Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love

"Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love" is a 1989 stage play written by Canadian playwright Brad Fraser. Set in Edmonton, Alberta, the comedy-drama follows the lives of several sexually frustrated "thirty-somethings" who try to learn the meaning of love, during a period when residents of the city are living in fear of a serial killer.

Characters include Candy, a heterosexual woman trying to meet the perfect man but who along the way finds herself experimenting with lesbianism; her homosexual roommate, David, who no longer believes that love exists; Kane, a teenager who denies he's gay yet seems to fall in love with David; Bernie, David's troubled best friend; and Jerri, a lesbian who falls in love with Candy. Overlooking the proceedings is the otherworldly Benita, a prostitute with psychic abilities.

First presented by Alberta Theatre Projects at the playRites '89 Festival in Calgary, Alberta, "Unidentified Human Remains" was immediately controversial for its violence, nudity, frank dialogue, and sexual explicitness. But it was quickly acclaimed by critics and audiences and was named one of the 10 best plays of the year by "TIME". Over the next 15 years, productions in many languages have been mounted of the play from New York to Japan. In November 2004, a 15th anniversary revival of the piece took place in Calgary.

A film version, "Love and Human Remains", was released in 1993.