Sinkhole

by Alison Minami

When a giant sinkhole hits a small town in Florida, Paul, the prodigal son, goes missing. His sister Naomi is convinced that he's fallen into the hole, but his mother believes that he's used the hole to fake his own death, thereby shirking his obligations to the family owned sushi restaurant. When Edgar, a big city scientist is sent to study the hole in an effort to combat climate change, Naomi's stupor is...

When a giant sinkhole hits a small town in Florida, Paul, the prodigal son, goes missing. His sister Naomi is convinced that he's fallen into the hole, but his mother believes that he's used the hole to fake his own death, thereby shirking his obligations to the family owned sushi restaurant. When Edgar, a big city scientist is sent to study the hole in an effort to combat climate change, Naomi's stupor is shaken by his new perspective. Her ex-husband, Henry, also the mayor, is frustrated by Edgar's prolonged research and lobbies for the hole to be filled so that commerce can once again be revived. The play moves back and forth between a year after the sinkhole has occurred, a time right before the sinkhole hits, and a dream-like surreality where characters explore the hole itself.

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Sinkhole

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  • Emily Brauer Rogers: Sinkhole by Alison Minami
    “

    Beautiful piece that explores grief, what traps us, how we're able to climb out of the sinkholes of our own life. Minami's poetic metaphors show how we want to believe the best in each other and still find hope on the edge of a sinkhole. I highly recommend!

    Beautiful piece that explores grief, what traps us, how we're able to climb out of the sinkholes of our own life. Minami's poetic metaphors show how we want to believe the best in each other and still find hope on the edge of a sinkhole. I highly recommend!

    ”
Naomi (mid 30s), Female, Japanese-Chinese-American. The responsible daughter to Haru and sister of Paul. She is a waitress at her family-owned restaurant. Fiance of Henry pre-sinkhole. Post-sinkhole she is at turns apathetic and angry.

Paul (late 30s), Male, Japanese-Chinese-American. The prodigal son, a wayward soul, a secret gambler.

Haru (60s), Female, Japanese-American, mother to Naomi and Paul. An ornery and bitter parent. Shrewd business owner of Raku-Raku.

Edgar (40s), Male, Latinx. Geologist. A big city Arrived in Rockland to study the sinkhole.

Henry (late 30s), Male, Caucasian, mayor of Rockland. Overzealous, know-it-all. More or less genuine, but often perceived as the opposite.

Magda (70s), Female, LatinX, grieving mother of child lost in the sinkhole.

Rachel (70s), Female, Jewish, grieving mother of child lost in the sinkhole.