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Mauritius
3m, 2f / Comedy / Interior Stamp collecting is far more risky than you think. After their mother's death, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the crown jewel for collectors. One sister tries to collect on the windfall, while the other resists for sentimental reasons. In this gripping tale, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stakes collectors enter the sisters' world, willing to do anything to claim the rare find as their own.
80 pages
First published January 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Rebeck
67 books115 followersTheresa Rebeck is a playwright. She also works as a television writer. Her input went into popular shows such as Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch.
She also wrote and produced Canterbury’s Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.
Ms. Rebeck has an MFA in Playwrighting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, from Brandeis University. She is a board member of the Dramatists Guild and has taught at Brandeis and Columbia Universities.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.
She also wrote and produced Canterbury’s Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.
Ms. Rebeck has an MFA in Playwrighting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, from Brandeis University. She is a board member of the Dramatists Guild and has taught at Brandeis and Columbia Universities.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 7, 2010
Before I learned how to pronounce the title of this play, I referred to it as 'the one with the stamps.' It is about stamps, and it is also really good. Stamps in and of themselves aren't riveting, but people obsessed with them are. Theresa Rebeck is one of my favorite playwrights. Highly recommend this one.
May 13, 2014
(Oh Goodreads, if only you would allow me to do half-stars on reviews. I put this at about a 3.5)
This play fairly zips along; I read it in about 30 minutes at 10pm, as I'm doing a scene from it in a class I'm taking. The plot centers on two half-sisters, brought back together for the first time in years after their mother dies. The interactions between the sisters–one who was able to escape their extremely sick and abusive mother through a family that sent her to boarding school at 16, one who had no choice but to stay and take care of their mother until her death–are definitely the most riveting part of this play. In the first act, you get to see so many interesting facets of their relationship as they try to figure out how to relate to one another (as someone with a half-sister who has never lived geographically close to me, it is a feeling I understand). Mary also has led a far more monetarily privileged life than Jackie, leading to some truly fascinating explorations of how the sisters each determine the value of the items their mother has left behind, including the stamp collection that pushes the play's central conflict. It shapes up to be a very interesting discussion of value, and how our life experiences have such a huge impact on how we interact with family history. I really wanted to see this plot get resolved, to watch these sisters try to explain to each other their own points of view, to see whether it was possible to reach any sort of common ground.
Unfortunately, the explorations of the sisters' relationship basically comes to a dead halt in act 2, and the play's secondary plot takes over, in which three shady stamp collectors try to get their hands on the 2 most valuable stamps from the sisters' collection. The second act basically becomes the latter half of a thriller movie, as we watch Jackie try to deal with these stamp collectors without Mary's knowledge. Character development completely halts for almost everyone. This is particularly unfortunate for Mary, as it leaves her pigeon-holed as a completely clueless bitch who just wants her stamps. The "attraction" between Jackie and Dennis felt forced to me as well; I wasn't sure why the playwright felt it was necessary to include it. Not that the scenes weren't well written–as I said, I blasted through the play, and definitely experienced some heart-pounding during the climactic scene–but it became a far more mundane story. The author had some exciting things to say about the human condition, but she backed too far away from them in the second act.
Bottom line: I would love to see a production of this, and I would love to read more by this author. But I feel that there was definitely a missed opportunity to create a more engaging endgame for this play.
This play fairly zips along; I read it in about 30 minutes at 10pm, as I'm doing a scene from it in a class I'm taking. The plot centers on two half-sisters, brought back together for the first time in years after their mother dies. The interactions between the sisters–one who was able to escape their extremely sick and abusive mother through a family that sent her to boarding school at 16, one who had no choice but to stay and take care of their mother until her death–are definitely the most riveting part of this play. In the first act, you get to see so many interesting facets of their relationship as they try to figure out how to relate to one another (as someone with a half-sister who has never lived geographically close to me, it is a feeling I understand). Mary also has led a far more monetarily privileged life than Jackie, leading to some truly fascinating explorations of how the sisters each determine the value of the items their mother has left behind, including the stamp collection that pushes the play's central conflict. It shapes up to be a very interesting discussion of value, and how our life experiences have such a huge impact on how we interact with family history. I really wanted to see this plot get resolved, to watch these sisters try to explain to each other their own points of view, to see whether it was possible to reach any sort of common ground.
