Even What Little She Has

by Elizabeth Gjelten

It’s 1967 (mostly). A pastor's wife with a Valium habit and a hole in her past stands accused of murdering her husband—but she won’t defend herself except in parables. Meanwhile, her teenage daughter vacillates between daddy-love and a new kind of love. A mother-daughter play that explores what happens when women lose everything—and start protecting each other instead of the men in their lives.

It’s 1967 (mostly). A pastor's wife with a Valium habit and a hole in her past stands accused of murdering her husband—but she won’t defend herself except in parables. Meanwhile, her teenage daughter vacillates between daddy-love and a new kind of love. A mother-daughter play that explores what happens when women lose everything—and start protecting each other instead of the men in their lives.

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Even What Little She Has

Recommended by

  • Elisabeth Giffin Speckman: Even What Little She Has by Elizabeth Gjelten
    “

    What would you give up to protect those you love?

    I found this script very fascinating and was propelled to read it all in one sitting without pause. The dialogue was a mixture of natural flow and purposefully "clogged" moments that created interesting tension. I really loved Phoebe and her journey into discovering the world and the truth about her family through Diana. I also loved the scenes between Louise and Artemis in jail. Lots of great roles in this fascinating play!

    What would you give up to protect those you love?

    I found this script very fascinating and was propelled to read it all in one sitting without pause. The dialogue was a mixture of natural flow and purposefully "clogged" moments that created interesting tension. I really loved Phoebe and her journey into discovering the world and the truth about her family through Diana. I also loved the scenes between Louise and Artemis in jail. Lots of great roles in this fascinating play!

    ”
  • Evelyn Jean Pine: Even What Little She Has by Elizabeth Gjelten
    “

    EVEN WHAT LITTLE SHE HAS celebrates women's solidarity in surprising and dramatic ways. Whether it's accused murderer Louise connecting with her cell-mate, or Louise's daughter Phoebe's growing admiration and understanding of her new pal, Diana, the women find in each other reservoirs of strength and resilience to push against a stifling community and social mores that tell them they are so much less than what they are becoming. A tough and startling play.

    EVEN WHAT LITTLE SHE HAS celebrates women's solidarity in surprising and dramatic ways. Whether it's accused murderer Louise connecting with her cell-mate, or Louise's daughter Phoebe's growing admiration and understanding of her new pal, Diana, the women find in each other reservoirs of strength and resilience to push against a stifling community and social mores that tell them they are so much less than what they are becoming. A tough and startling play.

    ”

Development History

  • Reading, 3 Girls Theatre, 2021

Awards

  • Brady Fellow
    3 Girls Theatre
    Selection
    2019