late 20s?
REVIEWS
“I found [Conversations With My Dead Best Friend] quite poignant, as well as unexpected in a number of its twists and turns. Perhaps my favorite element was the characters’ stubborn striving towards joy, despite the huge tragedy that will always be a part of their lives. Another element I appreciated was the repeated acknowledgement that Esther will never “get over it” – missing Ariel will always be a part of her existence. Both of these things I have found (in my own experience) to be vital parts of grief, and not at all paradoxical, as they might initially seem. And of course, I love a good romantic ending for queer characters.” -Hannah Merrill, Parley Productions Seattle
RUNNING TIME
Approximately 2 hours
PREVIEW
Preview available here
