by Olivia Facini
(2019)
Feels like ages since I’ve seen anyone…
Bert in Like Humans
Bert, a man of sixty-five, has been estranged from his brother Henry for twenty-five years—since their explosive argument on the day of their mother’s funeral. After a quarter-century of silence, Henry leaves a message on Bert’s phone asking to speak with him. This event, combined with the anniversary of his mother’s death and a sudden announcement from his best friends, leaves Bert feeling shaken and confused. While his wife, Louise, does her utmost to support him, in the end Bert must come to terms with the past in his own way.
Like Humans was one of five plays (out of 50 submissions) selected to be featured in the Yale Playwrights Festival 2019. It was developed with the assistance of professional playwrights and mentors David Auburn, Deb Margolin, and Donald Margulies. The initial concept for the play was inspired by the photograph (above, left) by Gregory Crewdson.
Run time: 90 minutes with no intermission