alex getting better

by Audrey Lang

[U.K. PREMIERE JUNE 2022] College sophomore Alex tries to sort through the reemergence of an old trauma as she spends time with middle school friends, revisits former stomping grounds, and with help from her therapist, finds the words for what happened to her in seventh grade.

**Not written as a Zoom play, but translates easily to an online platform.

[U.K. PREMIERE JUNE 2022] College sophomore Alex tries to sort through the reemergence of an old trauma as she spends time with middle school friends, revisits former stomping grounds, and with help from her therapist, finds the words for what happened to her in seventh grade.

**Not written as a Zoom play, but translates easily to an online platform.

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alex getting better

Recommended by

  • Claudia Haas: alex getting better

    Lang’s evocative, nuanced play shows us that memory may be imperfect for some but a memory of trauma is real to all. Denial, acceptance, wishing it away are all devices to try and heal. But Lang proves that healing is not easy. It comes at a cost. But that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t strive to cope, understand and try to pickup the pieces. The language is teen-speak, the reality is raw and the play unveils truths that should be heard.

    Lang’s evocative, nuanced play shows us that memory may be imperfect for some but a memory of trauma is real to all. Denial, acceptance, wishing it away are all devices to try and heal. But Lang proves that healing is not easy. It comes at a cost. But that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t strive to cope, understand and try to pickup the pieces. The language is teen-speak, the reality is raw and the play unveils truths that should be heard.

  • Debbie Lamedman: alex getting better

    I love how this story unravels; how it is told through different perspectives, but ultimately comes back around to Alex. As we take the journey with Alex from start to finish, we get to know her and feel her need to question her friends about the "something" that happened when they were all in middle school. Lang incorporates a type of poetry in introducing us to Alex's friends and letting us hear her inner thoughts. It's a well-told tale, told beautifully, and shows us how subjective memories can be. Wonderful work!

    I love how this story unravels; how it is told through different perspectives, but ultimately comes back around to Alex. As we take the journey with Alex from start to finish, we get to know her and feel her need to question her friends about the "something" that happened when they were all in middle school. Lang incorporates a type of poetry in introducing us to Alex's friends and letting us hear her inner thoughts. It's a well-told tale, told beautifully, and shows us how subjective memories can be. Wonderful work!

  • Nick Malakhow: alex getting better

    What a wonderful, tightly-written piece that explores the multi-pronged impacts of trauma that reverberate throughout one's life and relationships. I loved the framing of the piece with Alex's conversations with her therapist and the personal, theatrical monologues that punctuate her visits with each friend--the "what's going on inside/outside" dichotomy loads the scenes with weight and heft. Most importantly, Audrey illustrates just how different responses to a similar trauma can be and validates each and every response for all characters, which is helpful both for Alex's journey and for...

    What a wonderful, tightly-written piece that explores the multi-pronged impacts of trauma that reverberate throughout one's life and relationships. I loved the framing of the piece with Alex's conversations with her therapist and the personal, theatrical monologues that punctuate her visits with each friend--the "what's going on inside/outside" dichotomy loads the scenes with weight and heft. Most importantly, Audrey illustrates just how different responses to a similar trauma can be and validates each and every response for all characters, which is helpful both for Alex's journey and for steering conversations about trauma towards healing and progress.

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Character Information

When alex getting better has been performed in the past, each character has been played by a different actor; however, if necessary, the roles of Jennie, Ruthie, and Hallie could theoretically be played by the same actor as long as it is made completely clear that they are different people. Depending on the staging of the production, I feel there is also room to include an optional Girl/Young Alex type of character who is present at particular moments, but does not have any spoken lines.
  • Alex
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, anxious and confused but trying to figure things out.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Jennie
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, one of Alex's close friends from middle school, she has EVERYTHING together and she is OKAY.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Ruthie
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, Alex's best friend, she's not sure where she is or where she's going.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Hallie
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, one of Alex's close friends from middle school, she is ACTUALLY okay.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Jordan
    Early 30s, female-identifying, any ethnicity, Alex's therapist.
    Character Age
    Early 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Open Arms Advocacy Center, Year 2024
  • Type Fringe, Organization Theatre Zima (UK PREMIERE), Year 2022
  • Type High School, Organization Cherry Creek High School, Year 2022
  • Type Community Theater, Organization MD Virtual Ensemble, Year 2021
  • Type Fringe, Organization The Garden of Voices Podcast, Year 2021
  • Type Workshop, Organization Ithaca College (dir. Carin Jennie Estey), Year 2018

Awards

  • Nominee, Best New Production of a Play
    BroadwayWorld UK/West End Awards
    2022
  • Best Streaming Play
    BroadwayWorld Portland
    Runner Up
    2021