by Ruby Lee Lowenstein
Salt Off A Bird's Tail
Character Information
These characters are written to be played by Jews of any and many racial and cultural backgrounds. The more Jewish experiences that can be poured into a production of this play, the better. Jews of color should be prioritized in casting.
These characters can also be played by actors who are not Jewish, but in this case, they should WITHOUT EXCEPTION be played by actors of color and/or actors who are immigrants and/or actors of Palestinian descent.
YOUNG DAYA and TORAH CHILD 4 should be played by the same actor.
These characters can also be played by actors who are not Jewish, but in this case, they should WITHOUT EXCEPTION be played by actors of color and/or actors who are immigrants and/or actors of Palestinian descent.
YOUNG DAYA and TORAH CHILD 4 should be played by the same actor.
- DAYAEnglish is not her first language. She should speak with a thick accent: Yiddish mixed with another language of the actor's choice. Her voice is blunt and powerful. Actors who have lived their lives in more than one language and/or country and/or culture should be prioritized for this role.Character AgeA grandmotherCharacter Race/Ethnic IdentityJewishCharacter Gender IdentityCis or trans woman
- RACHELEnglish is her first language. This being said, she has clearly picked up certain hand gestures, pronunciations, intonations, and songs from her mother. Her body is much more perceptive than her mind.Character AgeA motherCharacter Race/Ethnic IdentityJewishCharacter Gender IdentityCis or trans woman
- DAISYEnglish is her first language, but she prefers other means of communication. She has the ability to exist in many worlds at once.Character AgeA daughterCharacter Race/Ethnic IdentityJewishCharacter Gender IdentityCis or trans girl
- TORAH CHILDRENThey are full of the devilish energies of childhood and war. Their minds are constantly racing. They don’t stop to think.
Character AgeAncient childrenCharacter Gender IdentityGenderless - YOUNG DAYADoes not speak English. She is serious, but with a softness not longer present in her older self.Character AgeBetween DAISY and RACHEL's agesCharacter Race/Ethnic IdentityJewishCharacter Gender IdentityCis or trans woman
Development History
- Type Reading, Organization Bennington College, Year 2020
- Type Reading, Organization New Yiddish Rep Theater, Year 2019
- Type Workshop, Organization Bennington College, Year 2017
Production History
- Type University, Organization Bennington College, Year 2021