A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Samsara

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  2w, 3m

Lauren Yee

Katie and Craig are having a baby… with a surrogate… who lives in India. A whimsical take on modern day colonialism.

Samsara

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adventure, Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
Katie and Craig are having a baby… with a surrogate… who lives in India. A month before the baby’s due date, Craig reluctantly travels to the subcontinent, where he meets Suraiya, their young, less-than-thrilled surrogate. As all three “parents” anxiously wait for the baby to be born, flights of fancy attack them from all sides, in the form of an unctuous Frenchman and a smart-mouthed fetus. A whimsical take on modern day colonialism.
History

Samsara first premiered at Victory gardens Theater in CHicago, IL in February of 2015 under the direction of Seth Bockley.

Keywords
Performing Groups
KATIE - mid to late 30s, female, Caucasian
CRAIG - mid to late 30s, male, Caucasian, her husband
SURAIYA - twentysomething but appears younger, female, Indian, their surrogate (also plays BABY)
AMIT - appears to be the same age as Suraiya, male, Indian, a fetus (also plays INDIAN WOMAN IN LABOR, SURROGATE 1, MAILMAN)
FRENCHMAN - any age, male, very French, a figment of Katie’s imagination (also plays DOCTOR, ORPHAN, SURROGATE 2)
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting Northern California and western India.
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS 

“[G]enuinely moving… stick with this one. … there’s a throbbing play here with a bleeding heart and a laudable awareness of how we sometimes only get one shot at happiness or escape, and of how macroeconomics and geopolitics don’t always embrace personal need.” - Chicago Tribune, Read More 

"Highly Recommended...[I]t is the conversation between surrogate mother and unborn child — some of it acerbic, some of it poignant, all of it hugely engaging — that shows Yee at her sparkling best.” - Chicago Sun-Times, Read More 

"Critics' Pick...A “savvy and affecting piece about modern reproduction. … the play’s playful style doesn’t diminish the weight of its substance." - TimeOut Chicago, - Read More 

"Yee has a deft hand with exposition, telescoping complicated setup into light, punchy scenes...The bold theatricality of Yee’s script keeps the audience engaged and giggling..." - Los Angeles Times, Read More


Videos

  • Samsara promo - Chance Theater youtube thumbnail

    Samsara promo - Chance Theater

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Lauren Yee

Lauren Yee
Lauren Yee was the second most produced playwright in America for the 2019/20 theatrical season (as per American Theatre Magazine). Her plays include Cambodian Rock Band (South Coast Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, City Theatre, Merrimack Rep) and The Gr ...
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