Bee-luther-hatchee

Bee-luther-hatchee by Thomas Gibbons

(2)
Productions (65)
Drama
|
90 - 110 minutes
3 W, 2 M,  (5-8 actors possible: 3-5 W, 2-3 M)
Content Notes: Adult language
Set: Various locations suggested: an editor's office in New York, an old-age home, a hotel room, a kitchen

Shelita Burns, an African-American editor, publishes Bee-luther-hatchee, the autobiography of a reclusive 72-year-old black woman named Libby Price. Shelita has never met Libby, and when the book wins a prestigious award she decides to deliver it to her in person. To her profound shock, the actual author of the book is a white man named Sean Leonard. Furious and resentful, Shelita accuses Sean of perpetrating a hoax, while he defends the book as a truthful work of imagination. Their confrontation, played out on the edge of the racial divide, builds to a jarring act of violence. Read More

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $150

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

Shelita Burns, an African-American editor, publishes Bee-luther-hatchee, the autobiography of a reclusive 72-year-old black woman named Libby Price. Shelita has never met Libby, and when the book wins a prestigious award she decides to deliver it to her in person. To her profound shock, the actual author of the book is a white man named Sean Leonard. Furious and resentful, Shelita accuses Sean of perpetrating a hoax, while he defends the book as a truthful work of imagination. Their confrontation, played out on the edge of the racial divide, builds to a jarring act of violence.

(This is the first part of a trilogy. See also Permanent Collection and A House With No Walls.)

  • Drama
  • |
  • 90 - 110 minutes
  • 3 W, 2 M,  (5-8 actors possible: 3-5 W, 2-3 M)
  • Content Notes: Adult language
  • Set: Various locations suggested: an editor's office in New York, an old-age home, a hotel room, a kitchen
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-269-7

Published Reviews

"A powerful, provocative piece of theatrical writing. You want to run down the street twisting people's arms to see it."

Linda Eisenstein, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"An artful, intelligent and fascinating mystery exploring the nature of art, the boundaries of race and the ownership of personal history...honest and engrossing theatre, the kind that forces you to think what you would say as you're waiting in suspense for the next reply."

Kansas City infoZine

"In our world of hot-button topics and uncivil discourse, it's rare that you get to hear an eloquent, complex argument where the sides are so evenly matched that you keep changing your mind about who's "right." It's even more unusual to see such an argument laid out in a contemporary drama with well-rounded characters who are more than authorial mouthpieces. The combination makes Thomas Gibbons' Bee-luther-hatchee...a powerful, provocative piece of theatrical writing. You want to run down the street twisting people's arms to see it... Poetic and subtle, asking penetrating questions without simple answers...one of the best plays of the season. It deserves a large audience."

Linda Eisenstein, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A brilliant, thought-provoking piece of theatre ... one of the most satisfying evenings of theatre one could ever hope for... The Thomas Gibbons script is right on the mark. For one of the most thought-provoking evenings you'll ever spend in the theatre, don't miss Bee-Luther-Hatchee."

Steve Allen, KFUO-FM (St. Louis)

"Thomas Gibbons' play shoots into linguistic high gear. The plot takes a stunning turn as the characters address themselves to the play's real subject: the question of identity, of how we know who anybody really is. Or even if we do ... the play offers plenty to think about, lacing reason with passion."

Judith Newmark, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The compelling drama takes you on a journey that leads not to resolution, but to a springboard for discussion... Powerful without being obvious, this bittersweet story will leave you in thought long after the curtain comes down."

Nick Dussault, Boston Metro

"This is a beautiful play; one that is so distinctly American in its dealing with the issues of race and prejudice, of outrage and good intentions, and, of course, the craft of writing, the world of publishing and the baggage of celebrity. I commend Mr. Gibbons (a white Northerner) for tackling all of these subjects in so simple and direct a manner, his two major accomplishments being his refusal to settle for a neat ending and in his creation of Shelita herself: an attractive, intelligent woman but also a flawed, vulnerable human being who, in the end, sees the world in black and white as all too many of us do."

