Synopsis

A sunny suburban garden. Mrs. Jarrett sits among her friends, her eyes occasionally darting to unseen horrors beyond the fence

Mrs. Jarrett, Sally, Vi, and Lena gather for tea in Sally’s backyard, their conversations a blend of neighborhood gossip and deeper reflections on life. But beneath this veneer of normalcy, Churchill weaves a tapestry of existential dread.

The play’s power lies in its jarring contrasts. Mrs. Jarrett’s apocalyptic monologues, describing a world ravaged by disaster and societal collapse, punctuate the seemingly mundane chatter. This juxtaposition creates a surreal atmosphere, blurring the lines between the comfort of routine and the looming threat of catastrophe. Through their interactions, Churchill explores themes of aging, friendship, and resilience in the face of personal and collective anxieties.

With her trademark economy of language and innovative structure, Churchill invites us to consider how we cope with the weight of existence. Escaped Alone is a darkly comic meditation on the human capacity to find moments of connection and even joy amidst the specter of apocalypse.