IVY & MAX - A Ten Minute Coming-of-Age Drama / Grief Drama

by Donald Loftus

Ivy spends her days sitting alone on a Central Park bench, unable to cope with the violent death of her cousin Max. Her mother struggles to reach her, but Ivy refuses to talk about what happened. One day, Max’s ghost suddenly appears beside her. Through their conversation, Ivy confronts the guilt and regret she has buried since his death. Max challenges her to stop punishing herself for his mistakes and begin...

Ivy spends her days sitting alone on a Central Park bench, unable to cope with the violent death of her cousin Max. Her mother struggles to reach her, but Ivy refuses to talk about what happened. One day, Max’s ghost suddenly appears beside her. Through their conversation, Ivy confronts the guilt and regret she has buried since his death. Max challenges her to stop punishing herself for his mistakes and begin living again. Their encounter becomes a powerful moment of healing, reminding Ivy that love and memory can survive even the deepest loss.

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IVY & MAX - A Ten Minute Coming-of-Age Drama / Grief Drama

Recommended by

  • Debra A. Cole: IVY & MAX - A Ten Minute Coming-of-Age Drama / Grief Drama by Donald Loftus
    “

    Grief sucks. Although there is no way universal way to truly grieve, IVY needs a reminder that she can't stop living while she finds her way through this tragedy. DONALD LOFTUS gives audiences something powerful to think about... choosing life in the face of death.

    Grief sucks. Although there is no way universal way to truly grieve, IVY needs a reminder that she can't stop living while she finds her way through this tragedy. DONALD LOFTUS gives audiences something powerful to think about... choosing life in the face of death.

    ”
  • Jess Eichen: IVY & MAX - A Ten Minute Coming-of-Age Drama / Grief Drama by Donald Loftus
    “

    My favorite moment of this beautiful short play was when Max, the ghost of a murdered teenager, reassures his cousin that his death was only painful for a second.
    The main character of Ivy & Max is a young girl who does not yet have the emotional skills to handle grief without beating herself up. A mother struggles to connect with her daughter who feels like she isn't allowed to heal. Loftus explores what happens when death doesn't wait for us to be ready for it with sensitivity and compassion.

    My favorite moment of this beautiful short play was when Max, the ghost of a murdered teenager, reassures his cousin that his death was only painful for a second.
    The main character of Ivy & Max is a young girl who does not yet have the emotional skills to handle grief without beating herself up. A mother struggles to connect with her daughter who feels like she isn't allowed to heal. Loftus explores what happens when death doesn't wait for us to be ready for it with sensitivity and compassion.

    ”
  • Lee R. Lawing: IVY & MAX - A Ten Minute Coming-of-Age Drama / Grief Drama by Donald Loftus
    “

    Grief can certainly tear you apart and in this powerful short play, Loftus gives us the beginning of one person's journey in Ivey who, at the beginning of the play is not ready to begin it, but by the end, we see her starting to gain a little glimmer of light in all the darkness that had settled over her up until then.

    Grief can certainly tear you apart and in this powerful short play, Loftus gives us the beginning of one person's journey in Ivey who, at the beginning of the play is not ready to begin it, but by the end, we see her starting to gain a little glimmer of light in all the darkness that had settled over her up until then.

    ”
IVY: Age: 15 Gender: Female Race: Any Smart, guarded, emotionally frozen by grief.

MAX: Age: 17 Gender: Male Race: Any The ghost of IVY’s cousin. Regretful but not self-pitying.

MOM: Age: 30s+ Gender: Female Race: Any Loving—but unable to reach IVY.


Development History

  • Workshop, NYTW MIND THE GAP, 2026

Production History

  • Community Theater, LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY OLD, HICKORY, TENNESSEE, 2026