There or Here
by Jennifer Maisel

There or Here Book Cover — There or Here Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins Present Day Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

Robyn and Ajay – a married couple – want a baby eventually, but not anytime soon.

However, their plans abruptly change after Robyn receives a troubling diagnosis, and the couple finds themselves traveling halfway around the world to visit a surrogacy service in India.

This turn of events is just another for them where things are not going according to their plans.

And what they both want is some normalcy: Robyn wants to understand her husband again and her changing body; Ajay wants to reconnect with his wife and himself.

For the future of their suddenly growing family, they discover that doubling down on the promise of their relationship is their best way toward a happier future.

Press Reviews

"A clever, taut and emotional play that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure, There or Here is a rare treat."
— Fairy Powered Productions

"Jennifer Maisel’s play There or Here is a multi-layered narrative shot through with humor, some of it scathing, including a lot of witty one-liners. It contains tremendous sadness and want. An intelligent, well-written and cleverly structured play, it time slips back and forth with multiple characters expertly played by a talented cast."
— View From the Cheap Seat

"Maisel has written a thought-provoking play that touches on reproductive yearnings, sexual desire, cultural imperialism and more… never less than engaging."
— The New York Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Ajay Robyn’s husband. Indian raised in America. Enterprising. Thirties/forties.	male	—	Robyn’s husband. Indian raised in America. Enterprising. Thirties/forties.
She/Angelina/Jessica/Brittany/Neera/Radiologist/Her Indian raised in India. Works at a call center. Twenties.	—	—	Indian raised in India. Works at a call center. Twenties.
Dr. Vittal Doubled with Ellen.	—	—	Doubled with Ellen.
Ellen Robyn’s mother. Doubled with Dr. Vittal.	female	—	Robyn’s mother. Doubled with Dr. Vittal.
Rajit Indian raised in India. Doubled with Raj. Twenties.	—	—	Indian raised in India. Doubled with Raj. Twenties.
Raj Involved with Ellen. Doubled with Rajit. Early twenties.	—	—	Involved with Ellen. Doubled with Rajit. Early twenties.
Woman’S Voice The woman’s voice will “title” in both the dialect and a neutral, unaccented English. Pre-recorded or live. NOTE ON CASTING: In the best of all possible worlds, ELLEN and DR. VITTAL should be doubled. However, they can be undoubled if the theatre determines that works best for them. The other parts cannot be undoubled.	female	—	The woman’s voice will “title” in both the dialect and a neutral, unaccented English. Pre-recorded or live. NOTE ON CASTING: In the best of all possible worlds, ELLEN and DR. VITTAL should be doubled. However, they can be undoubled if the theatre determines that works best for them. The other parts cannot be undoubled.
Robyn She and her husband want a baby. Cancer treatment had forced her into early menopause. Thirties/forties.	female	—	She and her husband want a baby. Cancer treatment had forced her into early menopause. Thirties/forties.