The Locusts by Danielle Mohlman

When Annie arrives in Seattle for the weekend, she has two objectives: watch her brother Will graduate from the MBA program at the University of Washington and hook up with that piece of man meat she’s been objectifying for the last two years. It’s mutual, or so she thinks. Without warning, Ben is proposing marriage — citing bashert and a lucrative new job. And Annie is seriously considering it. And Sam is...
When Annie arrives in Seattle for the weekend, she has two objectives: watch her brother Will graduate from the MBA program at the University of Washington and hook up with that piece of man meat she’s been objectifying for the last two years. It’s mutual, or so she thinks. Without warning, Ben is proposing marriage — citing bashert and a lucrative new job. And Annie is seriously considering it. And Sam is tired of waiting. And Will is, frankly, over it.

Utilizing a rotating cast of perspectives that explore sex, love, and heartbreak within this intimate family unit, The Locusts explores the multiformity of queerness, the messiness of sibling relationships, the malleability of faith, and what it really means to hurt someone you love.

(The Locusts was workshopped under the title Halcyon from 2017 to 2020.)
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The Locusts

Recommended by

  • Kate Busselle:
    28 Feb. 2021
    “ I love, love, love this play. The characters are completely relatable and I identified/empathized with each of them at varying points of the play. If you are looking for an interesting, funny, sad, dark, touching play for four dyamic actors, look no further than Halcyon. An excellent text for scene study classes and colleges/universities. ”
  • Nick Malakhow:
    24 Oct. 2020
    “ An exquisite piece! It is full of everyday poetry--both beautifully natural speech and spare lyricism. I loved the use of distance and proximity to explore relationships, and just like her dialogue, Mohlman's staging combines high theatricality (with wonderful potential for movement and design) with really intimately and specifically drawn scenes. The nuanced queer identities on display here provide some much needed representation that I wholeheartedly appreciated and felt kinship with. The folding in of faith into these character's intersectional identities was impactful as well. I hope to see this piece onstage in the near future! ”
  • Alexandra Hamill:
    16 Oct. 2020
    “ As a bisexual woman who has ended up with a male life partner, I have often found myself wondering about how my life would have been different if I made different choices in my love life. Watching Halcyon was like watching a play about a feeling that has no name. Mohlman's ability to let her characters, who are raw, wonderful, messed up humans, just exist without needing to explain or justify their existence is stunning. The whole thing is beautifully written, complex, and uncompromising. I highly recommend this play to everyone. ”
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Character Information

  • Annie
    early 30s,
    Female
    a graphic designer, but really an artist; she’s also Will’s sister; she just wants to be something to somebody, but that’s terrifying; (she/her)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Will
    late 20s,
    Male
    a consultant and a fed-up romantic; he’s also Annie’s brother; he’s also sick of Ben; he’s also a mile a minute; (he/him)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Sam
    early 30s,
    Female
    a scientist who’s tired of waiting; she’s also Annie and Will’s childhood best friend; she’s also probably more than that; (she/her)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ben
    early to mid-30s,
    Jewish
    ,
    Male
    a consultant who's fond of breaking things; he’s also Jewish; he’s also married to Annie; he’s also terrified and turned on by Will; (he/him)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

Awards