←Recommendations of THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING

In the middle of an interesting sci-fi story of a mission to extend humanity across the cosmos, lies a touching story of connection and the human experience. To exist, or even just exist forever, is not the point to Cindi and Dell as they contemplate what they want from life adrift in space. Questions we on Earth would be wise to ask.

I love how well Cross has captured the pace of people who have existed for hundreds of years and need to make a decision right now. There's a specificity in that conflict, and it's captured beautifully here. Great character work for two actors who want to think outside of our universe -- just lovely!

I love this play. Fantastic, epic science fiction told at the most intimate scale by Monica Cross.

What a lovely story of connection wrapped in a very cool science fiction story.

THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING has high stakes (the highest up) and lasting stakes (centuries) and the grand absurdity of the seeds of humanity in something resembling a take-out container (a styrofoam clamshell comes to mind). If that’s not enough, Cindi and Dell have an existential talk on the observation deck of a spaceship that makes this human comedy we mortals have come to be worthwhile. Terrific sci-fi dramedy from Monica Cross.

It's inevitable that 400 years of life will take it's toll. Cindi and Dell are on a mission to foster a new civilization but it is unclear where and when this could happen and those who instructed them have long since passed. This is an interesting look into a relationship between two young women (as if 400 years is young!) and their final decision seems inevitable, nonetheless CROSS has handled this sensitively and subtly. A lovely short play.

There is something wistful and compelling about stories that explore immortality, and few quite tap into the human struggle with losing one's humanity better, and with as much economy, than Monica Cross's THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING. As two voyagers seek out a new world on which to reignite mankind's spark, they grapple with hope, hopelessness and a desire to reclaim what they have lost: the ability to not just survive, but to live.

I love the marking of each day physically as a grounding exercise. Like the old fashioned desk calendars that I can actually see and depose of the old day for the new. This beautiful tale of a possible new life on another planet that we hopefully wouldn't destroy over time is so beautifully simple and direct about the possibilities of new life and the reality of what space travel would be like for those on a certain mission to try and begin again when sometimes, it's better to slow down time and live out our lives day by day.

This short play is uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time, in addition to being one hell of a good science fiction story. A beautiful two-hander that deserves to be staged often. I would love to see this in person.

A lovely little two-hander about people carrying the last hope for the future of humanity out into space to seed in a new world, and whether or not they owe a responsibility to that potential over their own happiness. Touching and smart sci-fi.