Her Own Devices by Lindsay Kennedy

FULL-LENGTH: Madeleine has spent her entire life in a lab as a test subject. The scientists who watch her are no closer to finding a cure, and meanwhile every night the King of Germs visits her in her dreams and tries to touch her with his contaminating hand. She enlists the help of her imaginary friend the Robot to fight him off and soon must make a choice whether to leave the only home she's ever known.
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Her Own Devices

Recommended by

  • David Hansen:
    7 Apr. 2020
    “ A deftly plotted search for what is true and what is not, and also questions whether our inherent free-will is something we should really be happy about. Adams's script is adeptly eched with paranoia and doubt, an urgent tale for the era of COVID-19. ”
  • Brian Maxwell:
    30 Aug. 2019
    “ A wealth of complexity in a manageable cast size. This play is great read. The central question raised by Adams is timely and profound. A well executed piece of theater. ”
  • Monica Cross:
    25 Aug. 2019
    “ PRODUCE THIS PLAY NOW! This is such a compelling, heartbreaking, and yet hopeful play. Her Own Devices has a stellar cast of characters and so many interesting facets for designers and choreographers to explore.

    Madeleine's journey is empowering; the Robot is adorably relateable; Boyle is an amazing villain; Alayna is super sympathetic; and George is a powerhouse! There is a mass of arms that weave a dance through the laboratory, and the King of Germs worming his way into Madeleine's nightmares.

    Big questions about existential angst are eloquently packaged in toy robots and unethical science experiments.

    A MUST READ! ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

NOTE ON CASTING: Any race does NOT mean white. The cast of this play should be diverse. DOUBLING: The KING OF GERMS is doubled with Boyle. The HORDE OF HANDS can be doubled with George and Alayna. If not doubled, at least one actor/dancer is needed, but more may be cast as wanted.

  • MADELEINE
    11,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    She may be played by an adult.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Child, Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • GEORGE
    25-35,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    A scientist.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • BOYLE
    30-40,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    A scientist.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • ROBOT
    Ageless,
    Any
    ,
    Agender
    Madeleine's imaginary friend.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • ALAYNA
    25-29,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Madeleine's mother.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • HORDE OF HANDS
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Non-speaking. The King of Germs' minions. A movement ensemble of actors/dancers, they are like a single organism, moving as one.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Kansas City Public Theatre
    ,
    2018
  • Workshop
    ,
    Interrobang Theatre Company (Baltimore)
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    History Matters/Back to the Future, The Women's Project Theatre, NYC
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    This Is Water Theatre
    ,
    2016
  • Workshop
    ,
    Theatre Alliance Hothouse New Play Series
    ,
    2016

Production History

Awards

Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award (Second Place)
,
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
,
2017
Darrell Ayers Playwriting Award (Second Place)
,
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
,
2017
Winner
,
Judith Barlow Prize
,
History Matters/Back To The Future
,
2016
Semi-Finalist
,
Trustus Playwrights Festival
,
Trustus Theatre
,
2016