A Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas

by Ryan M. Bultrowicz

FULL-LENGTH: Archie, Celeste, and Zephyr find themselves traveling along an endless and cyclical path. As they walk, the three grapple with the forgotten purpose of their journey and the vague but persistent traumas of their pasts. Archie, anguishing over the loss of his parents to a mysterious cult known only as “The Brotherhood of the Silent Void”, wants nothing more than to be embraced once more by the...

FULL-LENGTH: Archie, Celeste, and Zephyr find themselves traveling along an endless and cyclical path. As they walk, the three grapple with the forgotten purpose of their journey and the vague but persistent traumas of their pasts. Archie, anguishing over the loss of his parents to a mysterious cult known only as “The Brotherhood of the Silent Void”, wants nothing more than to be embraced once more by the familiar presence of his parent's silence. Celeste, whose father was bizarrely transformed into a pile of bagels, uses this gluten metamorphosis as a means to avoid confronting the even more terrifying truth about her mother's fate. Zephyr, whose entire family has self-immolated, embraces this heritage of fire and finds unapologetic comfort in her strange and predetermined path. “A Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas” is a darkly comedic odyssey through memory, trauma, religion, and the ongoing search for meaning in a world that continues to elude understanding.

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A Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas

Recommended by

  • Dan West: A Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas

    A mysterious stranger leads two others on an endless, circular journey through a liminal space. One their trip they will discuss such subjects as life, death, silence, noise, parents, umbrellas, mythology, loss, and the murder of the child Beethoven. An odd, intriguing, and most of all compelling absurdist play that will leave you thinking about where life is taking you (and how many bagels you will be left with in the end.)

    A mysterious stranger leads two others on an endless, circular journey through a liminal space. One their trip they will discuss such subjects as life, death, silence, noise, parents, umbrellas, mythology, loss, and the murder of the child Beethoven. An odd, intriguing, and most of all compelling absurdist play that will leave you thinking about where life is taking you (and how many bagels you will be left with in the end.)

  • Jonny Bolduc: A Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas

    I'm so glad I read this. I will be going in for a deeper read, but, this is hilarious, heartbreaking, surreal, liminal. Holy shit. It's like all the things I love in a play. If I were in a position to put this on, I would absolutely put this on. It's like a wild answer to Godot. Amazing work.

    I'm so glad I read this. I will be going in for a deeper read, but, this is hilarious, heartbreaking, surreal, liminal. Holy shit. It's like all the things I love in a play. If I were in a position to put this on, I would absolutely put this on. It's like a wild answer to Godot. Amazing work.

  • Emma Goldman-Sherman: A Whirligig of Broken Umbrellas

    He had me at the prop list. Actually, he had me at the epigraph. A wildly theatrical play about trauma - how could I not love this? Brokenness as character! Reduced to bagels - I am laughing and crying. And yes, these characters are permeable without boundaries as if they weren't given the chance to form complete selves, and they take on the mere suggestions of states of being in different moments. It would be fascinating to see onstage!

    He had me at the prop list. Actually, he had me at the epigraph. A wildly theatrical play about trauma - how could I not love this? Brokenness as character! Reduced to bagels - I am laughing and crying. And yes, these characters are permeable without boundaries as if they weren't given the chance to form complete selves, and they take on the mere suggestions of states of being in different moments. It would be fascinating to see onstage!

Character Information

  • CELESTE
    Character Age
    Early 20's to early 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Any Gender Except Cis Male
  • ZEPHYR
    Character Age
    Any
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Any
  • Archie
    Character Age
    Early 20's to early 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    a man,
    Non-binary

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Kent Trumbull Theatre, Ohio, Year 2023