Cheryl Bear:
7 Mar. 2021
“
A heartfelt play about friendship, growing up and not allowing the world to separate us from each other. A gripping adventure! ”
Recommendations
Recommendations
- G. Victoria Campbell:24 Feb. 2021“ I'm a brand new playwright struggling through my own script about climate change and read Rain and Zoe to see how it's done! It's so hard to portray a political / social message without coming off as preachy, and Crystal did so stunningly. I felt for the characters--their wants, their goals, and couldn't put the script down. Funny, witty, gripping, impactful. ”
- Audrey Lang:15 Feb. 2021“ "Rain and Zoe Save the World" is an inspiring play that is hopeful amidst hopeless circumstances. As focused as it may be on the two title characters and their stories, both together and apart, its world is expansive and exciting. As a piece about global warming and the politicization of science, I appreciate how well those themes are woven into the emotional arc - as a reader, I emerge with an awareness of the gravity of the situation and an impetus to make change, but not at the cost of a deeply moving story. ”
- Playwrights Foundation:6 Apr. 2020“ Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play, RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD, 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. ”
- Cameron Houg:26 Jan. 2019“ A quirky, and inventive odyssey of a play. As Rain and Zoe travel across the country meeting an eclectic group of people and battling their inner demons, we really get a sense of who they are and why these kids would make their journey.
Fun and interesting staging keeps the play moving, a great example of how to visually do a roadtrip story on stage. ” - Stephen Kaplan:3 Dec. 2018“ A play that feels most huge and also incredibly intimate. There's also a beautiful blend of magic and simplicity that is riveting and hugely affecting. It fully embraces what theatre does best and touches the heart and the mind and the soul...a beautiful and exciting piece. ”
- ELIZA BECKWITH:1 Aug. 2018“ A theatrical leap-of-the imagination, grounded in the mix of pain, uncertainty, humor and hope that is late adolescence. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking and heartwarming play about facing the past as we dive into an uncertain and frightening future, and what risks we're willing to take along the way. Playwright Skillman takes us on a magic motorcycle ride to the brink of an impulsive act of eco-terrorism, and I wanted to both cheer for Rain and Zoe, and yell, "Stop!!" to protect these wonderful characters who I'd fallen in love with. I want to see this play! ”
- Caridad Svich:13 Jul. 2018“ A wild, thrilling ride through millennial age activism, coming of age, and finding a way through the consequences of human-made climate change issues. Smart, funny, tender and moving. This play is written with a direct human connection with audiences in mind. It has heart and passion and love, and daring, too. ”
- Gina Femia:12 Jun. 2018“ Holy moly, what a ride! A play about trying to stick together when the world is pulling you apart, Crystal somehow expertly combines a cross country coming of age road trip with a conversation about global warming. Theatrical, heartfelt and funny, I cannot recommend this play enough! ”
- Rachael Carnes:5 Jun. 2018“ I had the good fortune to see a staged reading of Skillman's remarkable play at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Bringing together humor, grace and a strong, driving pulse — As powerful as that urge you get when you're young and you head off headlong on your first devil-may-care road trip — this story intertwines different perspectives on activism, letting (teenage) Zoe's intention shine through. It's a story about hope, deftly cached in a world that feels, like this one, confusing and raw sometimes. Zoe and Rain really DO save the world. A lovely tribute to community and friendship. ”