New Plays: New Visions/New Voices part 2

Over the three days of the symposium, we saw five staged readings of new American plays, as well as one from South Africa and one from Australia. For me, the following three plays were the highlights:

Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s THE SCARECROW AND HIS SERVANT (commissioned by the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis) might surprise fans of Pullman’s HIS DARK MATERIALS, because there was nothing dark about this one – in fact, this one was a delightful brew of both high and low comedy in pretty equal measure. I’ve never read this book, so I’m not sure if the rapier wit of the dialogue is more Mr. Hatcher or Mr. Pullman, but – judging from Mr. Hatcher’s hilarious comments in the post-show talkback session, I have a good guess. I’ll find out soon, because I’ve put the book on my summer reading list.

Many of us were looking forward to our first look at the third play of Suzan Zeder’s Ware Cycle, THE EDGE OF PEACE, commissioned by Seattle Children’s Theatre. I directed the first play of that trilogy, MOTHER HICKS, here at NCT in about 1988 or so, and I consider that play to be one of the best American plays of the last quarter of the last century. The second installment was an absorbing prequel entitled THE TASTE OF SUNRISE. This third, and final, piece continues and resolves the stories and characters from the first two plays, connecting them in some surprising and satisfying developments. Girl, the much-loved young protagonist from MOTHER HICKS, makes her entrance in the third play, all grown up – by parachute! The symposium moderator stated after the performance that this one, for many of us, was both a new play and a sort of family reunion, and so it was – and I think, successful on both counts.

The play that really rocked my world – and that I am most eyeing for future production at NCT -- was Y York’s DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T FLY, commissioned by First Stage Milwaukee. This play focuses on a nine-year-old African American girl named Tonia who is struggling to balance the family conflicts presented by her own emerging creativity. The play, inspired by the life and works of multi-media collage artist Della Wells, is warm, humane, deliciously funny and thoroughly life-affirming. It’s just a terrific play, written by a master of the field. After viewing this one, a playwright colleague observed, “Leave it to Y to remind us of how to write a play!” The play will premiere in Milwaukee season-after-next, and I hope to put it on NCT’s stage soon thereafter! The reading was greatly served by Mark Lutwak’s restrained, assured direction, and by a terrific ensemble cast!

Scot Copeland
NCT Producing Director