She's Blown Away by Vince Gatton

[SHORT] An eager high school boy enlists his friends' help in coming up with the perfect "big gesture" to win the heart of the girl he loves. The help he gets, though, isn't the help he wants -- and for reasons he can't seem to understand. A play about romance, boundaries, control, and consequences.

*****This is one of a set of related plays, varying in length, genre,...
[SHORT] An eager high school boy enlists his friends' help in coming up with the perfect "big gesture" to win the heart of the girl he loves. The help he gets, though, isn't the help he wants -- and for reasons he can't seem to understand. A play about romance, boundaries, control, and consequences.

*****This is one of a set of related plays, varying in length, genre, style, and setting but all connected in some way to a central, singular event. These plays each stand alone, so there’s no need to have read one to understand the others; but if you’re so inclined, the short pieces can be read together in the anthology The Thing That Happened, along with the companion full-length You Have Earned Bonus Stars.

• JAM [One Act]
• Status Update [Short]
• Cassie Strickland Is Not Under the Bed [Short]
• Things Are Looking Up [Short]
• She’s Blown Away [Short]
• Janmadin [One Act]

• You Have Earned Bonus Stars [Full Length]
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She's Blown Away

Recommended by

  • John Mabey:
    1 Feb. 2023
    “ I always know with a play by Vince Gatton that I'll meet great characters and discover so much emotional truth, surprising me in the best ways. In SHE'S BLOWN AWAY, I was immediately engaged by the realistic dialogue and distinctive personalities of these teen characters. And in just 10 minutes there were layers of additional meaning about gender and boundaries that completely immersed me in this world. This is a work with powerful subtle moments that performers and directors will love to interpret and explore. ”
  • David Beardsley:
    21 Mar. 2022
    “ I love plays that seem to be going one direction but deftly take an unexpected turn and end up somewhere unexpected and unsettling. It can be a risky strategy and, in the wrong hands, comes off as contrived. Done well, though, the shift increases the emotional wallop. Gatton’s play is a great example of this approach being done well. It seems like a straightforward play about teenage crushes but becomes something very different and dark. She’s Blown Away is ultimately about male entitlement, and it approaches this theme with a impressive subtlety and nuance. ”
  • Donna Hoke:
    20 Mar. 2022
    “ So great, so relatable, and so true. Vince backs us into the privilege males think they have when it comes to demonstrating their feelings and it packs a wallop. Great job! ”
View all 13 recommendations

Character Information

IZZY, teen boy, any ethnicity, deep in the throes of love
RUPE, teen boy, any ethnicity, his eager sidekick
MIKA, Asian-American teen girl, their cool-headed friend

  • Izzy
    Teen,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Eager, confident, and fun (despite maybe being a bit of a nerd), and trying to come up with the perfect move to impress his crush.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Rupe
    Teen,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Helpful, thoughtful, doesn’t have all the answers but is intuitively kind.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Mika
    Teen,
    East Asian descent
    ,
    Female
    Whip-smart, witty, and playful, she finds herself increasingly frustrated with the boys’ inability to listen to her advice about boundaries. Mika’s insights come from a place of tragic experience, a secret she has kept to herself.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Female