Unfortunately, the explorations of the sisters' relationship basically comes to a dead halt in act 2, and the play's secondary plot takes over, in which three shady stamp collectors try to get their hands on the 2 most valuable stamps from the sisters' collection. The second act basically becomes the latter half of a thriller movie, as we watch Jackie try to deal with these stamp collectors without Mary's knowledge. Character development completely halts for almost everyone. This is particularly unfortunate for Mary, as it leaves her pigeon-holed as a completely clueless bitch who just wants her stamps. The "attraction" between Jackie and Dennis felt forced to me as well; I wasn't sure why the playwright felt it was necessary to include it. Not that the scenes weren't well written–as I said, I blasted through the play, and definitely experienced some heart-pounding during the climactic scene–but it became a far more mundane story. The author had some exciting things to say about the human condition, but she backed too far away from them in the second act.
Bottom line: I would love to see a production of this, and I would love to read more by this author. But I feel that there was definitely a missed opportunity to create a more engaging endgame for this play.
December 14, 2017
My theatre is doing this show in a few months and I wanted to read it before I auditioned and I'm SO glad I did! This is fantastic! What I love most is that this story really isn't about stamps - it's about family and what really matters. Plenty of surprise twists as well.
April 17, 2014
Wow, I was really impressed. Every single scene is soooo loaded! I mean, everything is just filled to bursting with tension! I was also impressed with the dialogue. It all seems so natural and it flows just like normal speech - where people repeat words, say "um," don't finish sentences, and start saying things and then reword - but you know exactly what they mean. I do wish she hadn't put so much profanity in. This would be a great play for middle schools and high schools if it wasn't for that! Overall, it was very well-done, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Good scenes for classwork: All of them
Good monologues: There are a few very good ones for both men and women
Good scenes for classwork: All of them
Good monologues: There are a few very good ones for both men and women
July 24, 2022
I just really don’t give a shit about stamps.
January 6, 2022
Engaging, high-stakes and action filled play. Five characters, story takes place within a few days.
Premise is simple: Jackie discovers a collection of highly valuable stamps in her dead mother's house and goes on a mission to sell them. Many, many obstacles are in the way.
Emotional heartbeat is about family, sharing, grace (or lack thereof), grief, finding value in the present moment.
ACT ONE
scene one:
- Jackie (main character) almost monologuing at Philip, her internal thoughts about what she wants coming out.
- classic game of interrogation, fluster, rebuttal, interrogation
- “they” off stage that doesn’t really need explaining
- big news hinted at in opening scene that sets the action forward (expensive stamp that Jackie doesn’t know about)
scene two:
- picks up in new location, one character from previous scene (dennis) and a new one (sterling), discussing what happened in scene 1, and what it means for them
- building the suspense and action
- dialogue is doing a lot of ‘not saying’
- small insignificant detail brought back, Dennis noticed the comic book thing
scene three:
- Jackie and Mary packing. to begin with, having two different convos.
- story around Jackie (bills, family, Mauritius) and stakes is starting to be built by showing her world
- ISSUE ESTABLISHED: both lay claim to the stamps
- becomes a vehicle to talk about the relationship obstacles
- INTRUDER: dennis enters, objective to get the stamps
- Dennis cunningly manipulates the sisters into talking about the stamps, pits them against each other and plays on relationship patterns.
- dennis flirts with jackie (shows us she is lonely)
- Jackie loses all control (she is the audience here)
- emotions flare, then topic is changed swiftly, scene continues. jackie aghast.
*whenever a swear word happens, a beat follows*
Scene 4:
- Philip and Sterling meet in the shop. they have old vendettas. Sterling wants to know about the stamps.
- Sterling is classic antagonist bully, intimidating Phil.
- stakes get really high, physical violence and then..
