The Language Archive
by Julia Cho

Name: The Language Archive
Brand: Julia Cho
SKU: 9780822225096
Rating: 4.07 (260 reviews)

The Language Archive Book Cover — The Language Archive Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 minsPresent DayUnit Set/Multiple SettingsContemporary Costumes/Street ClothesComedy

Synopsis

George is a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures.

Closer to home, though, language is failing him.

He doesn't know what to say to his wife Mary to keep her from leaving him, and he doesn't recognize the deep feelings that his lab assistant Emma has for him.

Press Reviews

"The Language Archive's dialogue is a tour de force… the gulf between what's said and what isn't is rarely described and traversed with as much power as it is here. What makes this achievement more significant still is that the play itself is in no way ordinary… passionate… wise and wonderful."
— Talkin' Broadway

"Uniquely blends absurdist farce with sentimental comedy."
— Los Angeles Times

"Quirky, but ravishingly well-written piece that is smart, funny, deep and tender."
— OC Weekly

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
GEORGE A linguist. A man in his 30s or 40s.	male	30s	A linguist. A man in his 30s or 40s.
MARY George’s wife. A woman in her 30s or 40s.	female	30s	George’s wife. A woman in her 30s or 40s.
EMMA A lab assistant. A woman in her 20s or 30s.	female	20s	A lab assistant. A woman in her 20s or 30s.
ALTA An old woman.	female	—	An old woman.
RESTEN An old man. (The actors playing Alta and Resten could also play the following:)	male	—	An old man. (The actors playing Alta and Resten could also play the following:)
THE DRIVER A man of any age.	male	—	A man of any age.
OLD MAN/BAKER An old man.	male	—	An old man.
LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR A woman of any age.	female	—	A woman of any age.
A PASSERBY A man or a woman of any age.	female	—	A man or a woman of any age.
A PASSERBY A man or a woman of any age (different from the previous).	female	—	A man or a woman of any age (different from the previous).
CONDUCTOR A man or a woman of any age.	female	—	A man or a woman of any age.
OLD MAN/ZAMENHOF An old man.	male	—	An old man.