The Bakunawa

by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin

The Bakunawa is a magical, travel-filled breakup play about love and loss through the lens of a queer interracial couple. When Lester's aunt passes away in the Philippines, his relationship with his boyfriend Andrew deteriorates over time and distance. Formerly titled Butter Knife.

The Bakunawa is a magical, travel-filled breakup play about love and loss through the lens of a queer interracial couple. When Lester's aunt passes away in the Philippines, his relationship with his boyfriend Andrew deteriorates over time and distance. Formerly titled Butter Knife.

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The Bakunawa

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: The Bakunawa

    A moving story of love and loss as time and distance separates. Beautifully done.

    A moving story of love and loss as time and distance separates. Beautifully done.

  • Taylor Gruenloh: The Bakunawa

    A humorous look at the fragility of relationships. The exploration of how you can't complete someone else when you aren't truthful to yourself. Finding identity in familial reunions. The dialogue is tight and sharp, but the moments are soft and open. Great read. Poetic in its capturing of a culture.

    A humorous look at the fragility of relationships. The exploration of how you can't complete someone else when you aren't truthful to yourself. Finding identity in familial reunions. The dialogue is tight and sharp, but the moments are soft and open. Great read. Poetic in its capturing of a culture.

  • Nick Malakhow: The Bakunawa

    A beautiful, quietly potent exploration of loss and relationships. The folks centered in this piece are people who typically don't get such intimate, nuanced stories written about them, and the intersectional complexities that emerge from centering these voices are a welcome thing to read. I sincerely hope to see this highly theatrical and compelling piece onstage some day soon!

    A beautiful, quietly potent exploration of loss and relationships. The folks centered in this piece are people who typically don't get such intimate, nuanced stories written about them, and the intersectional complexities that emerge from centering these voices are a welcome thing to read. I sincerely hope to see this highly theatrical and compelling piece onstage some day soon!

View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

  • Charice
    An administrative assistant, though not by choice.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Filipina American
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Guillaume
    White French with an Accent (at least a slight one.) A traveler.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Charlie
    Runs a computer lab at an elementary school.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Alton
    A teacher prone to soliloquizing.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    mixed Filipino American
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Lester
    Filipino American, queer. A recruiter; that is, he finds people employment and vice versa. Andrew’s boyfriend, at least for a while.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Filipino American
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Andrew
    White American, queer. An entomologist; that is, he studies insects. Lester’s boyfriend, at least for a while.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Carol
    A teacher prone to frequenting wine bars.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Ina
    A nurse. Lester’s mother.
    Character Age
    40s-60s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Filipina
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Indiana University , Year 2017
  • Type Reading, Organization Crashbox Theater Company, Year 2016
  • Type Commission, Organization Alton Alburo via Concrete Temple Theater Lab, Year 2014

Awards

  • Paula Vogel Playwriting Award
    Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
    Honorable Mention
    2018
  • Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award
    Kennedy Center
    Runner Up
    2018
  • Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting
    Kennedy Center
    Winner
    2018