WILDERNESS

by Greg Hovanesian

ONE-ACT: Late at night, in a dark and remote forest, two men find themselves alone with only the stars and a telescope to keep them company. As they watch the stars above, they discuss the things that friends often discuss: life, actions and consequences , the reasons people do the things they do. But as one sentence connects to another, and as the sky above continues to darken, the words spoken by the two...

ONE-ACT: Late at night, in a dark and remote forest, two men find themselves alone with only the stars and a telescope to keep them company. As they watch the stars above, they discuss the things that friends often discuss: life, actions and consequences , the reasons people do the things they do. But as one sentence connects to another, and as the sky above continues to darken, the words spoken by the two begin to take on sinister meanings. And as the light completely fades away, the words themselves dissipate, leaving only the animal instincts of the two to guide them through the night.

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WILDERNESS

Recommended by

  • Stuart Kurtz: WILDERNESS by Greg Hovanesian
    “

    Here is a work of raw animal energy. Reminiscent of the sparse dialog of Mamet, Hovanesian, uses words, and the lack of them, to convey a hidden code of what transpired to bring about this awful event, and, more importantly, what the true drives of humans are about. The play cuts through society's bull to create a subtext that is more action than meaning. Even the gods and goddesses in the constellations seem in on the act. It couldn't be set in civilization but must be in the Wilderness.

    Here is a work of raw animal energy. Reminiscent of the sparse dialog of Mamet, Hovanesian, uses words, and the lack of them, to convey a hidden code of what transpired to bring about this awful event, and, more importantly, what the true drives of humans are about. The play cuts through society's bull to create a subtext that is more action than meaning. Even the gods and goddesses in the constellations seem in on the act. It couldn't be set in civilization but must be in the Wilderness.

    ”
  • Matthew Alan Craig: WILDERNESS by Greg Hovanesian
    “

    We are all just animals with evil intentions... Wow, even though I knew what was going to happen because of the structure, I was still scared for what was going to happen. The play is the cup of tea that I needed for tonight, and this tea was satisfying. Truly brilliant dialogue that just creeps me out and leaves me horrified.

    We are all just animals with evil intentions... Wow, even though I knew what was going to happen because of the structure, I was still scared for what was going to happen. The play is the cup of tea that I needed for tonight, and this tea was satisfying. Truly brilliant dialogue that just creeps me out and leaves me horrified.

    ”
  • David Beardsley: WILDERNESS by Greg Hovanesian
    “

    Jealousy leads to murder and then insanity, except it all happens in reverse order in this strange and disturbing tale told backwards. When the play opens, one character is dead, the other is unhinged, and we have no idea why. As each scene moves us closer to the beginning we start to piece together details, and our knowledge of where it’s all leading makes it all the more horrifying. This is a dark and delicious play.

    Jealousy leads to murder and then insanity, except it all happens in reverse order in this strange and disturbing tale told backwards. When the play opens, one character is dead, the other is unhinged, and we have no idea why. As each scene moves us closer to the beginning we start to piece together details, and our knowledge of where it’s all leading makes it all the more horrifying. This is a dark and delicious play.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations
2 men, aged 30-50

Development History

  • Reading, Playwrights' Platform, 2017
  • Reading, Ya Bird? Productions, 2017

Production History

  • Professional, Ya Bird? Productions, 2019