The Suicide Table by Kris Thompson

NOTE: 100 percent of the playwright's royalty fees for the world premiere of this play will be donated to the producer or director's choice of nonprofit suicide prevention organization.

Six people from different walks of life have made the decision to kill themselves on this day. However, the forces of cosmic balance bring it to their attention that the suicide quota is nearly full and...
NOTE: 100 percent of the playwright's royalty fees for the world premiere of this play will be donated to the producer or director's choice of nonprofit suicide prevention organization.

Six people from different walks of life have made the decision to kill themselves on this day. However, the forces of cosmic balance bring it to their attention that the suicide quota is nearly full and only one of them can go through with suicide. They must, amongst themselves, determine which of them will be allowed to do so. Each may share memory scenes to show what brought them to this decision. After much debate, they have all decided that none of them are going to commit suicide. At this point the forces of cosmic balance indicate that they did not understand…the quota is nearly full and must be fulfilled which means that one of the six must commit suicide.
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The Suicide Table

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Character Information

Supporting roles can be doubled, tripled at Director's discretion.

  • KELVIN
    50-60,
    African American / Black
    ,
    Male
    50s, black, homeless Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD. He plans on stepping in front of a city bus/train.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • KATIE
    10,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Ten-year-old girl with an apathetic, drunk, drugged-out mother and her mother’s sexually abusive live-in boyfriend. She plans to use her Mother’s illegal drugs to kill herself.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Child, Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • LINDSAY
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Early 30s woman with terminal brain cancer who plans to legally end her life via the death with dignity act. She now possesses the doctor prescribed pills to end her life.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • LAURA
    30-40,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Late 30s mentally ill mother suffering from very severe postpartum depression/psychosis after the birth of her fifth child. She has no support from a controlling husband, has just ended the life of her baby, and plans to end her own as well.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • DECKEN
    teen,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Gay teen boy from loving family who has been sent by his parents to a reconditioning camp to “cure” his sexual orientation. He is planning on jumping off the roof of his dormitory.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • STEWART
    50s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    50s, selfish accountant who plans to shoot himself to avoid the humiliation of being arrested for financial crimes.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • CHRIS
    Any age,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Adult male or female keeper of the cosmic balance of life and death. (can also be cast as David and Dr. Buckley)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • RON
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    30s abusive live-in boy-friend of Megan and sexual abuser of Katie. (can also be cast as Paul)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • NANA
    50s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    50s Grandmother of Katie. (can also be cast as Louise if aged up to Nana)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • PAUL
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Supportive, loving husband to Lindsay (can also be cast as Ron)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • MEGAN
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    30s druggie Mom of Katie. (can also be cast as Claire, Cambria, and Lisa)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • LOUISE
    20s,
    African American / Black
    ,
    Female
    Late 20s black fiancé and later wife of Kelvin (can also “age up” and be cast as Nana.)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • LISA
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Sister to Laura (can also be cast as Cambria, Claire, and Megan)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • KID
    teen,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Teen street boy. (Can also be cast as female Amanda)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • DR. BUCKLEY
    50-60,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    50s Oncologist to Lindsay (can also be cast as David and Chris)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • DAVID
    30-40,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    30s-40s controlling husband to Laura. (can also be cast as Chris and Dr. Buckley)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • CLAIRE
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    30s embezzling girlfriend-on-the-side of Stewart. (can also be cast as Megan, Cambria and Lisa)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CAMBRIA
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    30s Mom to Decken. (can also be cast as Claire, Megan, and Lisa)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • AMANDA
    teen,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Teen girl, childhood best friend to Decken. (can also be cast as male Kid)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female