BlueShift

Damon bought a house, and Martha is moving in with him. But she has trouble finding a room of her own in the new place. Meanwhile the house has spiders, raccoons, sad paint, and a neighbor who seems a bit too excited that a mixed-race couple has moved in. Turns out this may not be the best place for Martha to fight off her past demons. And speaking of demons: what is that coming out of the trunk in the attic?...
Damon bought a house, and Martha is moving in with him. But she has trouble finding a room of her own in the new place. Meanwhile the house has spiders, raccoons, sad paint, and a neighbor who seems a bit too excited that a mixed-race couple has moved in. Turns out this may not be the best place for Martha to fight off her past demons. And speaking of demons: what is that coming out of the trunk in the attic?

A ghost story about depression and time travel.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

BlueShift

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow:
    23 Nov. 2020
    A gorgeous, haunting play about relationships, depression, and the complex and perpetual process of taking care of one's mental health in adulthood. The relationship between Martha and Damon is rendered with such fine and nuanced brushstrokes, and the theatricalization of Martha's demons is unique, supremely effective, and gives so much for a production team to work with from all angles--actors, directors, designers. This play manages to plumb the scary depths of depression and to end on a hopeful note that doesn't sugarcoat or idealize recovery. Beautiful!
  • Ramona Rose King:
    9 Nov. 2019
    This beautiful play is a theatrical, mind-bending love story. It really drives home the fact that the scariest thing to be haunted by is yourself—your past and your potential future(s).
  • Unicorn Theatre:
    28 Mar. 2019
    This play was a FINALIST for the 2017-2018 In-Progress New Play Reading Series at Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. It is our pleasure to support BLUESHIFT.

Character Information

  • MARTHA
    30s,
    Black
    ,
    Female
    An astrophysics nerd with mental health issues. 32 years old, black female.
  • DAMON
    late 20's,
    White
    ,
    Male
    Martha's beau; graphic designer who wants to be drawing comics. 26, white male.
  • JEAN
    60s,
    White
    ,
    Female
    A neighbor lady who likes tea, cross-stitching, and bridge. 60s, white female.
  • MARTHA-19
    19,
    Black
    ,
    Female
    “Young Black and Fabulous” meets “just jumped off a tall building.” 19-year-old black female. Doubles with “CHERIE.”
  • MARTHA-42
    42,
    Black
    ,
    Female
    Looks like she’s been drowned in a marsh for a week. Late 40’s, black female.
  • CHERIE
    19,
    Black
    ,
    Female
    Interdimensional pancake tourist, Future-Style. Doubles with “MARTHA-19.”

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Huntington Theatre Company
    ,
    2016

Awards

Finalist
,
In-Progress New Play Reading Series
,
Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City, MS
,
2018
Semi-Finalist
,
Bay Area Playwrights Festival
,
Playwrights Foundation
,
2018
Finalist
,
New Play Festival
,
Kitchen Dog Theatre, Dallas, TX
,
2017
Finalist
,
National Playwrights Conference
,
Eugen O'Neill Theatre Center
,
2016