The Thin Place

by Lucas Hnath

The thin place is a place where the line between this world and another one is very thin; where the living and the dead can reconnect. Ever since she was a little girl, Hilda tried to make contact with that "other place" by listening very carefully, not with her ears but with the space just behind and a little above her eyes. She was never all that sure that the things she could hear were real, until she met Linda, a professional psychic, who can talk to the dead. That's what Hilda wants to do, and so she befriends Linda. But as their friendship deepens, Linda unveils some uncomfortable truths.The Thin Place is a horror story about what's really going on in the space just behind and a little above your eyes.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

86 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2021

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is now the 7th play I've read by Hnath - and it's one of his better offerings, although it gets a mite 'thin' in places also! I basically agree with the reviews, so will just be lazy and post those here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/th....
https://variety.com/2019/legit/review...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf6Wg...

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stopped by the Drama Book Shop and picked up a small stack of plays, after the last one was so good.
The Thin Place slyly examines much more than what it purports, i.e., the thin space between the worlds of the living and the dead. I would love to see it expanded to a full screenplay or series.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting parts that don’t really add up to a lot. Feels like a lot of ideas mashed together and topped off with a bit of suspenseful illusion to end the performance, without ever really telling a story.

[Amanda Samuelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I’d feel differently seeing this onstage, but something felt lacking in this one. I love a good horror play, and there were definitely some juicy spooky moments. I wasn’t a huge fan of the structure, though, and I wish we could have spent more time with the characters in ways that simultaneously revealed their backstories and relationships to one another while still contributing to the story and its eeriness. Hilda and Linda were compelling and interesting characters, but I felt that Jerry and Sylvia were just there to move things along and I honestly wanted to spend more time witnessing the dynamic between the four characters.

[Tom Holehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious and brilliant examination of the line between this world and a possible other. Hnath has a knack with delivering bright, engaging dialogue and intriguing characters. This is a very fine play.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw the production at playwrights horizons but a joy to read. Creepy in the way of my grandmother's giant fuzzy baby dolls with fur for eyelashes. Lucas is in touch with the feminine divine.

[By The Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF! Actually gave me a crisis lol so that's fun

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, crawly, and kind of sweet. Hnath is clearly tapped into something.

[Hannah Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

HORROR PLAY HORROR PLAY HOW FUN

[Jules DiGregorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eerie and sweet. I like how plays engage the senses in a way so different from other kinds of writing.

[Tyler Fridley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There should be more horror and Spooky plays. Would love to see this live (or at least the last chunk of the show)

[Chambers Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is fantastic!!!
Why aren't more people producing it!

[adison holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just alright. I wasn't particularly moved by anything in particular. All good though.

[Gwyneth Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4. Saw this a few years ago at Humana Festival and swore I was falling asleep. Reading it was a whole different experience. Staging/direction/acting can ruin good plays. This slaps.

[Violet Metta · Rating 3 out of 5]

creepy

[Matt Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite spooky play.