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Lichtig, Robin Rice (American playwright, 19__-____), “Grannie Bird,” a 35-minute comedy-drama in English, set in Williamstown, Massachusetts, May, 1986,

1m2f;

  ©  2001 by Robin Rice Lichtig;  •  in Robin Rice Lichtig’s Grannie Bird (New York: Author, 2001),  •  script/rights available from Robin Rice Lichtig,  780 West End Ave., #6F, New York, New York 10025, U.S.A., e-mail dramamama@nyc.rr.com, www.dramamama.net, telephone (home) 212-864-0201, fax 212-864-0201.  •  Cited by Robin Rice Lichtig via ftp March 22, 2002; Lichtig says,

  §  Dramatis Personae Charlie (m), 12, twin to Zoe, annoyingly pragmatic; Grannie (f), elderly, grandmother of Charlie and Zoe; Zoe (f), 12, twin to Charlie, close to Grannie.

  §  Synopsis “Grannie keeps wandering off. Her daughter has decided to put her in nursing home, but Grannie and Zoe have a different plan. Zoe hides Grannie in her treehouse where Grannie happily feels closer to the spirit of her dead husband as she watches the sunset each day. Charlie, Zoe’s annoyingly pragmatic twin, discovers Grannie in the tree. Grannie and Zoe blood-swear him to secrecy. But Grannie develops odd symptoms. The children are afraid she is very sick. Zoe decides to tell her parents where Grannie is—but too late.

  §  Comment “The ending is more spiritual and uplifting than sad. Grannie literally rises above physical limitations.  •  Actors in their teens and early 20s can play the children.  •  Various scenes, all exteriors, easily represented in a fluid space. Tree house may be created with more imagination and less set. Effects enhanced with creative lighting, especially for Grannie’s final flight.”

  §  Themes ascent, death, family, fantasy, grandmother-grandchildren relationship, illness, nursing home, love, old age, secrecy, sunset, treehouse, youth.
 

See also Robin Rice Lichtig’s

 

“David's Disappearance,” a 15-minute comedy-drama in English, set on a screen porch, Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A., October, 2001, 2m

“Embracing the Undertoad," a 35-minute comedy-drama in English, set in a small apartment in North Carolina, evening, 2002, 3f

"Evening Primrose in Ohio," a 30-minute comedy-drama in English, set in a laudromat, late afternoon, 1991, 1m1f

“The Fortification of Miss Grace Wren," a 42-minute drama in English, set in a small park in New York City, late September, 2001, 1m1f

“Lola and the Planet of Glorious Diversity,” a 10-minute comedy, 2m4f+1m or 1f, available elsewhere

“Longing for Tangier," a 45-minute comedy in English, set ___, 2m2f+3m or 3f, minimum cast of 5 with doubling, available elsewhere

“Patience and Mr. Potter," a 12-minute comedy in English, set in an overgrown lot, New York City, February, summer, 1910, 2m

“Queen for a Day," a 45-minute comedy-drama in English, set in a kitchen, February, 1953, 2m1f

“Roses to Plan," a 12-minute comedy in English, set in a kitchen in Brooklyn, NY, morning, 2000, 1m1f

“Saint Anthony and the Appendix," a 35-minute comedy in English, 3m2f, available elsewhere

“Sitting Duck Season," a 17-minute drama in English, set in a cabin in a Vermont forest, autumn, 2001, 1m1f

“Squeezing Papayas," a 5-minute comedy in English, set on a terrace on hill outside of Mexico City, early summer morning, 2002, 1m1f

“White Light,” a surreal drama in English, 2m3f+2m or 2f, available elsewhere

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Page mounted May 3, 2002, and updated May 4, 2002, by the Webmaster.