Those Days Are Over

by David Hilder

Those Days Are Over concerns the five MacKillop sisters in the immediate wake of their mother's death. They're not exactly close, these five, and as they tussle with each other they're also tussling with the past. Alliances are formed and broken; detente is reached one moment, dissolved the next. Those Days Are Over is a vigorous collage, a deeply felt comedy, a joyous journey into grief.

Those Days Are Over concerns the five MacKillop sisters in the immediate wake of their mother's death. They're not exactly close, these five, and as they tussle with each other they're also tussling with the past. Alliances are formed and broken; detente is reached one moment, dissolved the next. Those Days Are Over is a vigorous collage, a deeply felt comedy, a joyous journey into grief.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Those Days Are Over

Recommended by

  • Aly Kantor: Those Days Are Over

    The five sisters in this story could not be more distinctive or unique, with specific quirks and hangups that make them feel profoundly human and dimensional. The magic of this play, other than the structure (and the lemons!), is how much you come to care about and worry for these women. It's consistently funny, which helps make the emergent moments of gut-deep grief feel genuine. As in most of David Hilder's plays, the characters change and grow in the most subtle and sublime ways, always leaving readers with a powerful image. Seldom has catharsis felt both so hard-won and well-earned.

    The five sisters in this story could not be more distinctive or unique, with specific quirks and hangups that make them feel profoundly human and dimensional. The magic of this play, other than the structure (and the lemons!), is how much you come to care about and worry for these women. It's consistently funny, which helps make the emergent moments of gut-deep grief feel genuine. As in most of David Hilder's plays, the characters change and grow in the most subtle and sublime ways, always leaving readers with a powerful image. Seldom has catharsis felt both so hard-won and well-earned.

  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: Those Days Are Over

    This beautiful play follows five sisters backwards and forwards in time from their mother's death. It is a wonderful combination of poignant and hilarious. Each sister is so different, wrestling with her own demons, and yet they are all one unit as well, thanks to the glue that was their mother. This is a lovely look at growth, dreams, aging, and family. Just a wonderful, wonderful play.

    This beautiful play follows five sisters backwards and forwards in time from their mother's death. It is a wonderful combination of poignant and hilarious. Each sister is so different, wrestling with her own demons, and yet they are all one unit as well, thanks to the glue that was their mother. This is a lovely look at growth, dreams, aging, and family. Just a wonderful, wonderful play.

  • Emma Goldman-Sherman: Those Days Are Over

    I loved the dynamics, the twists and turns, and the unexpected depths to which this play goes as its layers form more and more nuanced meanings. Hilder has great facility in writing characters I truly care about and the moments that push them and pull them in all the directions during their grief. Fascinating play!

    I loved the dynamics, the twists and turns, and the unexpected depths to which this play goes as its layers form more and more nuanced meanings. Hilder has great facility in writing characters I truly care about and the moments that push them and pull them in all the directions during their grief. Fascinating play!

View all 15 recommendations

Character Information

Seven women, aged roughly 40 to 55. For the MacKillops, please cast actors representing the diversity of women in the U.S., with consciousness around racial identities and how their dynamics might play out in the interpersonal relationships within the family. The idea is not to stereotype, but rather acknowledge authentic experiences.
  • Dr. Marjorie Schmidt
    Intelligent, kind, occasionally prickly. Gay.
    Character Age
    mid 50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Ingot
    The bossy eldest sister, gay, deep insecurity covered by brash confidence.
    Character Age
    55
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Heron
    A rock musician, recently past menopause. Uses drugs casually but significantly. Blunt, comfortable with swearing.
    Character Age
    51
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Pity
    A film editor, successful, unhappy.
    Character Age
    46
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Randall
    Visibly pregnant but not more than about 5 months gone. Wife and mother (of four children under the age of 6). Happy to be away from the kids for a bit, even if it's for her mother's funeral.
    Character Age
    43
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Juka
    In every way the youngest sister. Has a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Wants to be seen as an adult by her sisters.
    Character Age
    40
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Zora
    The recently deceased mother of the MacKillop sisters. Growing in self-awareness, learning how many things she did wrong as a mom.
    Character Age
    Late 30s to early 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Brooklyn Generator, Year 2019
  • Type Workshop, Organization The Tank, Year 2019

Awards

  • Bay Area Playwrights Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • National Playwrights Conference
    Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
    Finalist
    2020
  • Ashland New Plays Festival
    Winner
    2020