The Mirror

by Joe Swenson

(ONE ACT - 15 Minutes)
Three humans walk into a public bathroom on a subway platform. An ordinary bathroom with multiple mirrors. Each of these people need a little dose of belief and along the way, they realize that the magic was within them all along.

(ONE ACT - 15 Minutes)
Three humans walk into a public bathroom on a subway platform. An ordinary bathroom with multiple mirrors. Each of these people need a little dose of belief and along the way, they realize that the magic was within them all along.

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The Mirror

Recommended by

  • Hannah Lee DeFrates: The Mirror

    Who knew that a bathroom mirror could be so powerful?
    Swenson reminds us that mirrors are the only place where we can truly perceive ourselves, and what we see may well be up to us.
    After reading this play, I am full-on sobbing (I'd say "ugly crying" but I don't think Mirror would approve of that).
    THE MIRROR is beautiful and inspiring, and shows us the three characters (and the audience) that the people they want to be have been inside of them all along.
    Please don't pass up a chance to interact with this gorgeous play.

    Who knew that a bathroom mirror could be so powerful?
    Swenson reminds us that mirrors are the only place where we can truly perceive ourselves, and what we see may well be up to us.
    After reading this play, I am full-on sobbing (I'd say "ugly crying" but I don't think Mirror would approve of that).
    THE MIRROR is beautiful and inspiring, and shows us the three characters (and the audience) that the people they want to be have been inside of them all along.
    Please don't pass up a chance to interact with this gorgeous play.

  • Adam Richter: The Mirror

    This is a real treat for actors, with some great opportunities for creative blocking and staging. I love how the mirror becomes a personal avatar for each person, turning not just into who they think they are, but who they think they should be. A funny and poignant look at how we all see ourselves. Great work!

    This is a real treat for actors, with some great opportunities for creative blocking and staging. I love how the mirror becomes a personal avatar for each person, turning not just into who they think they are, but who they think they should be. A funny and poignant look at how we all see ourselves. Great work!

  • Bruce Karp: The Mirror

    I enjoyed Swenson's use of dialogue in this play, which reminded me of Beckett and Pinter plays, i.e., the audience is required to think a little. (A compliment!) It expresses the fear we all have from time to time, figuring out who we are, what's wrong with us and finally, optimistically, what's right with us, if we take the time to look. I recommend this excellent, unusual play and hope it gets a production.

    I enjoyed Swenson's use of dialogue in this play, which reminded me of Beckett and Pinter plays, i.e., the audience is required to think a little. (A compliment!) It expresses the fear we all have from time to time, figuring out who we are, what's wrong with us and finally, optimistically, what's right with us, if we take the time to look. I recommend this excellent, unusual play and hope it gets a production.

View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

The Mirror can be staged any way you want. You can have the mirror be someone different every scene, you can have them match appearance with the performers, or you can have the Mirror be one person throughout all the scenes.
  • Mirror
    Mirror is the reflection of the characters and can be cast as a single person or as multiple performers.
  • Jamie
    Business person who is stressed out about being overworked
  • Morgan
    A transient who uses the bathroom to brush their teeth.
  • Casey
    Teenager dealing with being depressed and no one to turn to.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Doors to Misperception, Year 2019