Portrait of a Woman's Tears by Katherine Gwynn

Elaine has lost the ability to cry--but that's the least of her problems. See, there's Quinn, her newborn who won't stop criticizing her. Elaine's (ex) husband Nate is no help either, ever since he moved into the doghouse in the backyard to try to find his inspiration to paint again. Thea, the new nanny and a nude painting recently come to life, brings relief and trouble in equal measure....
Elaine has lost the ability to cry--but that's the least of her problems. See, there's Quinn, her newborn who won't stop criticizing her. Elaine's (ex) husband Nate is no help either, ever since he moved into the doghouse in the backyard to try to find his inspiration to paint again. Thea, the new nanny and a nude painting recently come to life, brings relief and trouble in equal measure. And Peanut, the family dog, mostly tries to make sure Elaine has a drink in hand. In this absurdist comedy, art, gender, emotional labor, and motherhood are all explored as well as the question: what does it mean to cry for someone?
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Portrait of a Woman's Tears

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    30 Aug. 2021
    “ A perceptive and revealing look at motherhood and the weight one has on their shoulders. Well done. ”
  • Unicorn Theatre:
    28 Mar. 2019
    “ This play was a SEMIFINALIST for the 2019-2020 In-Progress New Play Reading Series at Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. It is our pleasure to support PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN'S TEARS. ”
  • Lindsay Kennedy:
    6 May. 2018
    “ A sharp look at motherhood, mental illness, and the effect on women when others make them bear all of the emotional burden. None of that sounds particularly funny, but this play deals with all of it with a wonderfully clever sense of humor. ”

ELAINE- to be played by a woman, late 30s-early 40s.
THEA --to be played by a woman, mid to late 20s.
NATE --to be played by a man, late 30s to early 40s.
QUINN -- to be played by a non-binary actor.
PEANUT--any age, race, gender, etc.

CHARACTERS THAT ARE DOUBLECAST
GALLERY OF DOCTORS: Doctors 1, 2, 3, and 4. To be played by 4 actors.
GALLERY OF REFERRALS: Optometrist, Endocrinologist, Neurologist, and Therapist. To be played by the same 4 actors who played the DOCTORS.
RECEPTIONIST: To be played by a woman. Could be one of the DOCTORS/REFERRALS
DR. GREENE: To be played by the actor who plays the RECEPTONIST
PROFESSOR: To be played by a man, one of the DOCOTRS/REFERALS

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Rockhurst University
    ,
    2017

Awards

Finalist
,
LezPlay Contest
,
Pride Films & Plays
,
2019
Finalist
,
Bay Area Playwrights Festival
,
Playwrights Foundation
,
2018