Speech and Debate

by Stephen Karam

Three teenage misfits in Salem, Oregon discover they are linked by a sex scandal that s rocked their town. When one of them sets out to expose the truth, secrets become currency, the stakes get higher, and the trio s connection grows deeper in this searching, fiercely funny dark comedy with music.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Audiobook, LGBT, Contemporary, School

97 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2008

About the author

Stephen Karam is the author of Sons of the Prophet, a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize and the recipient of the 2012 Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Hull-Warriner Awards for Best Play. His other play is Speech & Debate, the inaugural production of Roundabout Underground; columbinus (New York Theatre Workshop). He wrote the libretto for Dark Sisters, an original chamber opera with composer Nico Muhly (co-produced by Gotham Chamber Opera, MTG and Opera Company of Philadelphia).

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Try to hang me. See how strong my neck is?
Speech and Debate ~~ Stephen Karam



There’s no payoff, no resolution. I was very disappointed in the last couple of scenes. I wanted more. I wanted a conclusion. There were revelations by the characters, but no real growth. The script started off with a bang, but ended with a whimper. All three characters started off filled with piss and vinegar, and ended up being pissed on by the playwright.

Sidenote: I seem to be in the minority on this when it comes to this one; critical reception was overwhelming good. Perhaps I missed something?

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: March 2022: This seemed ripe for a reread and did not disappoint on a 2nd go-round. I wish I could find a copy of the film made from it, but the ONLY DVD copy I could find being sold online was from ... Pakistan? Fun fact: Steven Levenson, the librettist for Dear Evan Hansen originated the role of Solomon in the first workshop production.

Karam's first solo work (the only one of his so far that was NOT a finalist for the Pulitzer!) is both LOL funny and at the same time examines some thought-provoking issues around adolescence and sexuality. It's a bold work from a playwright whose work just keeps getting better and better.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this before, and I'll probably read this again - the changes that were made for the UK production were slight but great. Reading this play just brings me back to working in the lil Black Box theater where it started back in 2007. I was so in love with this play and the characters and how sharp and smart it all was. Working the house staff for this show was my first job in New York, and I sat in that theater probably 30-40 times, never once getting sick of it. It inspired me.

While reading this, I remember every line reading and can hear it in my head. This play brings back the best memories for me.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friendless drama queen Diwata bamboozles cynical, gay Howie and earnest journalist-wannabe Solomon into joining the Speech and Debate Club in order to give herself an extracurricular activity for her college applications but, more importantly, to avenge herself on her high school drama teacher who refuses to cast the over-the-top Diwata in leading roles. Usually, such a play descends into a trite, if funny, exploration of how the threesome become fast friends.

However, this is no Disney movie. Instead, in this dark comedy, the trio of misfits shed a light on the hypocrisy of adults and the difficulty for young people trying to navigate a road that avoids the mistakes of their elders. Set in Salem, Ore., the play uses (in Diwata's words) "Salem, Massachusetts, circa sixteen-twenty-whenever-those-witches-were-bein'-hunted" to show how today's society isn't much less hypocritical or puritanical than the society Arthur Miller wrote about.

While anyone would enjoy the dramatization of Stephen Karam's Speech and Debate, teenagers will simply adore it.

[Lizzy Murray]

I really loved this play! The ending did leave me a bit unsatisfied though.

[Macy Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but I don't think all of it has aged well. I think the ending, while it felt unsatisfying, also felt pretty realistic.

[Emma Hailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

hate that my school is doing this

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where many other plays that deal with issues affecting today's teens fall short, Stephen Karam's "Speech and Debate" excels. That's because Karam is never afraid to dive deep into the challenging but worthwhile issues at the heart of his play. Where other authors waste time with self-censorship, Karam creates an open discussion and proceeds to inject it with wit and fresh perspectives.

"Speech and Debate" follows three very different high school students in Salem, Oregon who start a speech and debate team. Even though the play is full of revelations and discoveries by the characters, "Speech and Debate" never feels unrealistic. It is a comedy-drama in the best sense of the term. At times tragic, at times hilarious, and often both at the same time, the play is deeply resonant with teenagers without being condescending.

Karam gives just the right amount of detail about the well-crafted characters and masterfully incorporates character and plot into the witty dialogue. It is a true page-turner and I would recommend it to anyone interested in issues of adolescence, individuality, or finding oneself. I would also recommend it to anyone who wants to really a really good play. "Speech and Debate" is a wonderful play because it doesn't shy away from the difficult questions it raises, but rather attempts to answer them by providing fresh perspectives and intelligent dialogue. Now I just want to see it onstage!

