phantasia by A.A. Brenner

The Schwartzfarb cousins hate each other. Like, *really* hate each other. So when they're forced to finally spend time alone together, it's no surprise they end up at each other's throats—especially at family "favorite" Jackie's.

This reality-breaking fantastical triptych explores the games we play in order to "fit in," both as a family member and as a...
The Schwartzfarb cousins hate each other. Like, *really* hate each other. So when they're forced to finally spend time alone together, it's no surprise they end up at each other's throats—especially at family "favorite" Jackie's.

This reality-breaking fantastical triptych explores the games we play in order to "fit in," both as a family member and as a human in modern American society.
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phantasia

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher:
    5 Jan. 2021
    “ This play is an absurd piece of existentialist theatre that I'm gonna be thinking about for a long time. How much of life and the people we miss it with are we missing because we aren't paying attention? I love how this piece explores performance of gender and familial obligation. Brenner has also written yet another fantastic role for transmasculine performers. ”

Character Information

Doubling is denoted in the character descriptions by slashes; each slash denotes which character each actor is playing in each act (ex. the actor in the "Jackie" track plays Jackie / Young Jackie / Ava—which means she's Jackie in Act 1, Young Jackie in Act 2, and Ava in Act 3).

Please cast a nonbinary / trans / transmasc actor as Fred / Frederick / Jack. Please cast a disabled actor as Ashley.
Everyone is Jewish except for Jenni / Genevieve / Jennifer, who is a WASP.

Remember: not all Jews are white.
Have fun.

  • Jackie / Young Jackie / Ava
    17 / 9 / 9,
    Any Race / Jewish (not all Jews are white)
    ,
    Female, Femme-presenting
    Bookish, over-imaginative.
    In Acts 1 & 2: The Quiet One.
    In Act 3: The Other Quiet One.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Frederick / Frederick / Jack
    Late 20s,
    Any Race / Jewish (not all Jews are white)
    ,
    transmasculine, Masculine-of-center, Nonbinary
    In Act 1: The waiter
    In Act 2: The reluctant protagonist.
    In Act 3: The person in drag.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Ashley / Hot Ashley / Ashley
    Early 20s / "Teenage" / Early 30s,
    Any Race / Jewish (not all Jews are white)
    ,
    Female
    Jackie's cousin. Type A femme. Has Epilepsy, but nobody talks about it.
    Like, literally: it's never seen or mentioned. But it's there.
    In Act 1: The Post-Grad.
    In Act 2: The Prom Queen.
    In Act 3: Tired.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Matt / Hot Matt / Matthew
    Late 20s / "Teenage" / Late 30s,
    Any Race / Jewish (not all Jews are white)
    ,
    Male
    Ashley's brother and Jackie's other cousin.
    In Act 1: The MBA Bro.
    In Act 2: The Prom King.
    In Act 3: The Business Dad.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Jenni / Genevieve / Jennifer
    Mid 20s / "Teenage" / Mid 30s,
    White
    ,
    Female
    Fish out of water.
    In Act 1: Matt's fiancée.
    In Act 2: The Foreign Exchange Student.
    In Act 3: The Stay-At-Home Mom.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • The Man in the Flannel Shirt
    60s-70s,
    Any Race / Jewish (not all Jews are white)
    ,
    Male
    A man in a flannel shirt.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    The Lark
    ,
    2020