THE BOOK OF US

by Joshua Kelly

A young, bisexual love triangle is reaching domestic crisis in the grey cold of a Chicago Christmas Eve. After years of channeling his discontent into his writing, the cynical Xavier can no longer bear Hadley's repeated absences as she travels the world with her much older, richer husband; Hadley's fear of dividing herself between who she loves and who gives her freedom is becoming the constant target of Xavier...

A young, bisexual love triangle is reaching domestic crisis in the grey cold of a Chicago Christmas Eve. After years of channeling his discontent into his writing, the cynical Xavier can no longer bear Hadley's repeated absences as she travels the world with her much older, richer husband; Hadley's fear of dividing herself between who she loves and who gives her freedom is becoming the constant target of Xavier's piercing wit; and lovable, pragmatic Jacob is growing tired of being the glue which holds their hectic triad together. As if this weren't enough, the throuple must juggle a lost pet, too much whiskey, and a futile effort to finish watching CASABLANCA while everything threatens to fall apart. In a shameless look at contradictions and comedy of millennial, poly love, The Book of Us invites us to consider what pieces we give to each other and which we selfishly insist are our own.

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THE BOOK OF US

Recommended by

  • Natasha Conti: THE BOOK OF US

    A play about the terrible things we can do to the ones we love. The dialogue is crisp and Sorkin-esque; it presents a world where poly-love just *is*, and how we navigate it is up to us.

    I directed and produced a site-specific workshop production of this script, where it worked beautifully; it deserves a full production. Would be great for a college program or a "downtown" company.

    A play about the terrible things we can do to the ones we love. The dialogue is crisp and Sorkin-esque; it presents a world where poly-love just *is*, and how we navigate it is up to us.

    I directed and produced a site-specific workshop production of this script, where it worked beautifully; it deserves a full production. Would be great for a college program or a "downtown" company.

Character Information

2m, 2w
(open to genderfluid casting)
  • Jacob Hoffman
    Mid-to-late twenties. Clean cut and bearded. Fit.
    Passionate about science and incredibly warm in contrast to Xavier’s chill. A sincerely lovely human being. Any race.
  • Jen Hoffman
    Jacob’s sister. Mid-to-late twenties. Trendy and cute,
    vapid but intuitive to others’ drama. Slightly glitzy. Any race but obviously in relation to Jacob.
  • Xavier Jensen
    Mid-to-late twenties. Perfectly average body, a little
    gaunt from poor diet and sleep schedules. He is acerbic in his intelligence, prone to elevated language, and deals in dry humor more than genuine confession. Requires nudity.
  • Hadley Bell
    Mid-to-late twenties. Vivacious. Beset with wanderlust.
    Mercurial. Requires nudity. Any race.