Lonely Planet

by Steven Dietz

This compassionate play reveals friendship and fear in the age of AIDS. Jody is in his forties and runs a map store. Not one for the outside world, he stays in his store all the time. His friend, Carl is in his late thirties and has been bringing chairs of dead friends into Jody's store and leaving them there. When Jody needs to take an AIDS test, Carl tries to convince him it is not only okay to leave the store, but also that he must take responsibility for his life. If he doesn't, he will join the set of chairs that Carl has taken great pains to place in the right spots around the store. Jody finally leaves the map store to take his HIV test and return to find Carl sitting in a chair of his own. With this gesture, we know that Carl has joined the many of their friends who have died, but now Jody must take Carl's place as the caretaker.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, LGBT

72 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Steven Dietz is an American playwright whose work is largely performed regionally, i.e. outside of New York City. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Dietz graduated in 1980 with a Theater degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He is the recipient of the PEN U.S.A. Award in Drama (for Lonely Planet); the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award (Fiction and Still Life With Iris); and the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Award (The Rememberer). Halcyon Days is one of his other successful plays. Many of his plays are very political. He lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Dave Clapper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few plays out and out make me sob. A production of this at ACT in Seattle did the trick, though. I used to play in a weekly poker game with several other Seattle actors and we had all seen this play. The other most testosteroney of the group and I both talked about how we just bawled at the end of this play. And when I say bawled, I mean that inhuman sounds came from us, just that uncontrollable level of grief. Our gay friends and the one woman at the table were mystified that it hit us this hard. They all thought it was sad, but nowhere near the level at which it hit us. And here's why, I think: as much as this play is about gay men dealing with their friends dying of AIDS, it is much more about how difficult it is for men to be friends. And for two alpha males, this topic hit home HARD. A great, great play.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST read - this play is filled to the brim with underlying themes that are really beautifully written. I highly recommend for any avid play readers.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an actor, this is the second play that has emotionally drained me because of the raw honesty and emotions the two characters delve into. We go up in three weeks and I'm still raw after every rehearsal.
A Mos Def good read.

[Joelle.P.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

OCU 2000
One of the most amazing evenings I've ever spent at the theatre.

[Esme Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this play for a college class and I loved it. I raved to my dad about it and tried to find a copy of the script to own because my professor had just scanned the pages and put it online for us to read; the next time I came home from college he handed me a copy of the play, I had no idea where he got it from because I couldn't find one anywhere but I finally had a physical copy. The play itself was witty and emotional, using The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco as an inspiration was really interesting to me and fit the theme very well. Taking the symbolism that is used in The Chairs of the chairs works extremely well dealing with the AIDS crisis. I loved this play and the representation of queer friendship and how devastating the AIDS crisis was. An excellent play and one I hope to see a production of in the future.

[Daniel Stepanic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playful and witty, the characters leap off the pages with life and hardened hearts, until they don’t - and that’s even more powerful story-telling still. Few plays have made me full on sob on first read as this one. Eloquent and touching. It gets deep within you despite narrow slice of life and brevity. The ability to link the diverse history of cartography as an evolving art form with the AIDS epidemic in shockingly poignant parallels adds spectacular weight and “a-ha” moments to the sharp dialog. I can’t wait to read it again.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short play was written during the AIDS epidemic. It's ironic that I should happen upon it and read it now, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its message about friendship and loss (symbolized by empty chairs) is both poignant and timely.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harrowing exploration of friendship in the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, this play has two deep and emotional roles for men to sink their teeth into. Subtext and heart, this show will uplift and break your heart in one fowl swoop

[Daniel Preciado · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little on the nose at times but touching nonetheless. Might need a re-read in the near future to really understand these characters.

[jociet101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing play

[Sarann]

true love is recounting a dream to someone and then remembering halfway through that they were there. and this happens every time

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this hurts
🪑

[Jason Sweeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read. A swift, gut punch of a play. Won’t soon forget.

[Timur Markowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible play. I absolutely loved it.

[bananagoy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me a very long time to get through. Yes, the emotional parts are strong, but it feels a bit like it’s trying at some points.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

tears in my eyes

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Lonely Planet” is a lovely and touching play about friendship in the dawn of the AIDS crisis. Dietz continues to amaze me as a playwright – he is someone who can write emotionally resonant work with visually stunning metaphors. There is a grace and elegance to this play on the page, and I am hungry to see it in performance.

[Kate Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen it twice - both times performed by good friends.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about the first play I liked that no one knew.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a piece from the early years of AIDS, but it's extemely gentle and never uses the word.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this play. Once I did, I found it quite powerful-- some very moving moments.

[PEN Center USA · Rating 5 out of 5]

1994 PEN Center USA Award Winner for Drama