Trouble of the World

Julian loves Mario. Mario loves Julian. Janice, Mario’s mother, cannot reconcile her first generation, Catholic upbringing to love all of him. Trouble of the World is in conversation with The Merchant of Venice, is told through the lens of Nema, a wealthy attorney, as she seeks justice after Janice, a Dominican police officer, kills her son, Julian. Trouble of the World explores classism, colorism, homophobia,...
Julian loves Mario. Mario loves Julian. Janice, Mario’s mother, cannot reconcile her first generation, Catholic upbringing to love all of him. Trouble of the World is in conversation with The Merchant of Venice, is told through the lens of Nema, a wealthy attorney, as she seeks justice after Janice, a Dominican police officer, kills her son, Julian. Trouble of the World explores classism, colorism, homophobia, and the complexity of the love and loss between two very different mothers.
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Trouble of the World

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation:
    6 Apr. 2020
    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play TROUBLE OF THE WORLD, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

Character Information

  • Nema Pittman
    58,
    African American/ Black
    dark skinned, African-American woman, named partner at her law firm. Spelman undergrad, first Black woman, President of Harvard Law Review. Wife to Lester and mother to Julian
  • Alastor "Lester" Pittman
    63,
    African American/ Black
    ,
    Male
    dark skinned, African-American man from Chicago by way of Mississippi, Morehouse undergrad, Harvard Law, judge
  • Julian Pittman
    28,
    African American / Black
    ,
    Male
    African-American man, Nema and Lester's only son. He is the best parts of them. Morehouse undergrad, Socialite (Julian and BLM #1 can double.)
  • Lupe Núñez
    75,
    Dominican/Hispanic
    ,
    Female
    Afro-Dominicana, mama to Janice, and Mario's abuelita. She silently grieves for the mistakes of her past. She lives with Janice and Mario in the Inwood section of Manhattan
  • Janice Andujar
    47,
    Dominican/Hispanic
    ,
    Female
    1st generation, light-skinned Afro-Dominicana, widowed mother to Mario, police office in the 34th District of Manhattan
  • Mario Andujar
    31,
    Afro-Dominican
    ,
    Male
    Afro-Dominicano, Julian's boyfriend of five years+, yoga instructor and soon to be yoga studio owner
  • Bia
    30s,
    Latinx
    Latinx, non-binary, the personification of force and raw energy. Part of Julian's Village
    (Bia and Prosecutor can double)
  • Gen
    20s,
    Filipino American
    ,
    Male
    Filipino American, man. Part of Julian's Village (Gen and Bailiff can double)
  • Aché
    30s,
    Caribbean
    ,
    Female
    West Indian, known for her ability to wash away pain. She balances and tempers the Village. Part of Julian's Village (Aché and BLM #3 can double)
  • Bailiff
    20s,
    Filipino American
    ,
    Male
    Filipino American, keeps order in the court and swears in witnesses. Bored by job. (Bailiff and Gen can double)
  • Defense
    55,
    Female
    African American woman, always camera ready. (Defense and Melba can double)
  • Judge
    60s, Array,
    Male
    White man, pinched features, proud member of the Mayflower Society
  • Prosecutor
    Latinx, non-binary, grandstander, cutting, underestimated until it's too late.
    (Prosecutor and Bia can double)

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    The Lark
    ,
    2021

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship
,
,
2021
Finalist
,
Family Residency
,
SPACE on Ryder Farm
,
2020
Finalist
,
Apothetae
,
The Lark
,
2020