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speech & Debate is about three smart, alienated, awkward high school students in Salem, Oregon, brought together by a sex scandal involving their drama teacher. As a former teenage misfit from Oregon, I may be predisposed to love it. But I think lots of people will enjoy this funny, offbeat, clever script.

The three protagonists—frustrated theater-geek Diwata, dogged journalism-nerd Solomon, and cynical ex-Portlander Howie—are excellent roles for young actors. Stephen Karam expertly wrings humor from how teenagers can be confident and tech-savvy and smarter than adults give them credit for, while also completely unaware of their own vulnerabilities and follies.

Each of the play’s scenes is named and loosely modeled after a speech-and-debate event (Extemporaneous Commentary, Declamation, etc.), and in its 100 minutes, the play makes use of a remarkable range of communication techniques: instant messages, podcasting, interpretive dance, radio journalism, and more. Through this variety of media, the message comes through loud and clear: these kids are desperate to be heard.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play's strongest case is also its greatest weakness: these are highly opinionated but highly flawed teenagers. I know these people, I have taught these people, and here they are rendered with all they're annoying traits in tact. It is one of the few plays I have read to present these people for who they are rather than how adults want to present them. This is a time in life where these characters are having to deal with a lot of issues and self-discovery, feeling like they are smarter than adults but still struggling as children. In this way this is a very truthful presentation. And despite the fact that I understand them and recognize them, they are also very trying company which makes it a frustrating piece of theatre. Also, and this is nit-picking, these characters don't feel fully developed on the page; with a strong group of actors they can be filled in and made more complex, but here they seem mostly one-dimensional to me.

[Jamie Wone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this play after watching the movie. While the movie was okay (and sort of forgettable), I had heard the play was supposed to be great. The play did end up being much better, but it left me wondering how the hell the movie could censor a play that is about the negative impact of censorship. It's so ironic it makes me wonder if that was the intended effect. As for the play, it felt much more honest because, well, nothing was censored. It was gritty, and went over the line of "taboo" at times (although, at 19, the way the teenagers spoke didn't always feel convincing to me). That had a page-turning effect that I'm sure transferred to the stage. My only complaint is all the loose ends that weren't explained. Although it did leave me thinking, which I'm sure is the point, I'm very nosy and I would like to knoww.

[Matthew Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this play! The writing was funny and smart. The only issue is the ending. Nothing got resolved and for this play I wanted that.

[Patrick Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen the film version, which doesn't have much to do with the play (neither has all that much to do with speech or debate). I regret not having ever been able to see this on the stage, as it inevitably loses a lot being read. But, even on the page, some of the lines really land.

I will confess that I have a personal connection to the material in the broadest sense, as I am both a high school debate coach (not that anything approaching high school debate happens) and a sponsor of a GSA (which features somewhat more recognizably). The characters, with all of their virtues, abilities, insecurities, and immaturaties are recognizable (if exaggerated with suitable theatricality). As one reviewer pointed out, the script smartly allows one to laugh at their absurdities and feel their pain. That gives a hint as to the real audience: not adolescents, but people who remember being an adolescent. According to the performance history at the beginning of the script, one of the leads was originated in a workshop production at Brown University by Steven Levenson, who went on to write the book for Dear Evan Hansen, a much more critically and commercially successful dark comedy about adolescence.

On the plus side, one scene is preserved more or less intact in the film version, and it is everything that is wonderful about the play. Behold, a high school musical crossover between Abraham Lincoln and the Crucible. B

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

the abrupt ending caught me off guard, but i think it would feel more natural if i was seeing it onstage instead of just reading. i thought diwata was soooo insufferable oh my god. she gives major rachel berry vibes. there was so many times where i wanted to reach through the page and just tell her to shut the fuck up!! in typical straight woman fashion she made everything about herself instead of letting the gays speak. so fucking annoying. but that's not a criticism of the play, it's just my opinion on the character. i think karam's writing style is great and he created such distinct personalities for diwata, solomon, and howie through their speech. like the way that most of solomon's lines are questions, and they're questions to intentionally keep a conversation going and get people to tell him things they wouldn't say otherwise--that makes total sense bc he's an aspiring reporter! of course he's gonna talk to people like that! and overall the conversations in this have such a good rhythm and flow to them, it's crazy. there were several scenes where i said "that was so fucking well-written" out loud to myself. in particular the scene where they're all arguing and solomon throws up at the end is so incredible. the way that information is revealed in this play slowly to the audience but suddenly to the characters, so they're true revelations--it's great. i want to be in this.

