Pluto

by Steve Yockey

In the wake of a tragedy involving gun violence at a local college, single mother Elizabeth Miller and her withdrawn son Bailey try to jump-start their relationship across the breakfast table. But with berserker appliances, shifting astronomy, and the talkative new family dog's interruptions, Elizabeth might not be able to really "see" the person she needs to see most. FULL SCRIPT available from Samuel French...

In the wake of a tragedy involving gun violence at a local college, single mother Elizabeth Miller and her withdrawn son Bailey try to jump-start their relationship across the breakfast table. But with berserker appliances, shifting astronomy, and the talkative new family dog's interruptions, Elizabeth might not be able to really "see" the person she needs to see most. FULL SCRIPT available from Samuel French, Inc.

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Pluto

Recommended by

  • Rebecca Kane: Pluto

    I remembered seeing this play from the Orlando Shakes years ago and it's something I still think about all the time. With some of the most skilled, layered imagery I've ever seen along with unexpected wry humor and the role of a lifetime for whoever is gifted with playing Elizabeth, I can't recommend this play enough.

    I remembered seeing this play from the Orlando Shakes years ago and it's something I still think about all the time. With some of the most skilled, layered imagery I've ever seen along with unexpected wry humor and the role of a lifetime for whoever is gifted with playing Elizabeth, I can't recommend this play enough.

  • Elizabeth A. M. Keel: Pluto

    This play is the magical, shadowy, twisted riddle I always hope for when reading. Mr. Yockey has mixed his ingredients with a careful palate; the Greek mythology, combined with the planetary metaphors, are impeccably balanced. We “get it” without being walloped over the head. The alien language erupting from the dog, and Maxine’s splendid fury, create an epic feel so much larger than its perimeter of a kitchen. In short, the strangeness of the world lends an extravagant scope to its heroine’s grief that pure realism could never have achieved.

    This play is the magical, shadowy, twisted riddle I always hope for when reading. Mr. Yockey has mixed his ingredients with a careful palate; the Greek mythology, combined with the planetary metaphors, are impeccably balanced. We “get it” without being walloped over the head. The alien language erupting from the dog, and Maxine’s splendid fury, create an epic feel so much larger than its perimeter of a kitchen. In short, the strangeness of the world lends an extravagant scope to its heroine’s grief that pure realism could never have achieved.

  • Darcy Parker Bruce: Pluto

    PLUTO is a play we need to teach to all of our theater students. The resulting conversation is vital to growing a community of young adults eager to engage in difficult and often taboo subjects. This play is beautiful. It's layered, but not too complex, and above all, it's not an issue play. It's a play about so many things, but most importantly it's a play that will get an audience talking- whether an audience of one student in front of a screen, or an entire theater. This play is IMPORTANT.

    PLUTO is a play we need to teach to all of our theater students. The resulting conversation is vital to growing a community of young adults eager to engage in difficult and often taboo subjects. This play is beautiful. It's layered, but not too complex, and above all, it's not an issue play. It's a play about so many things, but most importantly it's a play that will get an audience talking- whether an audience of one student in front of a screen, or an entire theater. This play is IMPORTANT.

View all 11 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Playwriting Australia / NIDA, Year 2013
  • Type Workshop, Organization Playwriting Australia / National Play Festival, Year 2013
  • Type Workshop, Organization Oregon Shakespeare Festival / Black Swan Lab, Year 2013
  • Type Reading, Organization National New Play Network, Year 2012
  • Type Reading, Organization The Theatre @ Boston Court, Year 2012
  • Type Commission, Organization San Francisco Playhouse, Year 2011

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Stray Cat Theatre - Phoenix, AZ, Year 2015
  • Type Professional, Organization Forum Theatre - Silver Springs, MD, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization Know Theatre - Cincinnati, OH, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization Orlando Shakes - Orlando, FL, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization Actor's Express - Atlanta, GA, Year 2013