Exquisite Corpse by Maggie Smith

The creative writing class of Mary Magdalene's Preparatory School for Girls have less than three hours to finish editing their school's literary magazine. Too bad they don't have any poems to edit. In a last-ditch effort to complete their task, the girls lock themselves in their classroom in order to have a long and hard conversation that even the smartest among us can't answer: What makes good poetry?
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Exquisite Corpse

Recommended by

  • Vidalia Unwin:
    18 Jan. 2024
    “ A breeze and a joy
    Depth in layers poetic
    See what I did there?

    Or for those who won’t get why it’s funny to write a recommendation in a haiku:
    This play is a damned joy to read. And its brilliance lies in how many layers that one can choose to dig, or not, for enjoyment.
    Its surface layers will enchant and engage, and the more you contemplate the more profoundly wonderful it gets.
    In short, this play about school girls writing poems feels like it is indeed a well written poem. I highly enjoyed it. ”

Character Information

As a writer, I am dedicated to creating diverse worlds onstage. Some of the most defining moments of my life involve me seeing myself represented onstage, television, or in literature. Because of this, I highly recommend casting this play diversely in regards to race, gender identity, and disability. You won’t be depicting the real world if you ignore this request.

This is acknowledging, however, that some roles are specific in the way they must be casted. In this play, the following roles have these limitations:

| All characters must be played as women. However, this does not mean that you should only cast cisgender women— Womanhood is an expansive word, and anyone who feels comfortable portraying such an experience should feel empowered to perform this piece.

  • HESTER HELLER
    17-18,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a senior in her first year of creative writing, joined because she happened to have a free period; Darcy's older sister, hellbent on taking her down a peg
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • ANNE "DARCY" HELLER
    16-17,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a junior in her third year of creative writing, head editor of the literary magazine; a headstrong leader in need of perfection
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • MADELINE MEYER
    14-15,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a freshman, unaware of what she’s gotten herself into; desperate to impress but even more desperate to get home before curfew
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • DOROTHY SOLIS
    16-17,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a junior in her third year of creative writing; a quiet poet with more passion than anyone could know
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • JO FOSTER
    15-16,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a sophomore in her second year of creative writing; funny and loud, disinterested in seeming intelligent
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • SARA HUNT
    17-18,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a senior in her second year of creative writing; a tennis player more interested in quality than getting the job done
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CARRIE BLACKWELL
    17-18,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    a senior in her third year of creative writing; loyal and heartfelt, but ready to take those qualities elsewhere
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Samford University
    ,
    2024