Linchpin

by Jake Arky

Before moving back to her hometown of Salt Lake City and into her mother’s garage, Maxine had it all: a ritzy apartment, a start-up she founded on her own, and a fiancé everyone agreed was a catch. Now Maxine has anxiety, depression, and worst of all, thousands of bees that swarm out of her head when life becomes too overwhelming. Her only cure comes from the strange desire to build a homemade Rube Goldberg...

Before moving back to her hometown of Salt Lake City and into her mother’s garage, Maxine had it all: a ritzy apartment, a start-up she founded on her own, and a fiancé everyone agreed was a catch. Now Maxine has anxiety, depression, and worst of all, thousands of bees that swarm out of her head when life becomes too overwhelming. Her only cure comes from the strange desire to build a homemade Rube Goldberg Machine with the help of her mom, Frances, and best friend, Jamie. Together, the three of them might be able to help Maxine quiet the storm raging in her head and become an internet, viral sensation.

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Linchpin

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  • Alix Sobler: Linchpin by Jake Arky
    “

    Arky uses a wonderful theatrical device (a few actually) to materialize the chaos, futility, and ultimately beauty of life in his play Linchpin. Full of humor and wisdom, the mother and daughter at the center of this play are struggling to find meaning by investing all of their time in energy in something with no purpose. A metaphor for theater, and ultimately life itself.

    Arky uses a wonderful theatrical device (a few actually) to materialize the chaos, futility, and ultimately beauty of life in his play Linchpin. Full of humor and wisdom, the mother and daughter at the center of this play are struggling to find meaning by investing all of their time in energy in something with no purpose. A metaphor for theater, and ultimately life itself.

    ”
  • Stephen Foglia: Linchpin by Jake Arky
    “

    Linchpin is funny, timely, and theatrical to its bones. I love the way Arky has conceived stage-space -- i.e. the space of Maxine's head -- and that rolls over into the really sharp way he plays on her relationship to the audience. This is a show of vivid characters and vibrant images, in service of a lively portrait of depression and millennial malaise.

    Linchpin is funny, timely, and theatrical to its bones. I love the way Arky has conceived stage-space -- i.e. the space of Maxine's head -- and that rolls over into the really sharp way he plays on her relationship to the audience. This is a show of vivid characters and vibrant images, in service of a lively portrait of depression and millennial malaise.

    ”
Casting should not be typical -- men and women of all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, and ages. Include non-binary, trans, and queer actors into the production.

Family can be diverse and multicultural, not strictly Caucasian and heteronormative, so please reflect that in the cast.

The roles of Jamie/Dr. Green and Shawn/Tony can be double-cast, if necessary.