THE DELAYS

by Sara Jean Accuardi

[full length] In an airport, where everyone's busy going somewhere, THE DELAYS focuses on a group going nowhere. A play about the small moments that connect us. Winner of the 2019 Drammy Award for Outstanding Original Script.

“It’s a moving, well-crafted play that shows how easy it is to get trapped… I enjoyed THE DELAYS immensely. Accuardi’s writing is sharp, and I love her decision to reveal the characters’...

[full length] In an airport, where everyone's busy going somewhere, THE DELAYS focuses on a group going nowhere. A play about the small moments that connect us. Winner of the 2019 Drammy Award for Outstanding Original Script.

“It’s a moving, well-crafted play that shows how easy it is to get trapped… I enjoyed THE DELAYS immensely. Accuardi’s writing is sharp, and I love her decision to reveal the characters’ lives in reverse. Somehow, knowing the end makes the journey even more poignant.” – Krista Garver, Broadway World

“Accuardi's play is both new and a masterpiece... It takes regret and satisfaction, pain and joy, and fuses them together to create a tapestry of spectacularly honest stories and characterizations." - Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Willamette Week

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THE DELAYS

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: THE DELAYS

    What a tightly, cleanly structured play that zeroes in on a profoundly interesting constellation of people. Accuardi illustrates the interconnectedness of humanity and other major themes--upward mobility, identity, the ways people tie socio-economic class to self worth, definitions of home--in a series of well-observed and intricately detailed scenes. While the focus here is definitely on drawing vivid characters, forward momentum of narrative and theme (using the word "forward" is ironic with the backwards chronology, of course!) is never sacrificed. A play of real beauty and subtlety.

    What a tightly, cleanly structured play that zeroes in on a profoundly interesting constellation of people. Accuardi illustrates the interconnectedness of humanity and other major themes--upward mobility, identity, the ways people tie socio-economic class to self worth, definitions of home--in a series of well-observed and intricately detailed scenes. While the focus here is definitely on drawing vivid characters, forward momentum of narrative and theme (using the word "forward" is ironic with the backwards chronology, of course!) is never sacrificed. A play of real beauty and subtlety.

  • Aly Kantor: THE DELAYS

    There is a gorgeous, almost voyeuristic feel to this play—at moments, I really felt like I was eavesdropping on conversations in an airport terminal. It has a simple but sublime structure, going back in time with each act, providing a little more context for the one that came before. Nothing extravagant happens (which, I'd argue, is the conceit - a story about the only people in an airport who never go anywhere), and yet I found myself utterly riveted. The moment the three timelines come full circle is magical, and the doubling is brilliant. A surprisingly efficient, moving play.

    There is a gorgeous, almost voyeuristic feel to this play—at moments, I really felt like I was eavesdropping on conversations in an airport terminal. It has a simple but sublime structure, going back in time with each act, providing a little more context for the one that came before. Nothing extravagant happens (which, I'd argue, is the conceit - a story about the only people in an airport who never go anywhere), and yet I found myself utterly riveted. The moment the three timelines come full circle is magical, and the doubling is brilliant. A surprisingly efficient, moving play.

  • Cheryl Bear: THE DELAYS

    A terrific capture of life in its reality. Wanting to take off, but sometimes getting stuck or tangled. Well done.

    A terrific capture of life in its reality. Wanting to take off, but sometimes getting stuck or tangled. Well done.

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

  • HASKELL
    Character Age
    Older than she looks
  • FRANK
    Character Age
    Around Thalia's age
  • SHELBY
    Character Age
    A little younger than Frank
  • CADEN
    Character Age
    Also around Thalia's age
  • ANDREAS
    The actor who plays Andreas doubles as THE TRAVELER.
    Character Age
    Hasn't been out of high school for very long
  • THALIA
    Character Age
    Older than Andreas, then not

Development History

  • Type Commission, Organization Theatre Vertigo, Year 2018

Production History

  • Type University, Organization Ball State University , Year 2021
  • Type Professional, Organization Theatre Vertigo, Year 2019

Awards

  • Angus Bowmer Award in Drama
    Oregon Book Awards
    Finalist
    2021
  • The Working Farm Residency
    SPACE on Ryder Farm
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • 21st Century Voices New Play Festival
    American Stage
    Finalist
    2020
  • Best Original Script
    The Drammy Awards
    Winner
    2019