SHORT PLAY
Drama
Drama
A parent and child reconnect in the most unique way, tearing the fabric of their own realities to find the threads of what remains in the space between.
As Xan utilizes technology to access a hologram of their deceased mother, Deb, they both find more than either expected. And as the implications of this relationship are discovered to be more fluid than fixed, both must decide what truly matters in the time they have left.
As Xan utilizes technology to access a hologram of their deceased mother, Deb, they both find more than either expected. And as the implications of this relationship are discovered to be more fluid than fixed, both must decide what truly matters in the time they have left.
CHARACTER INFORMATION
Deb - Woman, Any age, Portrays a hologram of Xan's deceased mother
Xan - Any gender, Teens and older
THEMES
futurism, hologram, sci-fi, coping with grief
futurism, hologram, sci-fi, coping with grief
REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS
“A lovely play that looks at the complexities of memory and grieving a parent. This piece also poses questions about the wonders and weirdness of technology while staying true to the story at hand. John Mabey works in humor in just the right ways. I would love to see this play on stage.”
(Karen Saari)
(Karen Saari)
“A conversation that is mesmerizing and deep. Quietly awesome. The characters Deb (a hologram of Xan’s deceased mother) and Xan (her late teen or older young adult) are very engaging and endearing for their attempts to capture something of the past. With EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, John Mabey utilizes his rare ability to keep the reader slightly off-balance while writing perfectly natural dialogue. I love the hologram Deb’s touching attempts at humor in the same vein as the deceased mother. And her cyber-nagging is hilarious. Xan should've read the fine print. The closing science report on cicadas is magical.”
(Charles Scott Jones)
(Charles Scott Jones)
“EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN has everything you would want from a ten minute play. John Mabey skillfully develops a strong emotional core while also exploring the world of the play. I thought the humor added a side of humanity to the play, which John weaves through so eloquently and with undeniable depth of the relationship Xan had and still has with their mother. A heartfelt story.”
(Brenton Kniess)
(Brenton Kniess)
“A terrific science-fiction story that is both simple to stage and full of incredible depth. A piece about reconnection, grief, and finally hearing words unsaid. (Bonus: unexpected and heartwarming interpretations of insect behavior!)”
(Evan Baughfman)
(Evan Baughfman)
“I saw a reading of this play at the William Inge Festival, and it was very moving to spend time with Xan working through their relationship with this parent who both was and wasn't there. Mabey uses this moment to ask questions about what life and death look like for both people and AI creations, with a healthy smattering of Dad jokes to round out the experience. The audience loved it!”
(Lainie Vansant)
(Lainie Vansant)
“Science-fiction is at its best when it is used to address a very modern and very human problem or emotion, in the case of this play, grief. How does one say good bye when given the chance? Do you say it? This was funny, heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. I saw this at the 2024 William Inge Festival and cannot recommend it enough.”
(Everett Robert)
(Everett Robert)
“Haunting and captivating. Anyone who has experienced grief will recognize Xan's impulse toward one more conversation, even if layered with anger and heartbreak and things unsaid, and even if the conversation isn't "real." Powerfully written.”
(Mindy R. Roll)
“Nothing hits harder for me than a story about the relationship between a parent and their child. It was a great piece tackling grief in a modern and interesting way, and I commend Mabey for their use of captivating dialogue and a strong sense of character. Loved hearing its reading at the William Inge Theatre Festival!”
(Lizzy Santana)
(Mindy R. Roll)
“Nothing hits harder for me than a story about the relationship between a parent and their child. It was a great piece tackling grief in a modern and interesting way, and I commend Mabey for their use of captivating dialogue and a strong sense of character. Loved hearing its reading at the William Inge Theatre Festival!”
(Lizzy Santana)
“A vision of future AI therapy sessions "for reminiscing. Or for laughing. Or for screaming...." which is beautifully human and cathartic. A lovely moment of connection.”
(Nora Louise Syran)
(Paul Donnelly)
“Tender and funny and wholly captivating, I adore this masterful 10-minute script. Mabey captures the rough edges of loss with wit and charm, not to mention the sniper-to-the-heart cicada ending? Oof! Electric and brilliant and expansive. I’ll be thinking about that 5th grade science report for a while. A gorgeous two-hander certain to steal the spotlight in any 10-minute play festival.”
(Abraham Johnson)
“A unique 10 minute piece. The characters are solid and a good challenge for actors, the plot is exciting and moves with force and the premise is a solid glimpse at the future of grief and therapy. Nicely conceived and well written, this would be a nice piece to see on stage.”
(James Binz)
(Nora Louise Syran)
“What an absolutely tragic and beautiful dance human and hologram dance as they maneuver a new, frustrating, and ultimately purposeful relationship. Such a lovely short piece about grief and moving forward... any way possible. Thank you, JOHN MABEY.”
(Debra A. Cole)
“Xan gets more than they bargained for in summoning a hologram of their late mother. This leads to a moving and in flashes funny exploration of their grief and anguish. The lovely conclusion allows Xan to say the one word that might bring release. A lovely, thoughtful use of technology to shape narrative.”(Debra A. Cole)
(Paul Donnelly)
“Tender and funny and wholly captivating, I adore this masterful 10-minute script. Mabey captures the rough edges of loss with wit and charm, not to mention the sniper-to-the-heart cicada ending? Oof! Electric and brilliant and expansive. I’ll be thinking about that 5th grade science report for a while. A gorgeous two-hander certain to steal the spotlight in any 10-minute play festival.”
(Abraham Johnson)
“A unique 10 minute piece. The characters are solid and a good challenge for actors, the plot is exciting and moves with force and the premise is a solid glimpse at the future of grief and therapy. Nicely conceived and well written, this would be a nice piece to see on stage.”
(James Binz)
“I love this play so much (and the human who wrote it, John Mabey) that I use it as a teaching tool in my course 'Writing the Ten-Minute Play'. A absolute stunner of a play, exploring grief, last words, what's left unspoken, what should be spoken, and how we as human beings move forward (or don't) after a tragic loss. Written with Mabey's gorgeous dialogue, fervent imagination, it's timely and timeless. Every time I read it I marvel at its construction and humanity. Produce it always and often!”
(Arianna Rose)
(Arianna Rose)
READINGS & WORKSHOPS
Kennesaw State University, GA - 2024
Left Edge Theatre, CA - 2024
The William Inge Theatre Festival, KS - 2024
Left Edge Theatre, CA - 2024
The William Inge Theatre Festival, KS - 2024
PRODUCTIONS
Slemons Productions, ME - 2024