Pangaea by Erik Champney

It’s all a bit messy. Georgie is having therapy because of The Thing he did when Ross broke up with him. Now Ross is fucking the therapist’s son. Because Ross doesn’t answer to anyone. Set during one unforgettable winter, PANGAEA is a thrilling and insightful new play about stumbling teenagers, flailing adults, and the terror of being defined by the people who want to love us.
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Pangaea

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow:
    3 Oct. 2019
    “ A fast-moving and absorbing piece! I love this small, intimate story writ large. The characters are all recognizable and human, and Champney breaks up realistic, humorous, and at times wrenching scenes with lyrical poetry. This use of a "chorus" of internal/external/everywhere-in-between thoughts both provides key insights into the characters' inner lives and propels the action forward. The cacophony that leads to the end of act one is invigorating, and the 11th hour revelations at the end of act two surprising and justified. I love how an unexpected (for me) character becomes the audience cipher as the play wraps. ”
  • Nicholas Surges:
    27 Jul. 2019
    “ There's a beautiful rhythm to "Pangaea". The text is contemporary and lightning quick. Straight scenes are intercut with choral passages in which the characters speak in unison or quick succession. These passages build intensity and keep the piece flowing so that when Champney pauses for a softer, more intimate moment, it hits all the harder.

    With its 5 clearly-defined and all-too-human characters, "Pangaea" tells a relatable story of navigating a world in which we are expected to balance our wants against the expectations of others. It is at times funny, at others heartbreaking, and engaging throughout. Highly recommended. ”

Character Information

The characters in PANGAEA are open to all ethnicities. About characters who are familial: Ross and Gertrude are siblings and should share the same ethnicity. Lang and Phillip are mother and son, but the ethnicity of Phillip’s unseen father is never stated. Characters are listed below in order of appearance.

  • Ross Kurtz
    17,
    Male
    Looking back on his youth from adulthood, he appears in the form of his 17 year-old self. He is the chameleon, charismatic and charming.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Gertrude Kurtz
    15,
    Female
    Ross’s sister. She is purposefully sloppy and small, in self-worth if not also in frame.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Phillip Ashcroft
    17,
    Male
    The son of a psychologist, he is well-put together and starting to crack.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Lang Ashcroft
    40s,
    Female
    A successful psychologist and divorced mother. Her son, Phillip, is her best friend.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Georgie Cromwell
    16,
    Male
    Lang’s patient and Ross’s ex-boyfriend.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Above the Stag Theatre, London
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, New York, NY
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Abingdon Theatre Company, New York, NY
    ,
    2016
  • Workshop
    ,
    Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA
    ,
    2010

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA
    ,
    2010

Awards

Winner
,
Outstanding Playwriting
,
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity