SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

by Chisa Hutchinson

An odd, but bright little boy named Tino befriends the lunch lady at his crappy public school and becomes kind of a hero in the process.

An odd, but bright little boy named Tino befriends the lunch lady at his crappy public school and becomes kind of a hero in the process.

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SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

    A gorgeously subtle, intimate, character-driven play full of beautifully realized humans. The scenes are tenderly observed, poignant, and funny. The connection we see between Tino and Bernadette is specific and organic. I loved the way the scenes at school were punctuated by Tino's visits to church, mirroring his quest to find connection and community. This is deserving of multitudinous productions!

    A gorgeously subtle, intimate, character-driven play full of beautifully realized humans. The scenes are tenderly observed, poignant, and funny. The connection we see between Tino and Bernadette is specific and organic. I loved the way the scenes at school were punctuated by Tino's visits to church, mirroring his quest to find connection and community. This is deserving of multitudinous productions!

  • J.Lois Diamond: SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

    I love this play! It is full of warmth, humor and sass. Each character is well drawn and quirky, and would delight any actor lucky to be cast. It made me laugh out loud as I felt the pathos of their lives. I would love to see this produced.

    I love this play! It is full of warmth, humor and sass. Each character is well drawn and quirky, and would delight any actor lucky to be cast. It made me laugh out loud as I felt the pathos of their lives. I would love to see this produced.

  • Emily McClain: SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

    I received this play in my DPS Book Club this quarter and I absolutely loved it! Hutchinson's dialogue is genuine and the core relationships of the play are so unique. Tino is such an incredible protagonist, and his connection both with Bernadette and Deja makes the ending of the play so powerful. It's an uplifting story without being saccharine or "after-school-special." Beautiful work- I'd love to see it produced here in Atlanta!

    I received this play in my DPS Book Club this quarter and I absolutely loved it! Hutchinson's dialogue is genuine and the core relationships of the play are so unique. Tino is such an incredible protagonist, and his connection both with Bernadette and Deja makes the ending of the play so powerful. It's an uplifting story without being saccharine or "after-school-special." Beautiful work- I'd love to see it produced here in Atlanta!

View all 9 recommendations

Character Information

Everyone in this play is of color. Preferably black or Latinx because that's the truth of Newark, NJ right now, but if a Filipinx kid auditions for Deja and rocks it, I ain't trippin'. Newark has Filipinx kids, too.

Adults can play kids, but if you can find kids with chops, even better.

The voiceover characters can be read by actors in the main cast, if they're versatile like that.
  • Tino
    An oddball who gets picked on a lot at school. He's brilliant but diffident, so accustomed to being beat down or "put in his place" that he doesn't know how to engage people if it's not awkwardly.
    Character Age
    12
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Black
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Deja
    A bit of a bulldozer and a little rough around the edges-- like even her love can be abrasive-- but she's ride-or-die loyal.
    Character Age
    12
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Black,
    Black Puerto Rican - American,
    African-American or Latinx,
    Afro-Latinx
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Bernadette
    No-nonsense. No edit button either. Done with these kids. Except for Tino. He's alright.
    Character Age
    late 50's-mid 70's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Black
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Alneesa
    Tino's aunt. Real wry sense of humor that often borders on cruelty. She's justifiably resentful over having to take care of a kid that she didn't ask for.
    Character Age
    30's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Black
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Preacher
    Voiceover. Sincere, urgent, full of fire.
    Character Age
    40's - 60's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Black
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Principal
    Voiceover. Probably started this job as an idealist, but is now just trying to get through the day without throwing a kid out the window.
    Character Age
    40's - 60's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    BIPOC
    Character Gender Identity
    Any
  • Teacher
    Voiceover. More important for her to seem right than be right.
    Character Age
    30's - 40's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any race (but likely African American / Black)
    Character Gender Identity
    Any (but probably Female)

Development History

  • Type Commission, Organization Writers Theatre, Year 2016

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Keen Company, Year 2019
  • Type Professional, Organization Writers Theatre, Year 2017