SUKI LIVINGSTON OPENS LIKE A PARACHUTE (full length)

Today's struggles aren't that different from the 1950s and '60s for a young girl pursuing her dream to be a visual artist. With the aid of her mentor, Wonder Woman, Suki jumps time, escaping the smothering '50s and her conservative New England town, landing at a college where her dreams can be fulfilled. Except, civil rights activism and a majorly sexy guy distract her. No, I won't have...
Today's struggles aren't that different from the 1950s and '60s for a young girl pursuing her dream to be a visual artist. With the aid of her mentor, Wonder Woman, Suki jumps time, escaping the smothering '50s and her conservative New England town, landing at a college where her dreams can be fulfilled. Except, civil rights activism and a majorly sexy guy distract her. No, I won't have sex. No, I will focus. Good luck. Despite Wonder Woman's warnings, Suki finds herself quitting college and getting married. After an aborted stint in the Peace Corps, she finds herself in a rural town in a rundown house with a baby, no money and a jealous husband who loves her but values his antique car above all else. Suki sneaks. She lies. She goes from emotional and open to closed and super organized in order to stay on top of things as her husband's mental stability spins out of control. She does everything she can to keep painting. Eventually, he cracks and attacks her physically. She leaves in order to save herself and her baby daughter even though she knows this will in all probability cause him to kill himself. She returns to her hometown to rest, absorb what was good that she turned aside before, and to begin again. The townspeople have been invading her thoughts all along, but also watching out for her. (Based on true stories.) (Note: To avoid confusion - early recommendations below were written for early drafts of the play.)
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SUKI LIVINGSTON OPENS LIKE A PARACHUTE (full length)

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    3 May. 2019
    Wonderful work. Exceptionally well written and researched. Extremely clever in its construction, we are absorbed entirely in the world of Suki and the struggle it was to live with a schizophrenic. Fascinating and completely immersing!
  • Donna Gordon:
    20 Jan. 2018
    Love the condensing of history into a full well-chosen phrases. In fact, this play is eminently clever and well-written. The texture is complex but the writing flows well through it. Using the older woman as a kind of conscience for the young woman is very effective. Such knowledge of schizophrenia is hard to come by, and, as it turns out, living with a schizophrenic seems impossible. The theme is presented through a unique use of flashbacks. Would love to see this produced.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Lafayette Salon Series
    ,
    2017
  • Workshop
    ,
    Rising Solo, NYC
    ,
    2011