- dennis enters. truth is revealed: we need him.
- plan is hatched
- phil makes a countermove that could throw everything off in secret
scene 5:
- stamps still priority #1, jackie is trying a tactic to get Mary to give them to her. she tries emotional reasoning and justifying her right (by telling story of mother’s death)
- the blowout happens! jackie is animal now, politeness a memory
- mixture of pain of being abandoned to clean up family mess, indignity that Mary could consider them hers, conviction that she has earned them and needs them. PUNCHES mary in the face.
- final monologue from jackie lays the new law down.
ACT TWO
scene one:
- jackie and dennis hashing out the deal. sterling is on his way. they start with the dance, move into honesty
- jackie steps into backstory of Dennis, he shies away. their camaraderie builds.
- sterling arrives and Jackie and him undergo a rigorous deal process.
- just as the deal is done, INTRUDER. phil and mary enter. Phil reveals they're fake. Deal is off after another physical blowout.
- another reveal after Sterling leaves: Phil is in fact lying, they're real.
- showdown between sisters. Jackie reveals her emotional wounding. Mary is a polite shit.
- jackie threatens to burn the stamps. she doesn't. mary and phil leave with the stamps.
- jackie is wrecked, beaten, has nothing left. we know she is morally correct, the hero of the story (despite her fuckups)
- silver lining: dennis has pilfered another valuable stamp. they will be okay.
Premise is simple: Jackie discovers a collection of highly valuable stamps in her dead mother's house and goes on a mission to sell them. Many, many obstacles are in the way.
Emotional heartbeat is about family, sharing, grace (or lack thereof), grief, finding value in the present moment.
ACT ONE
scene one:
- Jackie (main character) almost monologuing at Philip, her internal thoughts about what she wants coming out.
- classic game of interrogation, fluster, rebuttal, interrogation
- “they” off stage that doesn’t really need explaining
- big news hinted at in opening scene that sets the action forward (expensive stamp that Jackie doesn’t know about)
scene two:
- picks up in new location, one character from previous scene (dennis) and a new one (sterling), discussing what happened in scene 1, and what it means for them
- building the suspense and action
- dialogue is doing a lot of ‘not saying’
- small insignificant detail brought back, Dennis noticed the comic book thing
scene three:
- Jackie and Mary packing. to begin with, having two different convos.
- story around Jackie (bills, family, Mauritius) and stakes is starting to be built by showing her world
- ISSUE ESTABLISHED: both lay claim to the stamps
- becomes a vehicle to talk about the relationship obstacles
- INTRUDER: dennis enters, objective to get the stamps
- Dennis cunningly manipulates the sisters into talking about the stamps, pits them against each other and plays on relationship patterns.
- dennis flirts with jackie (shows us she is lonely)
- Jackie loses all control (she is the audience here)
- emotions flare, then topic is changed swiftly, scene continues. jackie aghast.
*whenever a swear word happens, a beat follows*
Scene 4:
- Philip and Sterling meet in the shop. they have old vendettas. Sterling wants to know about the stamps.
- Sterling is classic antagonist bully, intimidating Phil.
- stakes get really high, physical violence and then..
- dennis enters. truth is revealed: we need him.
- plan is hatched
- phil makes a countermove that could throw everything off in secret
scene 5:
- stamps still priority #1, jackie is trying a tactic to get Mary to give them to her. she tries emotional reasoning and justifying her right (by telling story of mother’s death)
- the blowout happens! jackie is animal now, politeness a memory
- mixture of pain of being abandoned to clean up family mess, indignity that Mary could consider them hers, conviction that she has earned them and needs them. PUNCHES mary in the face.
- final monologue from jackie lays the new law down.
ACT TWO
scene one:
- jackie and dennis hashing out the deal. sterling is on his way. they start with the dance, move into honesty
- jackie steps into backstory of Dennis, he shies away. their camaraderie builds.
- sterling arrives and Jackie and him undergo a rigorous deal process.
- just as the deal is done, INTRUDER. phil and mary enter. Phil reveals they're fake. Deal is off after another physical blowout.
