LISTEN! THE RIVER (full length)

A Maine Coon Cat tells a tale of love, loss and new beginnings. Torn from his Dear One in Vermont, he adjusts with great difficulty to being relocated in New York City. As Dear One's health goes downhill, her sister in NYC finds her life unwravelling. An angry cat doesn't help. Neither does a clueless doorman. Love and acceptance are found in unexpected places. Note: this is not a children's play.
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LISTEN! THE RIVER (full length)

Recommended by

  • Jarred Corona:
    3 May. 2023
    There is something magic, heartbreaking, and poetic about misery and loss. It upends our lives. Things end. But when things end, other things are born. Maybe those new things are good, and perhaps they aren't. But either way, we have to keep going. We have to feel and mourn and try again. And hurt. We have to accept the hurt. A beautifully written play starring a very smart and handsome cat.
  • Playwrights Foundation:
    6 Apr. 2020
    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play, LISTEN! THE RIVER, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.
  • Kirsten Hopkins:
    27 Jan. 2020
    Funny, original, sweet, and sad. A beautiful play and just a treat for actors (not to mention the audience).

Character Information

  • Turbo.
    Actor's age: teen-20s.,
    Any
    ,
    Presents Male
    Young, male cat. Handsome. Agile. Full of attitude.
  • Darlene Dugan
    33.,
    White
    ,
    Female
    33. Caucasian. Cynthia's sister. From Vermont but spent adult life in New York City. Guarded. Isolates herself so she won't cause harm to others. Discovers love (Angela). Glass half empty.
  • Larry Lopez
    35-40.,
    Hispanic heritage.
    ,
    Male
    35-40. Hispanic heritage but born and raised in The Bronx, NY. New York doorman. Emotional. Clueless. Hunky. A dreamer. A man in love.
  • Angela Martinez
    30-35.,
    Puerto Rican heritage.
    ,
    Female
    30-35. Puerto Rican heritage. Larry's girlfriend, but love blooms with Darlene. Veterinary assistant in NYC. Does for others, putting her own dreams on hold. Extremely buxom. A natural caretaker. Glass half full.
  • Cynthia Dugan
    30.,
    White
    ,
    Female
    30. Caucasian. Vermonter. Turbo's "dear one." Slender, graceful, loving, brave, delicate, playful. An old soul. Very sick. Cynthia morphs into: a southern belle orchid, a sexy French pet fountain, a hermit thrush. Her spirit is in these three. The roles may not be played by anyone but the Cynthia actor.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    DreamCatcher Entertainment, NYC
    ,
    2013
  • Reading
    ,
    Community Theatre of Pittsfield (MA)
    ,
    2013

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Articulate Theatre Company (NYC)
    ,
    2017

Awards

Selection
,
Outstanding Acting and Sound Design (4 nominations)
,
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
,
2017