The Exhibit

by Mackenzie Raine Kirkman

Content Note: Swearing, Brief Use of a Weapon
(full length)
A curator acquisitions a new piece of art, a boss tries to enforce the museum's rules, and New Art and Old Art are seemingly alive, striving to have meaning in a world that forces them to compete for limited space despite their similarities. Within the walls of the museum's storage area; they discuss art, observation, and the imperialist nature of...

Content Note: Swearing, Brief Use of a Weapon
(full length)
A curator acquisitions a new piece of art, a boss tries to enforce the museum's rules, and New Art and Old Art are seemingly alive, striving to have meaning in a world that forces them to compete for limited space despite their similarities. Within the walls of the museum's storage area; they discuss art, observation, and the imperialist nature of museums. As Old Art and New Art bring each other deeper understanding the Curator has a realization that expands their mind beyond the confines of the very play that they're in.

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The Exhibit

Recommended by

  • Samuel Langellier: The Exhibit by Mackenzie Raine Kirkman
    “

    Much like with New Art audiences won't visibly experience the artist's signature applied to The Exhibit because for Kirkman that signature is found in the stage directions.

    Kirkman opens up a wall to converse with her medium and those who exist within it and for the duration, completing a loop with audience at hand.

    Meaning is applied, reinforced, and forgotten, through sensory interaction from script to actor to stage and to art. No doubt you too will find meaning here, it might not be a map, but surely there are directions.

    Also screw the British Museum.

    Much like with New Art audiences won't visibly experience the artist's signature applied to The Exhibit because for Kirkman that signature is found in the stage directions.

    Kirkman opens up a wall to converse with her medium and those who exist within it and for the duration, completing a loop with audience at hand.

    Meaning is applied, reinforced, and forgotten, through sensory interaction from script to actor to stage and to art. No doubt you too will find meaning here, it might not be a map, but surely there are directions.

    Also screw the British Museum.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: The Exhibit by Mackenzie Raine Kirkman
    “

    I have never enjoyed reading stage directions as much as I enjoyed reading Kirkman's in this clever piece. This Velveteen Rabbit of plays where art and life and the theatre blend and what's real is being seen, being worn, being loved... No one's recommendation or even synopsis of this play will be the same and that's the beauty of it. So many lovely facets. Physical humor. Metaphors galore. Loved it.

    I have never enjoyed reading stage directions as much as I enjoyed reading Kirkman's in this clever piece. This Velveteen Rabbit of plays where art and life and the theatre blend and what's real is being seen, being worn, being loved... No one's recommendation or even synopsis of this play will be the same and that's the beauty of it. So many lovely facets. Physical humor. Metaphors galore. Loved it.

    ”
  • Daniel Prillaman: The Exhibit by Mackenzie Raine Kirkman
    “

    100 words is not enough.

    You start this play & instantly think, "I'm so on board." You get further and realize the immensity of what Kirkman is deconstructing, and you go, "Kirkman, you goddamn genius." But then you get further and hit another line, and you go, "You could also read this this way." And THEN, you could read it this way. Or this way. And that way.

    No matter the way(s), the best art makes you feel seen, however old (or new) you are. Stage this now. Forever. For as long as we have art. Goddamn genius.

    100 words is not enough.

    You start this play & instantly think, "I'm so on board." You get further and realize the immensity of what Kirkman is deconstructing, and you go, "Kirkman, you goddamn genius." But then you get further and hit another line, and you go, "You could also read this this way." And THEN, you could read it this way. Or this way. And that way.

    No matter the way(s), the best art makes you feel seen, however old (or new) you are. Stage this now. Forever. For as long as we have art. Goddamn genius.

    ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

New Art and Old Art can be played by a chorus but I would advise not going above three actors for the sake of stage space and movement. They can also be played by puppets. Within the script the race and gender of the characters isn't specified. Please cast the best actor, use their pronouns, and then have a dicussion about what their identity brings to the context of the script.
  • Boss
    They have rules and they have reasons and they don't like explaining their rules or reasons and they really don't like having their rules being broken for other reasons.
    Any Age
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Old Art
    They have been at the museum for a long time and they are immovable the way an old tree is. They seem like a monolith but in truth, time has really taken its toll.
    Any Age
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Curator
    Foul-mouthed. Self-assured. They feel they know a lot more at the beginning of the play than they do at the end.
    Any Age
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • New Art
    They're sexy. They're new. There's a certain shame they try to hide in their past that they'd do anything to escape from. Or at least so they think.
    Any Age
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+

Development History

  • Reading, Azuka Theatre, 2023