Overview
PEN PALS is an epistolary play that tells the story of the extraordinary friendship between two ordinary women. Bernie, from Newark, New Jersey, starts writing to Mags, who lives in Sheffield, England, when she’s 14-years-old and their correspondence continues for the next five decades.
The play is essentially an extended flashback where the women read the letters they sent to each other over the past 50 years. Without the aid of costumes, make-up, or wigs, the actors age before the audience’s eyes as they tell the stories of their lives.
Casting & Production
Casting
Setting
Place
Secaucus, New Jersey and Sheffield, England
Time
2002 and flashbacks from 1955 to 2002
Reviews
“I felt like I was listening to cherished friends and an eyeblink later, I was still hungry for more. Got friends? See. This. Show. (WITH them).”
—QonStage.com
“One of the top ten theatre productions of 2024: PEN PALS makes you feel like you’re watching a rich, thorny story unfold in real time… Griffo’s achievement—his ability to make the story of this friendship so compelling — is impressive.”
—NJArts.net
“PEN PALS is a beautiful and satisfying evening in the theater.”
—OutinJersey.net
“Compliments to Michael Griffo for writing such a compelling script, which is rich in character development.”
—DigitalJournal.com
