Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng

by Anthony Doan

Everything's coming up roses at the Ly family's Christmas Eve dinner. That is until Rose arrives, hoping to make a good impression, as she's meeting her fiancé's family for the first time. Despite her best efforts, the mood turns frigidly vicious when secrets are brought to light, forcing everyone to confront the fragility of their individual nature. "Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng" tiptoes between farce, dark comedy...

Everything's coming up roses at the Ly family's Christmas Eve dinner. That is until Rose arrives, hoping to make a good impression, as she's meeting her fiancé's family for the first time. Despite her best efforts, the mood turns frigidly vicious when secrets are brought to light, forcing everyone to confront the fragility of their individual nature. "Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng" tiptoes between farce, dark comedy, tragedy, and thriller as it follows a hauntingly dysfunctional family and unearths the fangs of internalized whiteness, self-acceptance, and the lengths we go to in order to survive.

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Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Eggshell; or Vỏ Trứng by Anthony Doan
    “

    The community of national & local readers for the 44th annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival enthusiastically recommends EGGSHELL; or Vỏ Trứng as a Semi-Finalist this season at Playwrights Foundation out of 755 plays. We were deeply moved by the artistic merits of the writer's skill with genre. We're compelled by the play's promise, as it explores the family dynamics interwoven with internalized whiteness. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production. #BAPF2021

    The community of national & local readers for the 44th annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival enthusiastically recommends EGGSHELL; or Vỏ Trứng as a Semi-Finalist this season at Playwrights Foundation out of 755 plays. We were deeply moved by the artistic merits of the writer's skill with genre. We're compelled by the play's promise, as it explores the family dynamics interwoven with internalized whiteness. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production. #BAPF2021

    ”

Character Information

  • Helen Ly
    The grand matriarch whose love for her family knows no bounds including them. British-Vietnamese accent.
    Late 50's
    Vietnamese-American
    Cis Woman (She/Her)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • James
    Butler, loyal with a kind heart; a graceful swan.
    Late 60's
    BIPOC
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • 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
      Male
  • Edwin Ly
    Middle child, son, sarcastic and dry; a troubled young man who has lost his joy. Late 20's. Vietnamese.
    Late 20's
    Vietnamese-American
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Claire Ly
    Youngest child, daughter, effervescent and bubbly; the ultimate ingenue with a dark side. RP Accent.
    Early to mid 20's
    Vietnamese-American
    Cis Woman (She/Her)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Dean Ly
    Eldest child, son, struggles to handle his repressed familial past and romantic future.
    Late 20's to early 30's
    Vietnamese-American
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Maxwell Ly
    Father; a ravenous hunter and survivor. Late 50's. Vietnamese. RP Accent.
    Late 50's
    Vietnamese
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Rose Mai Hartmann
    Dean's fiancée, a resilient young woman who loves her mother and in love with Dean.
    Late 20s to Early 30's
    Asian mixed race,
    half White
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Reading, Theatre Woks at UCI, 2020

Awards