Chill by Eleanor Burgess

On a Friday night in the Spring of 2001, four teenagers have gathered to hang out and blow off some steam. Jenn likes Ethan. Ethan likes Alli. Alli likes Stu. Stu has a girlfriend. None of them can decide which movie to watch from the pile they got at Blockbuster. Over the course of the evening, they all break each others' hearts in a million tiny ways. Ten years later, they reunite to try and do it all again.
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Chill

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    2 Aug. 2020
    “ A fantastic capture of the full experience of the teenage years. The friendship, the love, the heartbreak and the fights along the way. As they enter adulthood, a similar dynamic with different concerns. Well done! ”
  • Shaun Leisher:
    14 Jun. 2018
    “ This is such a beautifully crafted play!!! The way Burgess looks at the passage of time between people is so smart. Between the acts things change but so much stays the same and the way that's brilliantly reflected in the structure of the acts particularly related to the combination of character moments. This should be in the canon for university theatre. ”
  • Nicholas Vasilios Pappas:
    5 Mar. 2018
    “ A sharp and moving portrait of four teens on the brink of a rapidly changing world, Chill is a fantastic contemporary play perfect for professional and university productions. ”
View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

  • Jenn
    17, then 27
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Alli
    18, then 28
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ethan
    17, then 27
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Stu
    18, then 28
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Merrimack Repertory Theatre
    ,
    2015

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Merrimack Repertory Theatre
    ,
    2017