About the Play:

Dying to be Thin has become a favourite of acting teachers for Female Monologues.

Dying to be Thin is a full-length drama by Linda A. Carson. The story of Amanda, a typical high school teen until her grades plummet, and she begins cutting classes and avoiding her boyfriend. Dying to be Thin is a hour-long drama that takes a hard look at issues of body image and how it can evolve into serious eating disorders. Particularly suitable for schools and play contests.

Dying to be Thin is a witty and inspirational look behind locked doors into the secret life of a young teenager battling with the eating disorder Bulimia, characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by a variety of self-induced purging activities. Written from the playwright's own personal experience, the play manages to be funny as well as profoundly powerful and moving. The audience watches the character Amanda, alone in her bedroom, as she embarks on her "Last Ever in My Whole Life Binge." She recounts the cycle of out-of-control eating and purging that is dominating her life and affecting her health. Amanda's reflections on eating, dieting and self-image mirror many of the feelings and messages audience members think and hear every day. Dying to Be Thin explores disordered eating and the many issues that accompany it in a positive and thought-provoking way.

Before Linda Carson could graduate from Langara College's Studio 58 theatre program in Vancouver, she had to write as her final project a one-person show about something she knew intimately. To her, the most dramatic thing in her life had been surviving the eating disorder bulimia that had derailed her university studies and left her very ill, but it had been a low point in her life she had kept secret. Dying to be Thin premiered in 1992 at Carousel Theatre in Vancouver, won a Jessie Award, and travelled across Canada. The play has become a favourite scene study vehicle in acting classes and workshops and is popular and a favourite play for schools and play contests.

Cast: 1 female

What people say:

"…a realistic look at a typical teenager's struggle with eating disorders and the need to be slim that's imposed by modern society." — Vancouver Province

About the Playwrights:

Linda A. Carson is a graduate of Vancouver's renowned Studio 58 acting program and has been a professional actor, clown, writer, and teacher for more than 20 years. Upon graduation, she wrote and toured her one person play Dying to Be Thin for two years before handing it over to other actors and going on to co-write her second play, the award winning, internationally acclaimed hit Mom's the Word, with five other actor/writer/moms.