People Should Talk About What's Real

by Alli Hartley-Kong

FULL LENGTH DRAMEDY- Irreverent livestream comedian Natalie and her husband Josh struggle to conceive, while across the City historian Katherine and her husband Rathanak “Ryan” debate whether or not to adopt, all against the background of the isolating global pandemic. They don't realize that they are connected by a history deeper than it appears on the surface through the figure of Patty, an aged abortion...

FULL LENGTH DRAMEDY- Irreverent livestream comedian Natalie and her husband Josh struggle to conceive, while across the City historian Katherine and her husband Rathanak “Ryan” debate whether or not to adopt, all against the background of the isolating global pandemic. They don't realize that they are connected by a history deeper than it appears on the surface through the figure of Patty, an aged abortion activist living on a Wisconsin ranch, until their fates come together in a fertility clinic waiting room.

FINALIST: The Henley Rose Playwriting Competition
SEMI-FINALIST: James Madison University's New Works Lab
STAGED READING: Chester Theatre Group, Chester NJ
SEMI-FINALIST: Bay Area Playwrights Festival
SELECTED PLAY: A Stage of Her Own Play Development, Drew University, NJ

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People Should Talk About What's Real

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  • Dave Osmundsen: People Should Talk About What's Real by Alli Hartley-Kong
    “

    “People Should Talk About What’s Real” tackles issues of marriage, infertility, and bodily agency from the perspective of five diverse and complex characters. Also scintillating is the exploration of whom we’re comfortable sharing information with—an anonymous public, or our partners, who are supposed to know us best? A pandemic-era play that offers hope for a post-COVID world that sadly went sideways.

    “People Should Talk About What’s Real” tackles issues of marriage, infertility, and bodily agency from the perspective of five diverse and complex characters. Also scintillating is the exploration of whom we’re comfortable sharing information with—an anonymous public, or our partners, who are supposed to know us best? A pandemic-era play that offers hope for a post-COVID world that sadly went sideways.

    ”
  • Elenna Stauffer: People Should Talk About What's Real by Alli Hartley-Kong
    “

    Against the backdrop of the pandemic ("the panini"), three women with very different histories navigate infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption, and abortion. As their stories and histories come into focus, as they navigate their way unwittingly towards each other, each finds her own way of speaking about these intimate and personal topics. Funny, thought provoking and moving.

    Against the backdrop of the pandemic ("the panini"), three women with very different histories navigate infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption, and abortion. As their stories and histories come into focus, as they navigate their way unwittingly towards each other, each finds her own way of speaking about these intimate and personal topics. Funny, thought provoking and moving.

    ”
  • Alissa Klusky: People Should Talk About What's Real by Alli Hartley-Kong
    “

    A witty, meaningful, and engaging piece that tackles the subject matter (grief, infertility, family and relationships, abortion, adoption, pandemic) with the utmost care. These characters are deeply human and I fell in love with each of them. This play will make many different kinds of people feel seen and has the potential to start powerful community dialogue. Bravo, Alli!

    A witty, meaningful, and engaging piece that tackles the subject matter (grief, infertility, family and relationships, abortion, adoption, pandemic) with the utmost care. These characters are deeply human and I fell in love with each of them. This play will make many different kinds of people feel seen and has the potential to start powerful community dialogue. Bravo, Alli!

    ”
View all 11 recommendations
NATALIE GRINELL: Thirty five year-old woman, any ethnicity. Loud, bold, foul-mouthed comedian. She has a temper and is angry about life—losing her mother to ovarian cancer when she was in her early 30s, living through a pandemic just as she was on the cusp of stardom, her relationship with her husband after nearly twelve months locked down together. She copes with dark and scathing humor and is boldly direct with everything.

KATHERINE PETERS KEO: Almost thirty-eight, American, White. PhD. student and scholar, quiet and bookish, deliberate in her speaking. She had a former career as a lawyer, but burned out. Her desire to have children is complicated and came to her late in life, and even she doesn’t fully understand it.

RATHANAK “RYAN” KEO: Mid-thirties, Cambodian-American software programmer. Completely supportive to his wife, although questioning his relationship to his own family legacy when adoption is on the table.

JOSH GRINELL: Thirty-five, any ethnicity. Finance bro with a love of old comedy records. Worn out from years of dealing with his wife’s big personality.

PATRICIA HOWARD (Patty): Seventy five-years old. Natalie’s biological grandmother and an interview subject in Katherine’s Ph.D. research. A quirky, spirited feminist living her golden years on a farm.

While Ryan and Katherine must be cast as southeast Asian and White respectively, the other characters should be cast in a way that reflects that diversity of the world.