Ordinary People (play)

Conrad Jarrett had an older brother named Buck, and now Buck is gone. What's left of young Conrad's family, with his successful, well-intentioned father and his beautiful, organized and remote mother, is in terrible jeopardy, as is Conrad himself. They are all "ordinary people" and each is fighting a hard battle. This play goes to the essence of a young man, his friends and family, their relationships and survival.[3]

• Conrad Jarrett, a boy in his late teens
• Cal Jarrett, Conrad's father
• Beth Jarrett, Conrad's mother
• Joe Lanzenby, Conrad's best friend
• Stillman, Conrad's swim team acquaintance
• Jeannine Pratt, Conrad's girlfriend
• Karen Aldrich, Conrad's hospital acquaintance
• Doctor Berger, Conrad's psychiatrist
• Coach Salan, Conrad's swim coach

The play is a popular choice for community theatres and schools, and has been produced around the world. A 1992 production by the Young Artists Ensemble in Thousands, Oaks, California was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times.[4] Pelican Studios Theatre in New York City staged a production in 2004.[5] The Citadel Theatre Company in Lake Forest, Illinois staged a production in 2015 .[6] A reading was held by Almost Adults Productions in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2018.[7]

In review of a production in St. Louis, Missouri, the differences from the novel/film and the play were highlighted as Gilsenan’s adaptation overall stays true to the source material, lifting much of the dialogue directly from the book. However, it also focuses much more on Conrad’s trajectory than that of Calvin and Beth’s. This is a subtle departure from the source material, which alternates between Conrad and Calvin’s points of view..[8][9]