Isle Royale

by Jeffrey James Keyes

Twin brothers Nick and Alex, joined by high school friends Ken and Josh set out on a backpacking trip on Isle Royale, a tiny and remote island just off the Eastern coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s the summer after their senior year of high school and the last opportunity the boys will have together before going to college and work. Once they arrive on the island, the boys connect and kick off what...

Twin brothers Nick and Alex, joined by high school friends Ken and Josh set out on a backpacking trip on Isle Royale, a tiny and remote island just off the Eastern coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s the summer after their senior year of high school and the last opportunity the boys will have together before going to college and work. Once they arrive on the island, the boys connect and kick off what could potentially be their best expedition to the island. From the moment they set foot on Isle Royale, the mysterious apparition of a young Ojibwe Indian girl stalks and follows them through forests and past ancient copper mines. In a violent and explosive evening, the truth about two of the boys comes out and the brothers which leads to arguments, fistfights, and broken hearts. In the middle of the island the twins break out into a fight where both lose their footing and collapse through an abandoned mine shaft. Only one makes it out alive. In Isle Royale, the wilderness has no rules.

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Isle Royale

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: Isle Royale

    A powerful coming of age tale of brothers where truths are revealed and they will never be the same again. Well done!

    A powerful coming of age tale of brothers where truths are revealed and they will never be the same again. Well done!

  • Max Mondi: Isle Royale

    ISLE ROYALE is a personal and haunting play about brothers coming to terms with who they are as they leave high school. The whole time I was reading it all I could think about was the incredible opportunities Keyes is creating for a director and design team when staging this play. There are so many fascianting ways to create the world of this show. Also, the ending is amazing!

    ISLE ROYALE is a personal and haunting play about brothers coming to terms with who they are as they leave high school. The whole time I was reading it all I could think about was the incredible opportunities Keyes is creating for a director and design team when staging this play. There are so many fascianting ways to create the world of this show. Also, the ending is amazing!

  • Callan Stout: Isle Royale

    Keyes elegantly weaves a ghost story through a coming out story, masquerading as a coming of age tale. The ease and casualness of the dialogue lures the audience unsuspectingly to the harrowing ending. Would be so exciting to sit in a dark room with strangers while this play unfolds.

    Keyes elegantly weaves a ghost story through a coming out story, masquerading as a coming of age tale. The ease and casualness of the dialogue lures the audience unsuspectingly to the harrowing ending. Would be so exciting to sit in a dark room with strangers while this play unfolds.

View all 7 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Reading, Year 2014
  • Type Reading, Organization Boomerang Theatre Company ,