@thespeedofJake

by Jennifer Maisel

Emily, a professor, and Clark, a tech wizard, had that perfect soccer parent life until their 10 year old died in an inexplicable random accident. Three years later, their son gone, their marriage shattered, Emily wants Clark to release her, so she can move on, so he can move on. But Clark has another plan. He thinks he can use technology to contact Jake – where-ever it is death has taken him. A meditation...

Emily, a professor, and Clark, a tech wizard, had that perfect soccer parent life until their 10 year old died in an inexplicable random accident. Three years later, their son gone, their marriage shattered, Emily wants Clark to release her, so she can move on, so he can move on. But Clark has another plan. He thinks he can use technology to contact Jake – where-ever it is death has taken him. A meditation on love, connection and disconnection in this increasingly distant time, @thespeedofJake contemplates the universal desire to cheat death against the backdrop of our rapidly evolving technological world. The first draft was Kilroy nominated in 2014. The second draft received an Honorable Mention from The Kilroys in 2015.

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@thespeedofJake

Recommended by

  • Ellie Parish: @thespeedofJake

    @thespeedofJake is a beautifully written play about grief and what it can do to our relationships. I found this play to be relatable, yet fascinating. I loved the way Maisel was able to portray the star differences between how different people can react to losing a child. I found myself taken on a distressing yet touching journey. I would highly recommend this play.

    @thespeedofJake is a beautifully written play about grief and what it can do to our relationships. I found this play to be relatable, yet fascinating. I loved the way Maisel was able to portray the star differences between how different people can react to losing a child. I found myself taken on a distressing yet touching journey. I would highly recommend this play.

  • Laurelle Bandy: @thespeedofJake

    @thespeedofJake is a fantastically written vision within the brain that deals with relatable topics such as grief, relationships, and moving on. It cultivates much thinking as a reader behind ethics within mourning and how different people react differently in situations. It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and takes you on a journey throughout. Jennifer Maisel hits it out of the park with this beautiful story, could not recommend more.

    @thespeedofJake is a fantastically written vision within the brain that deals with relatable topics such as grief, relationships, and moving on. It cultivates much thinking as a reader behind ethics within mourning and how different people react differently in situations. It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and takes you on a journey throughout. Jennifer Maisel hits it out of the park with this beautiful story, could not recommend more.

  • Tucker Mensen: @thespeedofJake

    @thespeedofjake is one of the most heart wrenching and intense plays I've ever read. It's a realistic story of the emotional toll that losing a loved one can be. Emily and Clark's relationship throughout the show and the way their characters even develop individually makes this play so intriguing and special. I would highly recommend this play to anyone who is interested in starting to read plays.

    @thespeedofjake is one of the most heart wrenching and intense plays I've ever read. It's a realistic story of the emotional toll that losing a loved one can be. Emily and Clark's relationship throughout the show and the way their characters even develop individually makes this play so intriguing and special. I would highly recommend this play to anyone who is interested in starting to read plays.

View all 15 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Playwrights Arena, Year 2014

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Playwrights' Arena, Year 2015

Awards

  • The Kilroys List - nominated
    The Kilroys
    2014
  • The Kilroys List
    The Kilroys
    Honorable Mention
    2015