The lives of very different farming families intertwine after a deadly pesticide accident. As two wives find themselves caught between holding on to what was lost and moving forward, Drift finds dark poetry in how we relate to the land around us and how we grow food in contemporary America.
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Drift
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Cheryl Bear:
19 Nov. 2021
“
A moving glimpse into the lives of the Americans who farm our land and are struggling with grief as well as the next steps forward. Powerful and definitely will leave it's mark. ”
Debbie Lamedman:
24 Mar. 2021
“
This play is beautiful, poetic, and heartbreaking. Gabridge takes us by the hand and leads us into the depths of this family’s grief. The story unfolds in a succinct and theatrical way, allowing all our senses to fully come alive. We experience each distinct season on the farm and get caught up in the tragedy of this broken, grieving family and the dilemma of how to grow sustainable produce. Fantastic roles for four strong actors! ”
Nick Malakhow:
27 Apr. 2020
“
A gorgeous and haunting theatrical poem of a play that explores grief, guilt, moving on, and intersectional identity with well-chosen words and scenes. I very much appreciated the collage-like irregular structure that mirrored and uneven and inelegant rhythms of grief. All of these characters are so beautifully realized, both in relation to one another and individually, and their potently written soliloquies punctuate the whole piece beautifully. There are some exquisite stage pictures described that just felt so uniquely theatrical--everything agricultural, Jamal's computer editing, tactile interactions with flora and dirt--and I would so love to see them live. ”
CALLIE BENZA. 25. Multi-racial in background–a woman of color, but perhaps not easily pigeon-holed into a standard American racial category.
NORA DAVIDSON. 58. White.
Molly Benza
55,
Any
,
Female
A relatively new but enthusiastic and committed organic farmer (very small scale farm). Mother to
Jamal and Callie. Was married to Jane, who is now dead, from Clomazone poisoning. She often wears a harvest knife on her belt and always dresses in her farm clothes.
Can be played by:
Age:
40s, 50s
Race/Ethnicity:
White
Gender:
Female
Jamal Benza
23,
African American / Black
,
Male
Molly and Jane's adoptive son. Black. A
cameraman/videographer. Not interested in farming.
Can be played by:
Age:
20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
Gender:
Female
Callie Benza
25,
BIPOC
,
Female
Molly and Jane's adoptive daughter. Very multi-racial in background--a woman of color, but perhaps not
easily pigeon-holed into a standard American racial category. A graduate student, avid gardener, and possible future farmer.
Can be played by:
Age:
20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any actor of color
Gender:
Female
Nora Davidson
58,
White
,
Cisgender Female
Long-time resident of this town. Was married to part-time farmer John for 36 years, before he died in a pesticide exposure accident. Works in town--she's not a farmer.