With Two Wings
With Two Wings is a coming-of-age story (5+) that puts a unique twist on the Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus. It is a bittersweet, yet hopeful, tale that tackles the issue of parental disability with gentleness and grace. With Two Wings is most often performed by adults for young people and their families. This is an original play published by Dramatic Publishing and was the recipient of the American Alliance for Theatre & Education Distinguished Play Award in 2014.
In a fantasy world where people have wings, a young boy named Lyf lives an isolated existence with his parents in the safe nest of their home deep in the woods. Although loving, Lyf's parents have strict rules he must follow about avoiding strangers, covering his wings with a cloak and always observing rule number one: never, ever try to fly. One day a precocious, inquisitive girl from the outside world, Meta, bursts into the backyard, and she and Lyf become fast friends. Meta tells him about the ocean and the world "out there" beyond the nest. Lyf also learns that "fledglings" in the outside world all learn to fly. In fear of becoming a forever flightless "dodo," Lyf begs Meta to teach him some flying moves. Suddenly, Meta's nosy wannabe-reporter twin brother, Taur, crashes in, challenging Lyf to answer questions about his life and his mysterious parents. When Lyf discovers a secret invention in his father's workshop, he must confront both of his parents about the truth they've hidden from him all these years. Will Lyf be grounded forever, or will the truth he discovers empower him to take flight?
Characters: Lyf, Mom, Dad, Meta, Taur
Actors: 5 Actors (3M, 2F)
Development:
Workshop, Purple Crayon Players, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL - 2011
Workshop, Waldo M. and Grace C. Bonderman National Youth Theatre Playwriting Symposium, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis, IN - 2011
Productions:
Company Ma - Tokyo, Japan, 2017
Drury University, Springfield, MO - 2017
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL - 2015
Company Ma, Tokyo, Japan - 2014
Hangar Theatre, Ithaca, NY - 2013
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL - 2013
The Growing Stage, Netcong, NJ - 2013
Childsplay, Tempe, AZ - 2012
Phoenix Fringe Festival, Tempe, AZ - 2010