A Beginner's Guide to Self-Loathing & Why We Say Goodbye by Wolfgang Jones

Life. It's a nightmare. It's a trainwreck. It's uncomfortable, exhausting, and full of crying, cringing, laughing, snorting, sneering, squirming, puking, whatever - and that's okay. Because that's not the hard part. For Chris, Everett, and Jordan it's another terrible day in a life full of loss, poverty, crumbling mental health, self-destruction, and trying to survive when you just...
Life. It's a nightmare. It's a trainwreck. It's uncomfortable, exhausting, and full of crying, cringing, laughing, snorting, sneering, squirming, puking, whatever - and that's okay. Because that's not the hard part. For Chris, Everett, and Jordan it's another terrible day in a life full of loss, poverty, crumbling mental health, self-destruction, and trying to survive when you just really fucking hate yourself.
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A Beginner's Guide to Self-Loathing & Why We Say Goodbye

Recommended by

  • David A. Miller:
    20 Aug. 2023
    “ Heartfelt, funny, gut-wrenching. All of these things are true in this muscular play. The play is so theatrical in the way that it moves from scene to scene, moment to moment, character to character. The (repeated) unraveling of Everett's life is so engaging, even when infuriating (in the best of ways). It was a gift to get to know this play and this playwright at the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. ”
  • Ethan Alltop:
    5 Jun. 2023
    “ A shotgun blast of emotion; both gut-wrenchingly cathartic and darkly humorous. Jones speaks from his soul, and when you're dealing with suicide, heartbreak, and friendship; where else would you want it written from? ”
  • Rich Rubin:
    22 May. 2023
    “ A superb tour de force that is by turns dark and comic, unsettling and oddly uplifting. Or maybe I was just uplifted by Mr. Jones's virtuosity, and how it shows the power of great theater. Bravo!!
    ”
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Character Information

Please do not produce this with an all-white cast. Transgender and non-binary actors are welcome in any role.

  • Jordan
    20's,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Painfully aware of her place in the world - moreso than the others. The weight of her cross has been forgotten. Everett's younger sister.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Everett
    20's-30's,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Mid/late twenties-thirties. Well meaning but clueless and self-defeating. His life has become a hell of his own making. Jordan's older brother.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Chris
    30's-40's,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Around the same age as Everett, perhaps a little older. Made serious by increasing exhaustion and frustration. Burdened by a life he didn't want nor ask for.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Hope
    20's-30's,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    The aptly names object of Everett's salvation. On the surface, she is kind, bright, considerate, and happy - all that Everett is not.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Seven Devils New Play Conference
    ,
    2023
  • Workshop
    ,
    Pipeline-Collective
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    Monument Theatre
    ,
    2021

Awards

Winner
,
Inkslinger Playwriting Award
,
2023