[Kathryn Laughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart, moving, and ultimately open-ended- the ending is soft but deliberately so as these young lives here represented are not conclusive. I enjoyed it for what it was- a clever take on what teenagers want to talk about/write about/ challenge of the world. Recently I lead a group of young people aged 13-17 through my writing for performance course, and very soon I found out what it is they want to talk about extends way beyond what our society considers 'acceptable' for them to talk about and what our laws 'permit' them to speak of. This is a very real problem - the underestimation of what young people think about, and what they can and should be discussing- and our inability to recognize/deal with this represents great hypocrisy. For this alone, the work is worth a read. But the playwright has given this up for thought wrapped in very polished and hilarious scenes.

[Daniel Preciado]

Sometimes the most important thing in a teenager’s life is finding someone who validates their fears and insecurities. The criticism of this play revolves around it leaving topics unanswered but I think that’s the whole point. These characters weren’t seeking retribution (even if they thought they were), they were merely looking for someone who would look at the things that kept them up at night and say: “yeah, I feel that way, too.”

Four stars because it is such a REALLY funny play that touches on some timely stuff. Plus, Karam’s writing make it clear how much he cares for these characters and I adore that.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little worried going into this that I wouldn't enjoy it given that I didn't particularly enjoy The Humans, but this was surprisingly good. Karam struck just the right balance between humor and seriousness in a way that really worked for me and I actively enjoyed all the characters. However, the ending came across as very abrupt on-page (although looking back on it I saw where the climax and comedown would be on stage) and, while I can see how the ending parallels the beginning in a way that would be satisfying for some people, it would have been a lot more satisfying for me if there had been more character growth.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are times when a play hooks you right from the start. You're leaning in (as close as you can so you can still read the damn thing), your fingers turn each page with excitement as you wonder what will happen next.

This was my experience during the beginning of Speech and Debate; in which three teenagers find themselves connected by an experience involving a teacher. Speech and Debate features the classic hallmarks of a Karam play including an unsatisfying ending. Speech and Debate prepares you for the best and just peters out leaving you confused and upset.

[Aaron Berlau · Rating 3 out of 5]

this play does a great job of portraying teens. their humor, interactions, and decisions all feel very authentic. as a kid who did theatre and forensics in high school i reallllyyy understand diwata, tho i hope i was THAT intense about it all. character and dialogue is where this play excells, as expected for a karam play. the plot falls a little short for me. though it has so much potential to go somewhere and make huge waves, i feel like in the end it just fizzles out. wasn’t bad by any means, i was just expecting more

[Will Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could feel the 2007 energy influenced in the gay elements of the story. I am curious to find an analysis of this play because I have many questions, especially about the ending. What is the message? Ouch if supposed to show a cycle or something.
Nonetheless I liked the characters and maybe found some material to work with. This play is probably one that is better seen I think!
Interesting that it was one of the most top produced shows in the 2009-2010 season!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to attend live recordings from L.A. Theater Works when I lived there and was always impressed with the script choices and performances. There is also a movie of this. I recently watched it and the play (here) is a bit different so that was interesting. Gideon Glick 👍🏻 (Thumbs up)
I listened (not read) to the first act one night and the second act the next night.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/4/25
Started- reallly really good, very funny. {I imagined SZA as the characters lol}

11/15/25
Finished - completed in 3.5 sittings

The cover was of Abe Lincoln in black and hot pink, not the bland generic screenplay cover on this site. See here.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really brilliant little play, which -- because it deals with childhood trauma experienced by teens though a veneer of lightness -- feels more like a Tom Perrota novel than a formative play by the author of "Humans".

[Sienna Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

a surprisingly relevant read for a random library pick up to kill some time.
if only it didn’t feel like the characters were just taking the first step or two in an arc. I think I’ll revisit once I’m more familiar with play structure to see if I missed anything but it felt flat to me.

[Klaus Solko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe if I watched this show I would like it more. I like characters, thought they were dramatic but it is a play. My main problem was no resolution. There was so much lead up just for nothing to happen.

[Natalia Stornello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great and thought-provoking play! The ending is a little abrupt, which is my only complaint about it. But all of the characters are written great, and makes the reader take a deep look into what long held secrets really do.

[Douglas Yannaghas · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of these plays is always how they read rather than how they are staged. A play or script is always a blueprint for a piece of art, rarely a complete piece of art in itself. Speech and debate is a really interesting script that I bet would make a very enjoyable piece of theatre.

[Brian McCann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awkward, uncomfortable play. I respect its structure and intent. Maybe I was just so taken aback at the subject. I wasn’t ready for the play’s rawness.

[elle vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute!!!! i think it would be wise to watch the movie before reading this tbh but i loved it!

[Nora Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for acting class, ending felt a bit rushed/inconclusive but otherwise it was pretty good.