Standing in the River While the World Falls Down

by Jen Browne

Willow Blind conjures the dead women and mothers of her family tree to help her find her daughter Sweetheart. Believing Sweetheart’s husband Astro had something to do with her disappearance, the women seek to exact magical revenge on him. Flowing in and out of time the threads of Astro and Sweetheart’s relationship are slowly pulled apart and intertwined with Willow’s search. Along the way Willow re-discovers...

Willow Blind conjures the dead women and mothers of her family tree to help her find her daughter Sweetheart. Believing Sweetheart’s husband Astro had something to do with her disappearance, the women seek to exact magical revenge on him. Flowing in and out of time the threads of Astro and Sweetheart’s relationship are slowly pulled apart and intertwined with Willow’s search. Along the way Willow re-discovers the strength hidden in her family tree and herself but will justice be served or not?

This play is ready for a reading, a workshop, or other development opportunity.

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Standing in the River While the World Falls Down

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Standing in the River While the World Falls Down by Jen Browne
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced STANDING IN THE RIVER WHILE THE WORLD FALLS DOWN as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were engaged by the play's promise as a story of community loss told in a highly imaginative way with a chorus of ancestors in recliners. We highly enjoyed the stylistic storytelling choices, which flowed like a river, as Sweetheart's maternal ancestors tried to protect her. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s...

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced STANDING IN THE RIVER WHILE THE WORLD FALLS DOWN as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were engaged by the play's promise as a story of community loss told in a highly imaginative way with a chorus of ancestors in recliners. We highly enjoyed the stylistic storytelling choices, which flowed like a river, as Sweetheart's maternal ancestors tried to protect her. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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    ”

Character Information

***There are 5 primary characters plus a chorus of women. This chorus should be as big or as small as budget permits. In a community setting it would be beautiful to invite various community members to participate as chorus members. A large spectrum of ages is encouraged.

In the instance that a smaller chorus is used set and sound design could be utilized to create the illusion of a larger body of women.
  • Chair Women
    A chorus of women in armchairs. Should be as many as space/budget can manage. They are Willow
    Blind's female ancestors. They can be played by a variety of different kinds of people.
    a mix of ages
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Sweetheart
    Willow Blind's only child. Sweetheart lives up to her name. She has learned to sit on her emotions and bite her tongue.
    early 20s
    Any
    Cis Woman (She/Her)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Astro
    Astro is a small man in many ways but remains charming. He presents well in public but has a cold spirit.
    early 20s
    Any
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Willow Blind
    Sweetheart's mother. Discovering her strength through grief.
    early 40s
    Any
    Cis Woman
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Sleeping Woman
    Willows mother. She has a tendency to fall asleep. She has no problem putting her daughter in her place.
    mid 60s
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Fidelity Worth
    Sleeping Woman's mother. She helped raise three generations of women. She comes from a long line of mothers.
    mid 70s
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female