wild, mysterious forces

by M. K. Wessel

Stuck in an elevator—or is it a spaceship?—a Woman and a Man struggle to figure out if they’ve met before, if they’re strangers, if they will meet in the future, and who this Other Woman is who keeps showing up. As reality shifts around them, the trio find themselves caught in a duel of philosophy, sexuality, and power. Defying the laws of physics, this play bends time and space around a single life-altering...

Stuck in an elevator—or is it a spaceship?—a Woman and a Man struggle to figure out if they’ve met before, if they’re strangers, if they will meet in the future, and who this Other Woman is who keeps showing up. As reality shifts around them, the trio find themselves caught in a duel of philosophy, sexuality, and power. Defying the laws of physics, this play bends time and space around a single life-altering event, and asks the audience to decide what is true—reality, or our perception of it?

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wild, mysterious forces

Recommended by

  • Brad Goren-Wilson: wild, mysterious forces by M. K. Wessel
    “

    I love this play. Funny, startling, hypnotic, moving, thought-provoking and deeply satisfying, it’s a master class in nonrealism that’s approachable and generous while remaining completely true to itself and the strangeness of its conventions. Highly recommended.

    I love this play. Funny, startling, hypnotic, moving, thought-provoking and deeply satisfying, it’s a master class in nonrealism that’s approachable and generous while remaining completely true to itself and the strangeness of its conventions. Highly recommended.

    ”
  • Jayne Deely: wild, mysterious forces by M. K. Wessel
    “

    Wild, Mysterious Forces is a ride unlike any other. Each moment opens not to new floors, but to entire layers of truth and reality—a surreal confrontation with memory, identity, and perception. As characters appear in ever-shifting configurations, what we think we remember and who we think we are watching is in constant flux. What unfolds is a seeming elevator ride that is so much more - a wonderful, funny, and bewildering exploration of competing realities and a path to healing.

    Wild, Mysterious Forces is a ride unlike any other. Each moment opens not to new floors, but to entire layers of truth and reality—a surreal confrontation with memory, identity, and perception. As characters appear in ever-shifting configurations, what we think we remember and who we think we are watching is in constant flux. What unfolds is a seeming elevator ride that is so much more - a wonderful, funny, and bewildering exploration of competing realities and a path to healing.

    ”

Character Information

Casting is best when diverse. MAN should never be the only POC in the cast.

CAST OF CHARACTERS (2F, 1M, 1NB/F):
- MAN
- WOMAN
- OTHER WOMAN
- ALIEN
  • MAN
    A self-important man. Charming, funny, dangerous. Alpha-male persona.

    MAN should never be the only POC in the cast.
    20s-40s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • WOMAN
    A stereotypically shy woman. Awkward and in denial about reality. Self-sacrificing to an alarming degree.
    20s-40s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
  • OTHER WOMAN
    Boisterous and unladylike. Confident, flirtatious, bold. She gets under your skin.
    20s-50s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
  • ALIEN
    An understated alien. Think of something that crawls, like a spider. But it doesn't crawl, ever. Tries to remain objective and scientific, but deep down the other characters are agitating it.

    ALIEN is genderless. Actor may be agender, NB, gender-non-conforming, or female-identifying, but should not be played by a male-identifying actor.
    Ageless
    Any
    Agender,
    Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary

Development History

Awards

  • New Works of Merit Contest
    Honorable Mention
    2023