←Recommendations of Pearl Dust from a Gun

A fantastic play about family and writing the story of others. Ng has crafted wonderful characters and uses meta-theatricality brilliantly.

Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize “Pearl Dust from a Gun” by Esmé Ng as a Semi-Finalist for the 2023 Premiere Play Festival. “Pearl Dust from a Gun” rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 40 Semi-Finalists out of 701 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by the innovative use of form, as well as the authentic interpersonal family drama. Our congratulations and thanks to Esmé.

Esme Marie Ng writes with dexterity and unapology. Working with Ng on this piece was a joy -- with a sense of play, studiousness, and refinement in each meeting. Over our time together, my perceptions of PEARL DUST FROM A GUN's themes grew. Some that currently stick with me are: a private family story turned public, gaze on the individual by media/press/advertisement, incarceration and collectivism/mutual aid being in conversation with one another (as demonstrated by one family).

A genre-bending, effectively meta-theatrical piece that explores a family history and becomes much more complicated in the second half as it asks who has ownership over the telling of that history. This is also a great ensemble piece with nuanced roles actors would enjoy sinking their teeth into. I'm eager to follow its development trajectory and would love to see it on its feet in production!

What a remarkable play. What begins as a family/crime drama shifts into a masterful metatheatrical commentary on the stories we tell each other about our history and our present. Highly recommend!