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The Swearing Jar

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  2w, 2m

Kate Hewlett

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.

The Swearing Jar

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2008 Toronto Fringe Festival, Best of Fringe
    Winner! 2010 New York International Fringe Festival, Outstanding New Play
    Finalist: 2013 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama

Details

Summary
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.
History
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, was released in 2022.
Keywords
Performing Groups

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

Note: CAREY is a singing role, and OWEN performs on guitar and sings.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting A small concert venue, Simon and Carey’s living room, a park and a bookstore.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Play with Music
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Media

“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


Videos

  • Swearing Jar Buskin' youtube thumbnail

    Swearing Jar Buskin'

Music

Music Samples

Licensing & Materials

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

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
MUSICAL NUMBERS

1. "Too Tall" – Carey
2. "The Night We Fought" – Carey & Owen
3. "The Way To A Man's Heart" – Carey & Owen
4. "You" – Carey
5. "May The Fourth" – Owen & Carey
6. "Family" – Carey
7. "Foregtting Your Face" – Carey & Owen
8. "The Turtle" – Carey
DIGITAL DELIVERY:
Guitar-Vocal Score

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Add-Ons

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Authors

Author

Kate Hewlett

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