THE
STORY: Bo Groden looks
back on the summer when she was
eleven years old and everything
changed. Serving as narrator, she
sifts through the memories of an
unusual childhood spent in the
wilds of northern New Mexico where
her enterprising parents forged
a rich life off the land and the
local dump. Desperate to escape
as a child, longing for modern
amenities and normalcy, now she
yearns to go back.
This is the
summer when Charley, her father,
spiraled into depression. Usually
able to build and fix anything,
he is unable to fix himself, but
the family carries on, thanks in
large part to the earthy strength
of Arlene, Bo's resourceful mother.
George, Charley's lifelong friend,
offers watercolors and silence.
Lonely
for her father's companionship, Bo
amuses herself by writing letters
for free samples and praying for
a miracle to deliver her from a mother
who gardens in the nude and a father
who cannot stop weeping. The miracle
arrives in the form of William Gibbs,
a displaced IRS agent who arrives
in a fever and never leaves.
As the
artist within William emerges, each
member of the family is touched and
affected. By the time a boat arrives
at the end of the play, the family's
sails have been filled.
This offbeat
evocative comedy has a compelling
and lyrical quality. Through unswerving
love and compassion, the characters
stumble into glimpses of self-discovery
and unexpected moments of grace.
Characters:
ADULT BO: The
narrator of the story about her eleventh
year – age
late 20 ’s.
BO: The eleven year old girl. Age
11.
GEORGE: Charley’s lifelong
friend - a Korean War veteran - age
40’s.
CHARLEY: Bo’s father,
Arlene’s husband – a
Korean War veteran - age 40’s.
ARLENE: Bo’s mother,
Charley’s wife – age
40’s.
WILLIAM GIBBS: The young IRS
agent who comes to audit and ends
up staying and changing
everyone’s life forever – age 28.
PRODUCTION TEAM NEEDED: If
you interested in being a part of
the production team, please attend
one of the audition times. Contact
Jim Bull at jimbull@gorge.net.
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