They have become the forest

[90 minutes, funny, bittersweet tragedy, 2F] Welcome to Sy and Daphne’s campfire. You’re here tonight, among the ancient trees in the sacred forest of Arcadia, to hear a story. It’s a love story. It’s also a horror story. And it might just be your story.

‘They have become the forest’ is a queer myth retold as a contemporary campfire tale about courage, autonomy, and what it takes to stay alive when you walk...

[90 minutes, funny, bittersweet tragedy, 2F] Welcome to Sy and Daphne’s campfire. You’re here tonight, among the ancient trees in the sacred forest of Arcadia, to hear a story. It’s a love story. It’s also a horror story. And it might just be your story.

‘They have become the forest’ is a queer myth retold as a contemporary campfire tale about courage, autonomy, and what it takes to stay alive when you walk among Gods.

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They have become the forest

Recommended by

  • Vince Gatton: They have become the forest

    Aly Kantor exercises her gift for reinterpreting Classical mythology, combining two perhaps lesser-known tales into a love story that's queer, funny, sad, terrifying, enraging, and heart-swelling. Myths endure across time because humans are who we are, ever and always: straining against societal restrictions, stumbling as we figure ourselves out and learn to get what we want...and finding out the hard way that men, alas, can be toxic and deadly. But resistance and love endure. Magic.

    Aly Kantor exercises her gift for reinterpreting Classical mythology, combining two perhaps lesser-known tales into a love story that's queer, funny, sad, terrifying, enraging, and heart-swelling. Myths endure across time because humans are who we are, ever and always: straining against societal restrictions, stumbling as we figure ourselves out and learn to get what we want...and finding out the hard way that men, alas, can be toxic and deadly. But resistance and love endure. Magic.

  • David Hilder: They have become the forest

    Chef's kiss to this beautiful ode to Greek mythology, male brutality, the quest to live as one wishes. A thoroughly involving tale woven from strands both ancient and newfangled. Huzzah, Aly Kantor, you've done it again.

    Chef's kiss to this beautiful ode to Greek mythology, male brutality, the quest to live as one wishes. A thoroughly involving tale woven from strands both ancient and newfangled. Huzzah, Aly Kantor, you've done it again.

  • Nora Louise Syran: They have become the forest

    A new myth grafted onto two ancient ones, reimagined with action, music, self defense tutorials against horny nature spirits and a goat guy...thing.

    Like Athena springing fully formed from Zeus' head, these two Naiads -- who spend far too much time worrying what Artemis thinks-- spring fully formed from the mind of Aly Kantor: nerdy, sensitive, passionate, smart and (a fav word of AK) messy. Perfectly Kantoresque.

    Love the tree imagery; it adds a literal denouement. Brava!

    A new myth grafted onto two ancient ones, reimagined with action, music, self defense tutorials against horny nature spirits and a goat guy...thing.

    Like Athena springing fully formed from Zeus' head, these two Naiads -- who spend far too much time worrying what Artemis thinks-- spring fully formed from the mind of Aly Kantor: nerdy, sensitive, passionate, smart and (a fav word of AK) messy. Perfectly Kantoresque.

    Love the tree imagery; it adds a literal denouement. Brava!

Character Information

  • SY
    Nerdy, principled, musical, passionate, anxious, cerebral
    This actor should play an instrument.
    Character Gender Identity
    Femme
  • DAPHNE
    Cocky, pragmatic, funny, brash, determined, physical
    DAPHNE also portrays PAN (who is a huge tool)
    Character Gender Identity
    Female,
    GNC,
    Masc

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization IATI, Year 2026
  • Type Workshop, Organization The Roving Peregrine Theatre Company, Year 2025
  • Type Workshop, Organization Greenwood Lake Theatre, Year 2025
  • Type Workshop, Organization Brave Space, Year 2024

Awards

  • Cimientos
    IATI Theatre
    Selection
    2026
  • MOXIE Lamoise New Works Festival
    Moxie Theatre
    Finalist
    2026
  • Summer Playwrights Festival
    The Road Theatre
    Finalist
    2025
  • Epiphanies
    Wild Imaginings
    Semi-Finalist
    2025