Family • A Play

Family • A Play

by Eric Samuelsen

(For production by Professional Groups, College/University Groups, Community Groups, LDS & Other Church Groups)

In Family, real life becomes a bad weekend for the well-educated, intellectual, gospel-grounded, well-to-do Hull family. One daughter has left her husband (whom she may or may not really have shot), a son has left his mission early, and another daughter, an R.M., has left graduate school. Not exactly ideal. Their dark space monologues reveal the reality they’re in as a place that they don’t want to tell anyone of and almost can’t speak about. Even the parents who burn the roast or buy the wrong salad have to re-decide who they are and what they mean to each other as individuals and within the family unit; that in order to move toward being Gods, which is the whole point, they each have to constantly reinvent themselves, be reborn, re-think, re-decide. Winner of the Association for Mormon Letters Drama Award for 2005. Also published in Sunstone Magazine.


PLAY DETAILS:

  • 2M 5W 1TG
  • One Interior
  • About 2 hours
  • ORDER # 2029

Available for ALL producing groups.


REVIEW:

Thursday, March 17, 2005
A Great Mormon Play
FROM THE BLOG: Bigelow’s Rameumptom
Musings, observations, memories, reviews, and reports from writer, editor, and publisher Christopher Kimball Bigelow

“More than 10 years ago, I saw “Accommodations” at BYU, a family drama by Eric Samuelsen. This play blew my mind because it was my first encounter with a Mormon literary work that seemed authentic and provocative, in addition to featuring great dialogue and characters. From there, I went on to discover other worthwhile Mormon novels, stories, and plays that operate outside the usual Mormon safety zone.
Last night, I saw the latest Samuelsen play at BYU, the generically named “Family.” As in “Accommodations,” this new play revolves around a family with adult children gathered home in a time of crisis. I really like it, because the characters are so distinct and everyone is struggling with issues of faith and self-identity. Samuelsen just plain writes great dialogue, and he lets his characters demonstrate doubt, worldliness, and other human flaws. Plus, there’s lots of humor.
The play only runs through March 19 at BYU, but I understand the script will be published soon in Sunstone magazine. I wish a bigger crowd would see this kind of play.”


PERUSAL MATERIALS

  • The PERUSAL PAGES file for FAMILY is a PDF document that contains Act One of the 2-act play. It is downloadable by clicking FamilyPERUSAL
  • The STUDY GUIDE from the original production at BYU is available HERE: Family BYU STUDY GUIDE . There are some things particular to the BYU produciont, but most of the material in the GUIDE is quite helpful for any production of the play.

REHEARSAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE

  • Script in PDF format — Order #2029a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)



  • First Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2029d : $75



  • Second Performance Ward/Stake/Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2029e : $65



  • Professional Performance License can be granted by filling out the Performance License Application: No production rights can be granted until this application is filled out and sent to us. This is a filler form that after you click “SUBMIT” will send directly to our email address. Response averages 2-3 business days.

PRODUCTIONS

  • Dixie College (now Dixie State University) In St.George — 2006
  • Published in Sunstone Magazine, 2005
  • WINNER: Association for Mormon Letters Drama Award, 2005
  • Premiere at Brigham Young University — 2005
  • Original Cast from the 2005 BYU Production

 

From the catalog of