Carl A. Rossi, Theater Mirror

"Playwright Thomas Gibbons' words breathe life into a drama that is bound to leave the audience thinking about it well after the curtain falls."

L.A. Watts Times

"Gibbons poses lots of intriguing questions (and no easy answers) in this fascinating literary puzzle about race, identity and the perplexing problems that can come with success."

Sacramento News & Review

"Thomas Gibbons' Bee-luther-hatchee weaves its spell slowly, although it is obvious from the play's evocative first line that a fine, thoughtful writer is at work."

Chicago Sun-Times

"At its most literal, Bee-luther-hatchee is a play about words and about the myriad meanings behind words... This script -- which at its most ambitious is nothing less than a deconstruction of race relations -- has set for itself a huge task. Although some viewers may be frustrated by its refusal to offer clear-cut answers, at least Gibbons cannot be faulted for not having asked the questions. Bee-luther-hatchee is informed by the sincerity of conscience."

Dennis Brown, Riverfront Times (St. Louis)

Production History

SEP 12, 2024 - SEP 29, 2024
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
Gainesville, FL United States
Acrosstown Repertory TheatreGainesville, FL United States
NOV 11, 2023 - NOV 11, 2023
Yellowhammer Theatre Group
Selma, AL United States
Yellowhammer Theatre GroupSelma, AL United States
MAR 10, 2022 - MAR 20, 2022
impact theatre atlanta
Hapeville, GA United States
impact theatre atlantaHapeville, GA United States
FEB 24, 2022 - FEB 26, 2022
BASCS
Hackensack, NJ United States
BASCSHackensack, NJ United States
FEB 05, 2021 - FEB 14, 2021
Emerson Theater Collaborative
Sedona, AZ United States
Emerson Theater CollaborativeSedona, AZ United States
FEB 02, 2019 - FEB 10, 2019
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA United States
Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda, CA United States
NOV 29, 2018 - DEC 09, 2018
North Springs Charter High School
Sandy Springs, GA United States
North Springs Charter High SchoolSandy Springs, GA United States
NOV 08, 2018 - NOV 18, 2018
Cal Poly Pomona University
Pomona, CA United States
Cal Poly Pomona UniversityPomona, CA United States
OCT 27, 2018 - NOV 04, 2018
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA United States
La Sierra UniversityRiverside, CA United States
OCT 05, 2018 - OCT 28, 2018
California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA United States
California State University FullertonFullerton, CA United States
1 of 7
No upcoming productions.
JAN 13, 2017 - FEB 18, 2017
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Sierra Madre, CA United States
Sierra Madre PlayhouseSierra Madre, CA United States
DEC 09, 2013 - DEC 09, 2013
Theatre Horizon
Norristown, PA United States
Theatre HorizonNorristown, PA United States
MAR 03, 2008 - MAR 03, 2008
Geva Theatre Center
Rochester, NY United States
Geva Theatre CenterRochester, NY United States
JAN 30, 2008 - FEB 17, 2008
Stamford Theatre Works
Stamford, CT United States
Stamford Theatre WorksStamford, CT United States
JUL 14, 2005 - JUL 24, 2005
New Century Theatre
Northampton, MA United States
New Century TheatreNorthampton, MA United States
MAY 06, 2005 - MAY 22, 2005
Jubilee Theatre
Ft. Worth, TX United States
Jubilee TheatreFt. Worth, TX United States
JUL 08, 2004 - JUL 24, 2004
Florida Studio Theatre
Sarasota, FL United States
Florida Studio TheatreSarasota, FL United States
MAR 12, 2004 - APR 04, 2004
Karamu Performing Arts Theater
Cleveland, OH United States
Karamu Performing Arts TheaterCleveland, OH United States
MAR 12, 2003 - APR 04, 2004
Blue Heron Theatre
New York, NY United States
Blue Heron TheatreNew York, NY United States
FEB 20, 2003 - MAR 09, 2003
Borderlands Theater
Tucson, AZ United States
Borderlands TheaterTucson, AZ United States
1 of 3

Awards (2)

Addison Award 2002 (Best of Boston Theater)

Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwriting Award