- another reveal after Sterling leaves: Phil is in fact lying, they're real.
- showdown between sisters. Jackie reveals her emotional wounding. Mary is a polite shit.
- jackie threatens to burn the stamps. she doesn't. mary and phil leave with the stamps.
- jackie is wrecked, beaten, has nothing left. we know she is morally correct, the hero of the story (despite her fuckups)
- silver lining: dennis has pilfered another valuable stamp. they will be okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2023
For a play about stamps this felt like it would be fast passed and super fun to watch.
The characters are all semi irredeemable and yet you want to root for some of them? Rebeck does a great job of crafting these characters into people you both want to hate and want to root for.
It was a quick, fun, lighthearted (with some less lighthearted undertones) play that would be fun to watch OR act in. Can't go wrong.
The characters are all semi irredeemable and yet you want to root for some of them? Rebeck does a great job of crafting these characters into people you both want to hate and want to root for.
It was a quick, fun, lighthearted (with some less lighthearted undertones) play that would be fun to watch OR act in. Can't go wrong.
February 10, 2018
There's stamp mafioso character named Sterling! That made me laugh so hard when I read it. This was a fun, quirky play. I liked the relationship dynamic between Jackie and Dennis and Jackie and her step-sister Mary. The only character I'm still a bit confused by was Phillip but overall I very much enjoyed. It was a fast paced and entertaining play.
Read
April 1, 2022Each scene individually is SO strong and compelling but the overall pieces of it do not always form a cohesive whole. The more important aspects of the play sometimes are overshadowed and underthought, but this is still super entertaining and definitely a great example of so many fabulously character-driven scenes.
February 15, 2023
I love when people have their niche hobbies and get really passionate about them. It’s so fun! I cared about stamps for the duration of me reading the play!
I also love unlikeable characters and by god all these characters are so petty and dramatic
I also love unlikeable characters and by god all these characters are so petty and dramatic
November 3, 2024
I love this play! It’s so fun, perfectly paced, and such an interesting and unique plot. I mean, who would think to write a play about stamps? And furthermore, who would think a play about stamps would be interesting?! I’m doing a monologue from this play after reading it.
December 7, 2024
I actually read this twice in the past two weeks: thank you theatre school. Anywho, loved the Italian/mob influence, but my girl Jackie got DOGGED and Mary being so annoying honestly made me not want to read it at some points
October 27, 2017
A taut play with high stakes and really nice build to the climax. I only wish we could have explored the relationship between the half-sisters a little more.
February 24, 2020
It’s a great play!!!!
July 11, 2020
Completely unrealistic story and no likeable characters.
July 17, 2020
Best play about stamps that really isn’t about stamps I’ve ever read!! Such strong characters and plot. 💜
December 29, 2021
How can stamp collecting be so thrilling?! Read with low expectations, couldn’t put it down. I repeat…. HOW IS STAMP COLLECTING SO THRILLING!!!!
January 16, 2022
Breezy!
March 7, 2023
love Theresa Rebeck's writing style. I bet this was a hoot to watch in person.
March 10, 2023
Stamps
January 12, 2024
I know there is some broader message here about the dangerous ambition of putting monetary value over familial sentimental ones, but I don't know a thing about stamps lol
February 11, 2024
Sister shimmy, Dennis Grinny, One penny, two penny
May 24, 2024
A little too dramatic. I mean cute play. But also all over the place.
monologue for Mary on page 41, 20
monologue for Sterling page 37, 31
scene 5 between Mary and Jackie
monologue for Mary on page 41, 20
monologue for Sterling page 37, 31
scene 5 between Mary and Jackie
May 30, 2024
queen never knows how to end a play. always loses me the last 10 pages.
August 1, 2024
~stamps~
October 21, 2024
I have a new found love of modern plays and this didn't disappoint!
February 20, 2025
play dream role unlocked for jackie
March 27, 2025
Good twist
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2025
A play about stamp collectors and gangsters. Feels like something Mamet would’ve come up with in his prime. Really amazing dialogue, just a pleasure of a read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews