The Sea

by Tania Kostuniuk

An old woman in the Carpathians prepares for her first trip to the sea, but her granddaughter’s husband only plans on taking her as far as the border, so he can use her to leave Ukraine legally to do business.

An old woman in the Carpathians prepares for her first trip to the sea, but her granddaughter’s husband only plans on taking her as far as the border, so he can use her to leave Ukraine legally to do business.

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The Sea

Recommended by

  • Gracie Goldstein: The Sea

    This is a genuinely important play. It contains more humor, emotion, and story than any ten-minute play reasonably should. But it never for a second loses our attention or falls into confusion. Every character sticks with you.

    Tania keeps us in suspense, and every character's personal arc is fun to watch, if devastating. The grandmother and Petro go from household nemeses to the most moving relationship in 'The Sea,' even as his betrayal slowly comes to light. Tania records not only the Ukrainian experience during this war, but the Carpathian experience, for posterity.

    This is a genuinely important play. It contains more humor, emotion, and story than any ten-minute play reasonably should. But it never for a second loses our attention or falls into confusion. Every character sticks with you.

    Tania keeps us in suspense, and every character's personal arc is fun to watch, if devastating. The grandmother and Petro go from household nemeses to the most moving relationship in 'The Sea,' even as his betrayal slowly comes to light. Tania records not only the Ukrainian experience during this war, but the Carpathian experience, for posterity.

  • Jacquelyn Reingold: The Sea

    This wonderful short play has such a full story, with full characters, and it's filled with strong language, imagery, and complex emotions. It depicts the impossibility of love and war and family. Four great roles! Highly recommended.

    This wonderful short play has such a full story, with full characters, and it's filled with strong language, imagery, and complex emotions. It depicts the impossibility of love and war and family. Four great roles! Highly recommended.

  • Shaun Leisher: The Sea

    Such an intimate short play about complex world issues. Hard not to fall in love with Grandma Galya.

    Such an intimate short play about complex world issues. Hard not to fall in love with Grandma Galya.

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Young Playwrights Ukraine Ten Minute Play Project, with actors: Mary Beth Piel, Thomas Sadoski, Merritt Wever, Emily Young, directed by Mark Brokaw, Year 2023