The Half-Light

by Monica Wood

After a chance encounter with a flamboyant psychic, a college secretary asks herself a profound question: Can certain people be trained to see the dead? Iris's pursuit of an answer leads to a more earthbound challenge when her beloved colleague, Andrew, is suddenly felled by grief. Armed with her ow n intuition and the garrulous enthusiasm of her friend Helen, Iris attempts to coax Andrew back to the land of the...

After a chance encounter with a flamboyant psychic, a college secretary asks herself a profound question: Can certain people be trained to see the dead? Iris's pursuit of an answer leads to a more earthbound challenge when her beloved colleague, Andrew, is suddenly felled by grief. Armed with her ow n intuition and the garrulous enthusiasm of her friend Helen, Iris attempts to coax Andrew back to the land of the
living. As Iris tests her growing powers of perception, Helen faces off with her daughter, Teresa, an
alcoholic who believes her house is haunted. These four characters' entwined journeys all tilt
toward the same goal: to be fully seen in the light and the half-light by another living being.

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The Half-Light

Recommended by

  • Carole Florman: The Half-Light by Monica Wood
    “

    This is another gorgeous Monica Wood play (read Saint Dad) with complex, real characters, great humor, and an ingenious story line. The four characters are beautifully drawn and I'd be happy to spend more time with all of them. Now I just need to figure out how to get to play Helen somewhere.

    This is another gorgeous Monica Wood play (read Saint Dad) with complex, real characters, great humor, and an ingenious story line. The four characters are beautifully drawn and I'd be happy to spend more time with all of them. Now I just need to figure out how to get to play Helen somewhere.

    ”
  • Nick Malakhow: The Half-Light by Monica Wood
    “

    What a funny, poignant, and, above all, human story about connection, grief, and moving on. The four characters in Wood's play are all vividly-rendered and have loaded and nuanced relationships with one another. The piece moves with a beautifully irregular tempo--hilarious, awkward, and complex interactions are punctuated by more contemplative moments of solitude and potent stage pictures. That said, even though Wood doesn't try to force explosive theatrics, the play always feels brisk and perpetually engaging. In the end, there are no easy answers to grief and estrangement, yet the final...

    What a funny, poignant, and, above all, human story about connection, grief, and moving on. The four characters in Wood's play are all vividly-rendered and have loaded and nuanced relationships with one another. The piece moves with a beautifully irregular tempo--hilarious, awkward, and complex interactions are punctuated by more contemplative moments of solitude and potent stage pictures. That said, even though Wood doesn't try to force explosive theatrics, the play always feels brisk and perpetually engaging. In the end, there are no easy answers to grief and estrangement, yet the final scene feels hopeful and satisfying. Beautiful work!

    read more
    ”
  • Brent Askari: The Half-Light by Monica Wood
    “

    The HALF-LIGHT is a life-affirming and hilarious story that deals with grief, loss, resilience, and love. Monica Wood crafts deep characters and sparkling dialogue, with juicy roles for actors. The Portland Stage premiere had audiences weeping and laughing in equal measure. Highly recommended!

    The HALF-LIGHT is a life-affirming and hilarious story that deals with grief, loss, resilience, and love. Monica Wood crafts deep characters and sparkling dialogue, with juicy roles for actors. The Portland Stage premiere had audiences weeping and laughing in equal measure. Highly recommended!

    ”
IRIS: Secretary of the English department, late 30s.
ANDREW: Professor of Irish literature, mid-40s.
HELEN: Secretary of the Community Education department, mid-50s.
TERESA: Helen's daughter, a struggling alcoholic, late 20s.

Development History

  • Reading, Portland Stage, 2018

Production History

  • Professional, Theater 40 Beverly Hills CA, 2023
  • Professional, Portland Stage, 2019