Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life

by Audrey Lang

[JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT FINALIST 2023] “On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.” When Birdie’s mother dies and her older sister Annika relocates her from New York to London, the sacred Jewish words she’s heard year after year during the High Holidays start to ring truer than ever before. She enlists her new friend Caitriona to help her on a quest to find the Book of Life, as Annika and...

[JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT FINALIST 2023] “On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.” When Birdie’s mother dies and her older sister Annika relocates her from New York to London, the sacred Jewish words she’s heard year after year during the High Holidays start to ring truer than ever before. She enlists her new friend Caitriona to help her on a quest to find the Book of Life, as Annika and Cait’s sister Siobhan struggle to parent their teenage siblings. But can Birdie really pull off the miracle she’s hoping for before the gates close on Yom Kippur?

New draft as of 06.01.2021

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Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life

Recommended by

  • Ian Thal: Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life by Audrey Lang
    “

    "Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life" has a wonderful sense of place both geographically and spiritually whether in a New York apartment, a Jewish cemetery in London, or the timeless, mystical Library of the Jewish Soul. Lang draws upon the poetry both of the Jewish liturgy and of of the 19th British-Jewish poet Amy Levy to to illuminate the and repair the broken world of her characters.

    "Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life" has a wonderful sense of place both geographically and spiritually whether in a New York apartment, a Jewish cemetery in London, or the timeless, mystical Library of the Jewish Soul. Lang draws upon the poetry both of the Jewish liturgy and of of the 19th British-Jewish poet Amy Levy to to illuminate the and repair the broken world of her characters.

    ”
  • Playwrights Foundation: Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life by Audrey Lang
    “

    The community of national and local readers for the 44th annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2021 enthusiastically recommends BIRDIE AND CAIT AND THE BOOK OF LIFE as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by the genuine, honest relationships as characters explore their faith, identity, friendship, and new cities while experiencing aching loss and grief. We were compelled by the play's promise as a well-structured, poetic story of emotional growth between sisters and new relationships. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves...

    The community of national and local readers for the 44th annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2021 enthusiastically recommends BIRDIE AND CAIT AND THE BOOK OF LIFE as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by the genuine, honest relationships as characters explore their faith, identity, friendship, and new cities while experiencing aching loss and grief. We were compelled by the play's promise as a well-structured, poetic story of emotional growth between sisters and new relationships. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production. #BAPF2021

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    ”
  • Deborah Yarchun: Birdie and Cait and the Book of Life by Audrey Lang
    “

    This is such a beautiful, life-affirming play that dives into Judaism in a way I deeply relate to. It explores grief, healing, and finding new relationships in the face of tremendous loss. In its specificity it’s totally universal and relevant to all and it’s theatrical in a pure way- where its theatricality ties to the ideas at its core. I highly recommend this play if you’re looking for an uplifting read and a powerful new voice. I hope to see it produced.

    This is such a beautiful, life-affirming play that dives into Judaism in a way I deeply relate to. It explores grief, healing, and finding new relationships in the face of tremendous loss. In its specificity it’s totally universal and relevant to all and it’s theatrical in a pure way- where its theatricality ties to the ideas at its core. I highly recommend this play if you’re looking for an uplifting read and a powerful new voice. I hope to see it produced.

    ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

  • Caitriona Sullivan
    17, she/her/hers, any race, Irish. Her parents kicked her out when they caught her kissing Aislinn. She's trying to believe in some sort of fate and destiny, but the world makes that difficult. Becomes Birdie's best friend.

    The same actor also plays: CANTOR -- any age, any gender, the cantor in the video of Birdie's High Holidays services; and AMY LEVY -- probably late 20s, she/her/hers, a British Jewish poet, most likely a lesbian.
    17
    Any
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Siobhan Sullivan
    25, she/her/hers, any race, Irish. A teacher alongside Annika. Caitriona's sister. She was just learning how to take care of herself when Cait showed up on her doorstep. Desperately wants a friend.

    The same actor also plays: PENNY -- 50s, she/her/hers, Annika and Birdie's mother; and MOIRA -- 50s, she/her/hers, her own (and Caitriona's) mother.
    25
    Any
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Birdie Shapiro
    17, she/her/hers, any race, Jewish. Born in London and raised primarily in New York City. Trying to find her way after her mother's death. Extremely logically-minded, but with a willingness to believe in miracles.

    The same actor also plays: AISLINN -- 17, she/her/hers, Irish. Caitriona's ex-girlfriend, pretty much out and proud and wishes Cait were too, fun until she isn't; and HERSELF AT AGE 9 -- desperate for her big sister's affection.
    17
    Any,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Annika Shapiro
    32, she/her/hers, any race, Jewish. Born and raised primarily in London. A teacher. Birdie's sister and now guardian, trying to figure out how to cope with a teenager she really doesn't know very well. Not very good at talking about her feelings.

    The same actor also plays: RABBI -- any age, any gender, the rabbi in the video of Birdie's High Holidays services; SCHOOL LIBRARIAN -- any age, she/her/hers, the librarian at Birdie and Caitriona's school; LIBRARIAN OF THE JEWISH SOUL -- ageless, she/her/hers, a confusing and slightly magical librarian Birdie meets on her journey; and HERSELF AT AGE 24 -- a graduate student about to become a teacher, trying very hard to be an adult.
    32
    Any,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Residency, Original Idiots, 2021
  • Reading, Original Idiots, 2021
  • Workshop, Ithaca College, dir. Sophia Egner, 2019

Awards

  • 21st Century Voices New Play Festival
    American Stage Theatre Company
    Semi-Finalist
    2021