THE DEFECTORS

by Nick Malakhow

FULL LENGTH: Carina and Ale meet on the Beehive, an online pro-recovery support group for people with eating disorders. Dissatisfied with the steps they are or aren’t taking in their own lives, they decide to meet IRL after connecting through private messages. Will they find in one another what they think they’re looking for--a sympathetic and in the flesh human to help them on their own paths to recovery?
CW...

FULL LENGTH: Carina and Ale meet on the Beehive, an online pro-recovery support group for people with eating disorders. Dissatisfied with the steps they are or aren’t taking in their own lives, they decide to meet IRL after connecting through private messages. Will they find in one another what they think they’re looking for--a sympathetic and in the flesh human to help them on their own paths to recovery?
CW: mental health, eating disorders, addiction

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THE DEFECTORS

Recommended by

  • Ben F. Locke: THE DEFECTORS by Nick Malakhow
    “

    A very uncomfortable play in all the best ways. This play is a LOT to navigate through and uses all sorts of creative forms to tell this story. I love that this play creates an everyday look to ED and the never ending journey of recovery on non typical bodies. Everyone is flawed and simply trying to do their best and that's what's so relatable yet heartbreaking.

    A very uncomfortable play in all the best ways. This play is a LOT to navigate through and uses all sorts of creative forms to tell this story. I love that this play creates an everyday look to ED and the never ending journey of recovery on non typical bodies. Everyone is flawed and simply trying to do their best and that's what's so relatable yet heartbreaking.

    ”
  • Claudia Haas: THE DEFECTORS by Nick Malakhow
    “

    Malakhow tackles (and succeeds!) in addressing a myriad of issues. Online forums are helpful but humans need contact. Humans need to look into each other face-to-face without a screen. And the road to recovery from addiction doesn’t have a clear ending. We meet these characters after they have “recovered” and Malakhow explores how rocky and tenuous the recovery road is. Theatrical, poignant, and nuanced, this play will keep you rooting for his characters long after the curtain comes down.

    Malakhow tackles (and succeeds!) in addressing a myriad of issues. Online forums are helpful but humans need contact. Humans need to look into each other face-to-face without a screen. And the road to recovery from addiction doesn’t have a clear ending. We meet these characters after they have “recovered” and Malakhow explores how rocky and tenuous the recovery road is. Theatrical, poignant, and nuanced, this play will keep you rooting for his characters long after the curtain comes down.

    ”
  • Rachael Carnes: THE DEFECTORS by Nick Malakhow
    “

    Deeply humane, creative, theatrical, with dialogue that leaps off the page. Malakhow's exploration of a timely and important topic - through the lens of online community - is both relevant and relatable. A fresh take on a topic that we don't talk about enough. Bravo.

    Deeply humane, creative, theatrical, with dialogue that leaps off the page. Malakhow's exploration of a timely and important topic - through the lens of online community - is both relevant and relatable. A fresh take on a topic that we don't talk about enough. Bravo.

    ”
View all 13 recommendations

Character Information

  • MILLIE
    Ale’s mom.
    50s
    Latinx
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • DONNA
    Carina’s work frenemy.
    late 20s
    White
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • SEBBIE
    Ale’s ex. "Nice" with perhaps a bit of a savior complex.
    20s
    White
    he/him
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • THE BEEHIVE
    THE BEEHIVE: An online support group for people recovering from eating disorders. Lines assigned to the Beehive represented numerous folks within this community. Actors can be double/triple/quadruple cast from IRL characters (though it should be clear they are NOT any of the other IRL characters besides Ale and Carina) or the Beehive ensemble can be expanded as desired or needed. As diversity in experience is a major focus of the play, the personas you define in your rehearsal process should reflect a wide range of people living with body image issues and eating disorders.

    Two named personas besides Carina’s and Ale’s are TheLastTime, a moderator, F, 40s-60s, and justcomeon12345678, F, 15-17.
    Various
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • CARINA
    Online she is assertive; IRL less so.
    30s
    BIPOC
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • ALE (ALEJANDRO)
    Avoids eye contact and sharing his strange hobbies with others.
    20s
    Latinx
    he/him
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, Boulder Ensemble Theater Company, 2023
  • Reading, Elephant Room Productions (excerpt reading), 2021

Awards