Mirrors

by Azure D Osborne-Lee

[full-length]
When 17 year-old Alma Jean finds her mother dead, she must pack up her life and move in with her mother's ex-lover, a woman she doesn't know. Her new guardian, Bird Wilson, is the town pariah and unused to sharing her home. Will mourning the death of a shared loved one bring Alma Jean and Bird together or push them further apart?

[full-length]
When 17 year-old Alma Jean finds her mother dead, she must pack up her life and move in with her mother's ex-lover, a woman she doesn't know. Her new guardian, Bird Wilson, is the town pariah and unused to sharing her home. Will mourning the death of a shared loved one bring Alma Jean and Bird together or push them further apart?

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Mirrors

Recommended by

  • Reinette LeJeune: Mirrors

    This play is absolutely beautiful; the language dances between natural and poetic speech, the characters are all perfectly entwined in each other's business like an actual Mississippi parish. Conflicts and desires ricochet off one another, slowly building to the shocking and heartbreaking truth of it all. Bird is human and she's a survivor and watching her build this relationship with the newly arrived Alma Jean is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. I look forward to the day I get to experience this play in person!

    This play is absolutely beautiful; the language dances between natural and poetic speech, the characters are all perfectly entwined in each other's business like an actual Mississippi parish. Conflicts and desires ricochet off one another, slowly building to the shocking and heartbreaking truth of it all. Bird is human and she's a survivor and watching her build this relationship with the newly arrived Alma Jean is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. I look forward to the day I get to experience this play in person!

  • Nick Malakhow: Mirrors

    A well structured, nuanced, and human play with amazing roles for Black women. The language both has the everyday irregularities of natural speech as well as a beautiful lyricism. Revelations are doled out at a good pace with wise use of flashback and private conversation. I hope to see this onstage soon!

    A well structured, nuanced, and human play with amazing roles for Black women. The language both has the everyday irregularities of natural speech as well as a beautiful lyricism. Revelations are doled out at a good pace with wise use of flashback and private conversation. I hope to see this onstage soon!

  • Jennifer Kranz: Mirrors

    I had the pleasure of working on this play before it's untimely shut down (after being chosen by the artistic team) at NYTW Next Door, due to COVID. (It was named as a Kilroy selection shortly thereafter). How often do we see plays about black, queer women in the American South? How often do we see plays that are this timely, necessary, and gorgeously written? It is as honest, brutal, and touching a work as they come. It deserves many more productions.

    I had the pleasure of working on this play before it's untimely shut down (after being chosen by the artistic team) at NYTW Next Door, due to COVID. (It was named as a Kilroy selection shortly thereafter). How often do we see plays about black, queer women in the American South? How often do we see plays that are this timely, necessary, and gorgeously written? It is as honest, brutal, and touching a work as they come. It deserves many more productions.

View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

This play is intended to be performed with an all-Black cast.
  • ANNABELLE "BELLE" PIERSON
    A Black woman, mother of Alma Jean and former lover of Bird. Died in her forties, a resident of Cane, Mississippi.
    Character Age
    35-50
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Female,
    High Femme
  • LOUISE STERLING
    Bird's neighbor and current lover, she is somewhat younger than Bird, probably in her late 30s.
    Character Age
    25-45
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Female
  • MABEL MOSELY
    Nosy and outrageous churchgoing resident of Etheridge. She is in her 40s and is the best friend of Constance Jenkins.
    Character Age
    40-55
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Female
  • CONSTANCE JENKINS
    Outspoken and meddling churchgoing resident of Etheridge. She is in her 40s and is the best friend of Mabel Mosley.
    Character Age
    40-55
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Female
  • RAY JOHNSON, JR
    A charming and self-assured 19 year-old man. He is Alma Jean's boyfriend from Cane, Mississippi.
    Character Age
    18-21
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Male
  • BIRD WILSON
    A middle-aged Black woman, a metalsmith and a resident of Etheridge, Mississippi.
    Character Age
    45-55
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Female,
    gender non-conforming,
    butch
  • ALMA JEAN PIERSON
    A 17 year-old Black girl, daughter of Belle, and a former resident of Cane, Mississippi.
    Character Age
    17
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Austin Scottish Rite Theater, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Parity Productions, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Parity Productions, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Castillo Theatre, Year 2015
  • Type Commission, Organization Freedom Train Productions, Year 2010

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Filmed Staged Production, produced by Parity Productions, Year 2021
  • Type Professional, Organization Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop, Produced by Parity Productions, Year 2020
  • Type Workshop, Organization Downtown Urban Arts Festival, Year 2018

Awards

  • The Kilroys List
    Selection
    2020
  • Annual Commission
    Parity Productions
    Winner
    2018
  • Best Play
    Downtown Urban Arts Festival
    Winner
    2018
  • Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Play Award
    Castillo Theatre
    Winner
    2015