Everybody
by Branden Jacobs-jenkins

Name: Everybody
Brand: Branden Jacobs-jenkins
SKU: 9780822237228
Rating: 3.78 (327 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Highlights

—

Large Cast

90 mins Present Day Ensemble Cast Flexible Cast Size Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Comedy

Why we like it

"Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' 'Everybody' is a thought-provoking ensemble piece that invites reflection and participation from a wide range of performers."

From: Large Ensemble Plays

Awards & Recognition

Pulitzer Prize

Finalist: 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Synopsis

Updating Everyman, the quintessential Medieval morality play – a religious allegory about death and salvation performed in public places during church festivals – Jacobs-Jenkins renames Fellowship, Kindred, Goods, Discretion, Five Wits and Knowledge as Friendship, Kinship, Stuff, Mind, Five Senses and Understanding, respectively.

Instead of Good Deeds following Everyman/Everybody to the grave, the role now goes to Love.

As the play unfolds, pre-recorded voiceover scenes depict four of Everybody’s friends comforting them at their deathbed.

Though the narrative is focused on death, the result is absurdly fun.

Using small extracts and echoes from the original play alongside brilliant and original writing, Everybody highlights the paradoxes of living in the world today with its focus on the individual.

Themes Life Life--Drama Meaning (Philosophy) Meaning (Philosophy)--Drama PS3560.A2583 E94 2017

Press Reviews

"This is theatre rather unlike anything you might have seen... unusual, unconventional and eye-opening... Everyman is no barrel of laughs, being a morality play about death. Everybody tells the same tale, with equal emotional heft; but it is not only provocative and involving, it is also funny. Wildly funny, in fact."
— The Huffington Post

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Death Played by the oldest actor in the company	—	—	Played by the oldest actor in the company
Somebodies Played by five actors until they become something else	—	—	Played by five actors until they become something else
Everybody Played by a Somebody (as determined by chance)	—	—	Played by a Somebody (as determined by chance)
Friendship/ Strength/Kinship/ Beauty/Cousin/Mind/Stuff/Senses Played by remaining Somebodies (as determined by chance)	—	—	Played by remaining Somebodies (as determined by chance)
Girl/Time Played by a young child stolen from the audience, or at least it should initially seem so	—	—	Played by a young child stolen from the audience, or at least it should initially seem so
Love Played by an audience member, or at least it should initially seem so	—	—	Played by an audience member, or at least it should initially seem so
A, B, C, D Voiced by Somebodies not playing Everybody (possibly pre-recorded) This play is written for a company of nine performers of varying generations and gender and ethnic identities. The exact breakdown of roles should vary from performance to performance via lottery or some other element of chance.	—	—	Voiced by Somebodies not playing Everybody (possibly pre-recorded) This play is written for a company of nine performers of varying generations and gender and ethnic identities. The exact breakdown of roles should vary from performance to performance via lottery or some other element of chance.
Usher/God/Understanding Played by an actual usher, or at least it should initially seem so	—	—	Played by an actual usher, or at least it should initially seem so