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Go Back to Where You Are

  • David Greenspan
  • Full Length Play, Dramatic Comedy, Present Day, Greek; Roman & Biblical, Contemporary
  • 5M, 2F
  • ISBN: 9780573700699

"A compassionate comedy about an extended family of theater people...marked by such sympathetic insight into the complicated lives of striving artists..."

The New York Times

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 75 minutes

  • Time Period: Present Day, Greek; Roman & Biblical, Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Bare Stage/Simple Set
  • Cautions: Mild Adult Themes

  • Performance Group:
  • College Theatre / Student, Professional Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
In Go Back to Where You Are God offers Passalus, a failed actor from ancient Athens festering in hell, the opportunity of redemption by returning to Earth to free a young woman from her domineering mother, Claire, a distinguished stage actress.

Passalus accepts the proposal with the understanding that on completing his mission his soul be annihilated. God agrees – with the caveat that Passalus not become entangled in the lives of others. Granted the ability to shape-shift, Passalus assumes the role of a British matron and former actress, arriving at Claire’s summer home during a week-end in which she is hosting friends and family. But Passalus is also equipped to hear the inner thoughts of the characters he encounters – and armed with knowledge of their suffering is unable to remain aloof. He also finds himself falling in love with Claire’s brother, Bernard, the under-appreciated author of eccentric comedies. 

The play dramatizes second chances in love – and love that facilitates the soul’s release from hell into life again.
REVIEWS:

"A compassionate comedy about an extended family of theater people... marked by such sympathetic insight into the complicated lives of striving artists... Mr. Greenspan is always a delight to watch, with his ability to integrate comic shtick and fanciful histrionics."

Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

"A slender but thickly layered romantic caprice... Seventy-five dense-packed, poetic minutes."

Michael Feingold, The Village Voice

"Both a naturalistic romance and an erudite pastiche. Astute theater buffs will spot traces of classic dramas -- Chekhov's The Seagull, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, and Ben Jonson's The Devil Is an AssThe Mask of Apollo... but also nods to contemporary gay playwrights (Lanford Wilson, Terrence McNally, Harvey Fierstein)... Fans of Greenspan's work will enjoy witnessing his ever-evolving metatheatrical mastery."

Don Shewey, Culture Vulture

"For all of its incidental humor, Go Back to Where You Are mainly concerns a soul's last chance to experience love. In the process, Greenspan's mercurial play blithely transcends chronology and realism as the characters speak directly to the audience, give voice to their unspoken thoughts."

Michael Sommers, New Jersey News Room

Premiere Production: Go Back to Where You Are was first presented by Playwrights Horizons under artistic director Time Sanford at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater in New York City, on April 11, 2011. It was directed by Leigh Silverman.

Characters

  • Casting: 5M, 2F
  • Casting Notes: All characters appear on stage throughout, entering scenes as indicated. The actor playing Malcolm doubles as God.

  • BERNARD - a playwright
    PASSALUS - an actor, demon, assumes the character of Constance Simmons
    GOD - played by the actor playing Malcom
    CLAIRE - an actress, Bernard's sister
    CHARLOTTE - an actress, Claire's friend
    TOM - a director, Claire's friend
    WALLY - a director, Claire's son
    MALCOM - a set designer, Tom's partner

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Go Back to Where You Are Script Order Now

    In Go Back to Where You Are God offers Passalus, a failed actor from ancient Athens festering in hell, the opportunity of redemption by returning to Earth to free a young woman from her domineering mother, Claire, a distinguished stage actress. Passalus accepts the proposal with the understanding that on completing his mission his soul be annihilated. God agrees – with the caveat that Passalus not become entangled in the lives of others. Granted the ability to shape-shift, Passalus assumes the role of a British matron and former actress, arriving at Claire’s summer home during a week-end in which she is hosting friends and family. But Passalus is also equipped to hear the inner thoughts of the characters he encounters – and armed with knowledge of their suffering is unable to remain aloof. He also finds himself falling in love with Claire’s brother, Bernard, the underappreciated author of eccentric comedies. The play dramatizes second chances in love – and love that facilitates the soul’s release from hell into life again.

    		$24.95

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