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Swearing Jar, The

  • Kate Hewlett
  • Full Length Play, Dramatic Comedy, Contemporary
  • 2M, 2F
  • ISBN: 9780573709401

Kate Hewlett's intricately-constructed dramedy, peppered with acoustic guitar songs, explores what a couple will do for love... from swearing off swearing to keeping life-changing secrets to holding on to feelings longer than most would expect.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 90 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Cautions: Strong Language

  • Performance Group:
  • College Theatre / Student, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, Professional Theatre

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! Toronto Fringe Festival - Best of Fringe (2008)
    Winner! New York International Fringe Festival - Outstanding New Play (2010)
    Finalist! Governor General's Literary Award for Drama (2013)
Meet Carey and Simon, an otherwise-perfect married couple with a bit of a swearing problem. They're determined to kick the habit by the time their baby is born. Too bad that's not their only problem. Simon has a secret. And Carey has a new friend – a musician named Owen that she met at a bookstore. With quirky characters, music and gentle humor, this lovely and intricately-constructed story is about meeting challenges head-on and finding hope.
REVIEWS:

"A well-written, intricately conceived play, dealing with issues of life, death, love and trust, all in a delightfully charming and light-handed manner."

 The Easy

"Intricate, delicate construction... Hewlett spins an emotionally epic story about a woman caught between two men, as well as her own inability to cope with life's gains and losses."

 Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway

"A pleasure to see... Hewlett's writing has a gentle wittiness... With an exquisitely light touch, Hewlett creates snapshots of the happy lives of Carey and her husband, Simon, moving seamlessly between present day and three years before."

 Backstage

"Some of the play’s best moments are the songs Ms. Hewlett sings, describing the depths of Carey’s devotion to Simon."

 The New York Times

Premiere Production: The Swearing Jar made its debut at the 2008 Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won Best in Fringe. Two years later, in August 2010, the play opened at the NY Fringe Festival, where it won Outstanding New Play. In May 2021, producers announced a movie adaptation of the stage play. The film, starring Adelaide Clemens, Patrick J. Adams, Douglas Smith and Kathleen Turner, will premiere in the fall of 2022.

Characters

  • Casting: 2M, 2F
  • Casting Notes: CAREY is a singing role, and OWEN performs on guitar and sings.

  • CAREY – mid-30s
    SIMON – Carey’s husband, late 30s
    OWEN – guitar player, 30s
    BEV – Simon’s mother, late 50s-60s

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Swearing Jar, The Script This is optional. Order Now

    Meet Carey and Simon, an otherwise-perfect married couple with a bit of a swearing problem. They're determined to kick the habit by the time their baby is born. Too bad that's not their only problem. Simon has a secret. And Carey has a new friend – a musician named Owen that she met at a bookstore. With quirky characters, music and gentle humor, this lovely and intricately-constructed story is about meeting challenges head-on and finding hope.

    		$24.95

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