i

by Jeff Talbott

Sarah is having a rough time.  She’s trying to shake it, but it’s not easy.  She’s got a new doctor and she’s met a nice guy named Jake, so things are looking up.  And Jake’s having a hard time, too.  Together, Sarah and Jake are trying to find their way to each other – and maybe, just maybe, to some of that happiness we’ve heard so much about.  A mysterious love story about the threads that tie us together, i...

Sarah is having a rough time.  She’s trying to shake it, but it’s not easy.  She’s got a new doctor and she’s met a nice guy named Jake, so things are looking up.  And Jake’s having a hard time, too.  Together, Sarah and Jake are trying to find their way to each other – and maybe, just maybe, to some of that happiness we’ve heard so much about.  A mysterious love story about the threads that tie us together, i is a gentle and unsettling new play set a couple days after tomorrow.

"With a small cast of only four people and a single letter title, Jeff Talbott’s play "i" might seem small, but the issues it addresses are big and relatable. . . . Subtle and witty commentary on how the world interacts with technology and the possibilities and dangers of its evolution serve as an intriguing lead to the story, but the intense and emotional dialogue about the complexities of human relationships is what really connects the audience to her story and gives it meaning. . . . Compelling . . . "i" offers a big truth for audiences to walk away with."
--Deseret News, Aubrey Eyre

"In truth, there are not any “i” plot details that can be revealed, without spoiling audiences’ enjoyment as the playwright’s intentions are slowly, cleverly, wondrously revealed. . . . "i" is a complete delight. . . . Surprising for its originality and intriguing for its structure, “i” is deeply gratifying theater."
--Broadway World, Blair Howell

"Elements of science fiction weave their way through the story, but like the best science fiction, the high-concept premise really becomes a way to explore something about humanity in an allegorical way. . . . Talbott’s script is sharp and perceptive, savvy about the ways that technological advances inevitably come with consequences . . . While it might be unfair to say too much to a potential viewer about what "i" is about, it’s the kind of thought-provoking theater that’s exactly right for the kind of person who’s willing to turn themselves over to the artists. Maybe that’s a perfect summary for a play that wrestles with taking a risk on what you know, and what you don’t know."
--City Weekly, Scott Renshaw

"Gripping . . . "i" defies genre labeling and yet feels familiar; it is engaging and thought-provoking . . . The most moving, accurate and impassioned portrayal of absolute heartache that I have ever seen on a stage . . . It isn't every day a new play makes you really consider some heavy and heady questions, and it's even rarer when questions are posed without an agenda. "i" asks a lot, but it never tells you what you should think or how you should feel."
--Utah Theatre Bloggers, Megan Crivello

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i

Recommended by

  • Elizabeth A. M. Keel: i

    This warm and vulnerable four-hander embodies the notion that the only constant is change. As Sarah and Jake find the courage to try again (and again) with each other, we are urged to find similar embers of courage to fan once more within ourselves.

    This warm and vulnerable four-hander embodies the notion that the only constant is change. As Sarah and Jake find the courage to try again (and again) with each other, we are urged to find similar embers of courage to fan once more within ourselves.

  • Cheryl Bear: i

    A captivating play as we follow the journey of this character as she heals and opens herself up to hopefully a new and positive outcome. Well done.

    A captivating play as we follow the journey of this character as she heals and opens herself up to hopefully a new and positive outcome. Well done.

  • Nick Malakhow: i

    Whew! This is a beautiful and melancholic heartbreaker of a play with a strong undercurrent of humanity, a good sense of humor, and a subtly woven sci-fi bent. "i" is a unique extended metaphor for grief, depression, and the lengths we go to heal ourselves after traumatic events. It poses the excellent question--what is the cost living with your grief rather than relegating it to a compartment you never open? Talbott offers no easy answers to Sarah's plight. Sudden revelations at the end are effectively potent, and the play's conclusion is both somber and hopeful. A lovely piece!

    Whew! This is a beautiful and melancholic heartbreaker of a play with a strong undercurrent of humanity, a good sense of humor, and a subtly woven sci-fi bent. "i" is a unique extended metaphor for grief, depression, and the lengths we go to heal ourselves after traumatic events. It poses the excellent question--what is the cost living with your grief rather than relegating it to a compartment you never open? Talbott offers no easy answers to Sarah's plight. Sudden revelations at the end are effectively potent, and the play's conclusion is both somber and hopeful. A lovely piece!

View all 6 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Pioneer Theatre Company, Year 2017

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Pioneer Theatre Company, Year 2018