Glass

by Azure D Osborne-Lee

[full-length]
The gods of Life and Death are wrestling for control of their world, trampling anyone who gets in their way. During their reign of terror, a woman refuses to bend to their will, and is forced to kill her own children. She retreats from the world to recover from her trauma, but she can't stay hidden forever. Will she find the courage to stand up to her gods?

“Glass” is an evening-length fantasia...

[full-length]
The gods of Life and Death are wrestling for control of their world, trampling anyone who gets in their way. During their reign of terror, a woman refuses to bend to their will, and is forced to kill her own children. She retreats from the world to recover from her trauma, but she can't stay hidden forever. Will she find the courage to stand up to her gods?

“Glass” is an evening-length fantasia, a creation myth featuring new imaginings of Anansi the Spider, Brer Rabbit, and other iconic Black characters.

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Glass

Recommended by

  • Marie Selavy: Glass by Azure D Osborne-Lee
    “

    A brilliant exploration of myth and relationships

    A brilliant exploration of myth and relationships

    ”
  • Freddy Edelhart: Glass by Azure D Osborne-Lee
    “

    I was lucky enough to see a workshop production of this play last year and it was one of my favorite shows of 2017! The magic Azure is able to write onto the stage is so mythic and beautiful and rare, and I think is on special display with this one. Read and produce this play!

    I was lucky enough to see a workshop production of this play last year and it was one of my favorite shows of 2017! The magic Azure is able to write onto the stage is so mythic and beautiful and rare, and I think is on special display with this one. Read and produce this play!

    ”
  • Jax Jackson: Glass by Azure D Osborne-Lee
    “

    Glass is a beautifully written play that could just as easily be staged intimately and with a graphic realism as it could soar into immense fantastical realms saturated in magic. It is versatile and heartfelt, touching on themes of standing up to powers beyond our control, the lengths we go to in order to protect our families and loved ones, and how we care for each other as we shift and change and grow.

    Glass is a beautifully written play that could just as easily be staged intimately and with a graphic realism as it could soar into immense fantastical realms saturated in magic. It is versatile and heartfelt, touching on themes of standing up to powers beyond our control, the lengths we go to in order to protect our families and loved ones, and how we care for each other as we shift and change and grow.

    ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

This works supports and even requires double- and triple-casting. If your resources allow for it, this play could benefit from a chorus or ensemble. For reference, the following characters are the same entities:
Rabbit <--> Carolina May
Fox <--> Man Man
Spider <--> Lover

While Rabbit/Carolina May and Fox/Man Man may be played by the same actors, Spider and Lover should not be. Spider is a man and Lover is a woman. Lover would ideally be played by a trans femme or trans woman, but if this isn't possible, Lover may be played by a genderqueer actor or a cis woman. Lover should not be played by a man in drag.

The actors playing Mort and Vita should play no other roles. Rabbit's children (Frankie, Cynthia, Georgia and Sam) may be played by any cast members (except Mort at Vita) who are available for the scene. These roles are roles that could be cast from the ensemble.

Woman may be played by any female cast members who are available. In a workshop production, Woman was played by the actress who played Lover. This was convenient for our production, but the audience did find this casting choice confusing.
  • MORT
    (he/him), the Demigod of Death. Moving like smoke made flesh, he speaks through the radio, the old-timier, the better.
    Ageless
    African American
    Cisgender Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • VITA
    (she/her), the Demigod of Life. Moving like dew in the morning, she speaks through the bodies of others, turning them into human puppets. Vita has a generally sunny disposition as well as an iron will.
    Ageless
    African American
    Cisgender Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • NARRATOR
    (they/them), a Black storyteller of unspecified gender. Ageless. Always there leading the way and sometimes shows in the most unlikely places.
    Ageless
    African American
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
  • SPIDER
    (he/him), a Black man (most of the time). A trickster, a politician, a weaver of tales. Likes to wear greys and whites. He owns a café/bar and always seems to get himself into sticky situations.
    Ageless
    African American
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • LOVER
    (she/her), Spider transformed. She's got a man but feels no need to let a relationship keep her from reaching her goals. She's sly and fly. Likely also wears greys and whites.
    Ageless
    African American
    trans female,
    trans femme,
    transfeminine,
    genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • WOMAN
    (she/her), has a blind date at Spider's cafe.
    Any
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • ANOTHER WOMAN
    (she/her), a mother who has recently received quite a fright.
    Any
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • NEWSMAN
    (he/him), your workaday radio man.
    Any
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • FOX
    (he/him), sometimes cunning, sometimes cowardly, Fox is prone to disappearing. He is Lover's main squeeze and, later, ex. He likes to wear russet & rust.
    Ageless
    African American
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • DEER
    (she/her) Sometimes flighty, can be a little mean when it suits her. Wears soft tans & creams.
    Ageless
    African American
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • RABBIT
    (she/her), A homemaker with an enormous brood. Dresses in white and pale pinks with splashes of brilliant red.
    Ageless
    African American
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • TURTLE
    (he/him), A long-missing friend of Fox's. He's the quiet and fiercely loyal type. Wears greens and greys if he has his druthers.
    Formerly ageless
    African American
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • EARLY MAY
    (he/him), A gruff man approaching middle age. Carolina May’s husband.
    30s-50s
    Black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • CAROLINA MAY
    (she/her), A woman with little thirst for life, She is approaching middle age. Early May’s wife.
    30s-50s
    Black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • MAN MAN
    (he/him), A talkative barfly, an annoying younger-cousin-all-grown-up type.
    30s-50s
    African American
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • PEACHES
    (she/her), Carolina May’s closest friend. Has been known to be a bit of a frenemy and a known gossip at times.
    30s-50s
    African American
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, The Fire This Time Festival, 2016

Production History

  • Workshop, JACK, 2017