Life After Life Research
Every moment in Life After Life is based on research our team did in the Common Burying Ground. This research packet contains most of what we used to create the show. You can read a list of all the characters in the play here.
Almost every character portrayed in Life After Life is buried in the Common Burying Ground. During the run, we will have special flags in the Burying Ground so that you may visit their graves. Finding people in the CBG isn’t easy, so use this map and look for the corresponding flags.
R.I.P.
Making theater generates more wonderful material than the play can handle. Please experience some of our favorite sections of Life After Life that didn’t make the cut. In each of these instances, the pieces were cut for time, flow, and personnel — not because the ideas or performance of them was lacking.
Ida Lewis’ Stand Up Routine
I truly hate talking about myself and so that’s about all you’re gonna get from me on the subject. I am going to guide you through the Common Burying Ground. Though I haven’t been here as long as some of the others, my skills in life lend themselves to rescue and no offense, all of you seem a little lost at sea right at the moment. [she sort of enjoys this non-joke joke and can’t help herself]. Do you care for jokes? Here’s one: How many lighthouse keepers' daughters does it take to – One. I’m fine. Alright, here’s another. (knock knock gesture) Knock. Knock. (audience: Who’s there?) Oh! Do you know this one already? Wait. No. That was just YOUR PART. (wink) Ok. Again. (knock knock gesture) Knock. Knock. (audience: who’s there?) Ida. (audience: Ida who?) Ida know who you think you’re talking to but I received the Gold Lifesaving Medal, the nation's highest lifesaving decoration, making me the only woman to receive it until 2020. One more? My marriage was SO SHORT (audience: how short was it?) That wasn’t a question.
Peter Quire (Entire Character)
“I know what it’s like to take people on long and unexpected journeys. [to the audience and to Ida] Please, rest. Relax. You’re almost there.”
“That’s why my wife Harriet and I started the Church. We wanted to leave something lasting. In 1875 we started inviting people to our home in The Point for worship. St John’s came about when we outgrew our living room! I always hoped it would be a beacon for people. I hope it is. I know it’s still there.”
