Familiar
by Danai Gurira

Name: Familiar
Brand: Danai Gurira
SKU: 9780573705694
Rating: 4.16 (6 reviews)

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins Present Day Role(s) for Black Actor(s) Interior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

Marvelous and Donald, Zimbabwean emigrants in Minnesota, are preparing for the marriage of their eldest daughter, Tendi.

They have gracefully blended Zimbabwean culture alongside their American culture, but their house is turned upside down when Marvelous’ sister comes from Zimbabwe to perform a very traditional wedding ceremony in which the groom barters for the bride.

Tensions flare and identities clash as the family’s fabric slowly unweaves and they are forced to take a hard look at who they truly are.

Press Reviews

"Critics’ Pick! “A fiercely funny new play... Ms. Gurira weaves issues of cultural identity and displacement, generational frictions and other meaty matters into dialogue that flows utterly naturally. Her engaging characters are drawn with sympathy."
— The New York Times

"Familiar is a vigorous, fresh comedy-drama that ricochets from raw pathos to bawdy laughs, excavating deep cultural anxieties along the way. Gurira may not reinvent the family-secrets genre, but she makes it speak in musical new accents."
— Time Out New York,

"A good old-fashioned comedy... Gurira has a gift not only for capturing the rhythm of a boisterous family gathering, but making the individual participants distinct, unique, and wholly human."
— TheaterMania

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
MARVELOUS	—	—	—
CHINYARAMWIRA	—	—	—
(MAI TENDI) An African woman in her mid sixties, matriarch.	female	—	An African woman in her mid sixties, matriarch.
MARGARET MUNYEWA (MAI TONGAI) An African woman in her fifties, Marvelous’ youngest sister.	female	—	An African woman in her fifties, Marvelous’ youngest sister.
DONALD CHINYARAMWIRA (BABA TENDI) An African man in his mid sixties, Marvelous’ husband.	male	—	An African man in his mid sixties, Marvelous’ husband.
NYASHA American-Zimbabwean young woman, late 20s, Marvelous and Donald’s youngest daughter.	female	20s	American-Zimbabwean young woman, late 20s, Marvelous and Donald’s youngest daughter.
TENDIKAYI Marvelous and Donald’s oldest daughter.	female	—	Marvelous and Donald’s oldest daughter.
ANNE (MAI CARROL) An African woman in her late sixties, Marvelous’ eldest sister.	female	—	An African woman in her late sixties, Marvelous’ eldest sister.
CHRIS A Caucasian American man, Tendikayi’s fiancé, mid thirties.	male	—	A Caucasian American man, Tendikayi’s fiancé, mid thirties.
BRAD A Caucasian American man, Chris’ brother, mid thirties.	male	—	A Caucasian American man, Chris’ brother, mid thirties.