Repossessed by Greg Lam

FULL LENGTH - What would happen to our world if anyone could choose to remix and rewrite their memories and personalities?

Rich and Gretchen seem to have the ideal marriage, until they learn that it was manufactured by a mysterious biotech company which installed it into their brains. Because they can no longer afford this service, the company must repossess their improvements.

...
FULL LENGTH - What would happen to our world if anyone could choose to remix and rewrite their memories and personalities?

Rich and Gretchen seem to have the ideal marriage, until they learn that it was manufactured by a mysterious biotech company which installed it into their brains. Because they can no longer afford this service, the company must repossess their improvements.

REPOSSESSED explores questions of identity, morality, and authenticity amidst a world of rapidly changing technology and the ethics that come with it.

REPOSSESSED is published by Broadway Play Publishing in paperback and electronic versions. (https://www.broadwayplaypublishing.com/the-plays/repossessed/) Perusal copies available upon request to author. A 20 page sample is available on NPX.

Full audio production available in Podcast form by The Parsnip Ship: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-parsnip-ship/e/63173050

Hear an excerpt of the play with playwright interview here: https://www.bostonpodcastplayers.com/bpp-season1/
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Repossessed

Recommended by

  • Dave Osmundsen:
    2 Jul. 2020
    “ I listened to this fascinating and thought-provoking play on the Parsnip Ship. I’m extremely intrigued by the world that Greg Lam has so carefully and cleverly constructed here. I also love the ethical questions and quandaries that Lam proposes with this play: Can science go too far in its attempts to improve humanity? Or are we humans responsible by turning to science to erase our flaws? Check this one out! ”
  • Nick Malakhow:
    29 May. 2020
    “ Brilliant theatrical sci-fi! Good science fiction takes the issues of the society from which it's born and refracts them back with a fantastical lens, and "Repossessed" does just that. The memory and persona altering technology employed in this play provides an elegant, straightforward, and yet complex metaphor for the ways we change ourselves to appease partners and friends, the ways we change and adapt as adults to further our own goals, and the tensions and interactions between those two tendencies. All of the characters are vividly rendered and Gretchen's journey, particularly, is compelling and surprising start to finish. ”
  • Gabriella Bonamici:
    7 Apr. 2020
    “ 'Repossessed' is a mind-bending, fast-moving, and fascinating take on what it means to love a person, including ourselves. A fun and intriguing read from beginning to end. ”
View all 9 recommendations

Character Information

The Voice could be doubled either with the actress playing Cindy or one of the other two actors. With the doubling as noted below, the play can be produced with a minimum of seven actors.

Small Roles

Actor 1
Server (Act 1, Scenes 1 and 5, Act 2, Scene 9)
Radio News Anchor (OS) (Act 2, Scene 13
Nurse (Act 1, Scene 8; Act 2, Scene 11, 13)
Surgeon 1 (Interlude 4, Act 2, Scene 13)
Regina’s Assistant (Act 2, Scene 1)
Doorman (OS) (Act 2, Scene 8)

Actor 2
Financial Reporter (OS) (Act 2, Scene 13)
Singer (OS) (Interlude 2)
Interviewer (OS) (Interlude 3)
Surgeon 2 (Interlude 4; Act 2, Scene 11, 13)
Restaurant Patron (Act 2, Scene 1)
Conference Host (Interlude 5; Epilogue)

  • Gretchen Warner
    35-45,
    Female
    Appears to be a cultured and intelligent woman of style and tact, like someone just featured in the New York Times Style section.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Rich Warner
    40-55,
    Male
    Appears to be a self-possessed man of dignity and success, used to being a success at all levels of life, like someone who has just finished giving his Ted Talk.

    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Regina Hastings
    45-70,
    Female
    Appears to be an ambitious and powerful woman heading a groundbreaking biotech company, like someone who just nailed her Senate testimony.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ted Naughton
    50-70,
    Male
    A lawyer and Rich’s longtime friend despite his obvious shortcomings.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Cindy
    28-35,
    Female
    Appears to be just a girl you meet but don’t really think much about.

    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • The Voice
    20-80
    Appears to be a soothing and reassuring disembodied voice, helpful, comforting and without emotion. Should be visually represented onstage in some fashion.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Tiny Theatre
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Pork Filled Players
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Fresh Ink Theatre
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    The Depot in Connecticut
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Boston Podcast Players
    ,
    2017

Production History

  • Fringe
    ,
    The Parsnip Ship Podcast/Artists' Theater of Boston
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre Conspiracy (FL)
    ,
    2018

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Semi-Finalist
,
Dayton Playhouse Futurefest
,
2018
Winner
,
New Work Initiative
,
Lotus Lee Foundation
,
2018
Finalist
,
The Lift-Off Series
,
Navigators Theatre
,
2017
Winner
,
New Play Contest Winner
,
Theatre Conspiracy
,
2017