The Elephant and the Light in Claire's Suitcase

by Greg Romero

TEN-MINUTE: Claire carries a suitcase holding memories of the life she doesn’t know she is leaving. Bruce, almost-remembered, enters, repeatedly, with a wedding cake. They walk together through the fragments to the top of the mountain while an elephant, illuminated from the lantern in Claire’s suitcase, transports things from one place to another.

TEN-MINUTE: Claire carries a suitcase holding memories of the life she doesn’t know she is leaving. Bruce, almost-remembered, enters, repeatedly, with a wedding cake. They walk together through the fragments to the top of the mountain while an elephant, illuminated from the lantern in Claire’s suitcase, transports things from one place to another.

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The Elephant and the Light in Claire's Suitcase

Recommended by

  • Ally Varitek: The Elephant and the Light in Claire's Suitcase

    Utilizing a more precious, more sentimental energy derivative of Beckett's work, this play (and its extra large wedding cakes) goes for something sweet, evoking depth without needing to name it. Thoughtful and bittersweet through its use of images alone.

    Utilizing a more precious, more sentimental energy derivative of Beckett's work, this play (and its extra large wedding cakes) goes for something sweet, evoking depth without needing to name it. Thoughtful and bittersweet through its use of images alone.

  • Andrew Martineau: The Elephant and the Light in Claire's Suitcase

    I have seen and read many stories about memory loss told in in a naturalistic way, but rarely have I experienced a play on the topic that is so theatrical and poetic. The beauty of the language evokes writers such as Thurber and Silverstein, and every prop and image creates a profound, visceral reaction. The ending just shattered me. Simply beautiful.

    I have seen and read many stories about memory loss told in in a naturalistic way, but rarely have I experienced a play on the topic that is so theatrical and poetic. The beauty of the language evokes writers such as Thurber and Silverstein, and every prop and image creates a profound, visceral reaction. The ending just shattered me. Simply beautiful.

  • Samantha Marchant: The Elephant and the Light in Claire's Suitcase

    An elephant never forgets and this script will definitely linger in my mind. Haunting movement and repetition. Love all what the butterfly net could represent. Well done.

    An elephant never forgets and this script will definitely linger in my mind. Haunting movement and repetition. Love all what the butterfly net could represent. Well done.

View all 15 recommendations

Character Information

  • Claire
    an elder woman, perhaps in the shape of a young woman
    Character Age
    an elder woman
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Aldo (or Alda)
    a man/woman who is also an elephant
    Character Age
    Any age
  • Bruce
    a man who is timeless
    Character Age
    Any age
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Hyde Park Theatre (Austin TX), Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Seattle Repertory Theatre (Seattle WA), Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization University of Idaho (Moscow ID), Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Midwest Dramatists Conference (Olathe KS), Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Pier One Theatre (Homer AK), Year 2017
  • Type Reading, Organization Cumberland County College (Vineland NJ), Year 2016

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Stay Awake! Theatre (New York NY), Year 2017
  • Type Professional, Organization TILT Performance Group (Austin TX), Year 2019
  • Type University, Organization Conservatory of Performing Arts, Point Park University, Year 2019
  • Type Professional, Organization The Tank (New York NY), Year 2021
  • Type High School, Year 2022

Awards

  • Heideman Award
    Actors Theatre of Louisville
    Finalist
    2017