Lily Ineffable

by Audrey Lang

[JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT FINALIST 2022] In the last two weeks of her run in the kids' ensemble of "Matilda," Lily makes the amulet of the Jewish mythological figure Lilith for a social studies project. She feels a kinship with Lilith that she can't explain to her friends, her sister, or her sister's girlfriend--a kinship she doesn't understand herself until she learns that Adam, the adult cast member she used to...

[JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT FINALIST 2022] In the last two weeks of her run in the kids' ensemble of "Matilda," Lily makes the amulet of the Jewish mythological figure Lilith for a social studies project. She feels a kinship with Lilith that she can't explain to her friends, her sister, or her sister's girlfriend--a kinship she doesn't understand herself until she learns that Adam, the adult cast member she used to have a crush on, is coming back to "Matilda" as an emergency sub.

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Lily Ineffable

Recommended by

  • Brynn Hambley: Lily Ineffable by Audrey Lang
    “

    A beautiful usage of myth to discuss important and relevant issues of the modern day. I absolutely adored the relationship between Lily and Lilith-- how Lilith's story helps Lily to process her own. It was lovely to see depicted older femmes supporting and listening to younger ones through something as unfortunately common and traumatic as Lily's experience. The playwright convincingly writes a young girl processing a difficult and awful experience without "trauma dumping". As a survivor, this play felt really healing.

    A beautiful usage of myth to discuss important and relevant issues of the modern day. I absolutely adored the relationship between Lily and Lilith-- how Lilith's story helps Lily to process her own. It was lovely to see depicted older femmes supporting and listening to younger ones through something as unfortunately common and traumatic as Lily's experience. The playwright convincingly writes a young girl processing a difficult and awful experience without "trauma dumping". As a survivor, this play felt really healing.

    ”
  • Joanna Castle-Miller: Lily Ineffable by Audrey Lang
    “

    I was introduced to this lovely play through Jewish Plays Project and then again through Hire Survivors Hollywood. It's a beautiful work that uses gentle, poetic language to show how a child processes trauma and the way myths and legends can help us understand ourselves better. Lang's deft focus on the sisterly/caregiver relationship shows the way close community can help or harm in the process of healing. The childlike POV is so poignant and makes an otherwise difficult story accessible. I felt safe with this play and grateful to the playwright.

    I was introduced to this lovely play through Jewish Plays Project and then again through Hire Survivors Hollywood. It's a beautiful work that uses gentle, poetic language to show how a child processes trauma and the way myths and legends can help us understand ourselves better. Lang's deft focus on the sisterly/caregiver relationship shows the way close community can help or harm in the process of healing. The childlike POV is so poignant and makes an otherwise difficult story accessible. I felt safe with this play and grateful to the playwright.

    ”
  • Jewish Plays Project: Lily Ineffable by Audrey Lang
    “

    Jewish Plays Project is thrilled that LILY INEFFABLE was a Semi-Finalist for the 10th annual Jewish Plays Contest. Our Semi-Finalists went through a rigorous process in the summer & fall of 2020 where a community of readers searched for plays that spoke to them about Jewish identity in a way that’s bold and challenging, as well as theatrically innovative. After reading 250 plays, LILY INEFFABLE rose to the top 20, and we hope that this play swiftly finds collaborators and opportunities to reach new audiences.

    Jewish Plays Project is thrilled that LILY INEFFABLE was a Semi-Finalist for the 10th annual Jewish Plays Contest. Our Semi-Finalists went through a rigorous process in the summer & fall of 2020 where a community of readers searched for plays that spoke to them about Jewish identity in a way that’s bold and challenging, as well as theatrically innovative. After reading 250 plays, LILY INEFFABLE rose to the top 20, and we hope that this play swiftly finds collaborators and opportunities to reach new audiences.

    ”
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Character Information

  • Lily Louise Sutton
    14 but probably looks a little younger, female, any ethnicity, Jewish. A child actor currently in the ensemble of Matilda on Broadway, but finishing her run this week with no next show on the horizon. She knows how the business works.
    14 but probably looks a little younger
    Any race / ethnicity,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Chelsea Sutton
    32, female, any ethnicity, Jewish. Lily's big sister and guardian, an assistant district attorney in New York City. Casey Novak if she had a little sister to take care of and was an out lesbian.
    32
    Any race / ethnicity,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Jordan Kingsley
    32, female, any ethnicity. Chelsea's girlfriend, she plays Miss Honey in Matilda on Broadway. A confidante for Lily much more often than Chelsea is, radiant and kind of a quintessential real-life Miss Honey.
    32
    Any race / ethnicity
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Shea Chua-Cohen
    16 but probably looks a little younger, female, Chinese-American, Jewish. Lily's best friend, they met while performing in Matilda together. Also a child actor, currently playing Jean in August: Osage County on Broadway. Grateful for her time in Matilda but also relishes having moved on to what she considers a more "mature" show.
    16 but probably looks a little younger
    Asian-American,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Jess Chapman
    14, female, any ethnicity. Lily's "school best friend." She probably has better friends and so does Lily. They will probably go to different high schools next year and that's probably okay.
    14
    Any race / ethnicity
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Lilith
    Female, any ethnicity. Maybe she's a performer who looks like Lily but 5-10 years older. Maybe she's each of the other actors taking turns. A mythological Jewish witch and demon, Adam's first wife.
    Any Age, 5-10 years older than Lily, Teens-20s
    Any race / ethnicity,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

Awards