←Recommendations of Duck

One of the things I love about this play is how Cowley turns the old and familiar upside down simply by introducing an object heretofore known only through an old black & white photograph; when seen in all its vividly colorful glory, questions arise that can never be answered, and a wistful sense of loss becomes real. A lovely, probing, touching work.

Entire lives of loved ones, winnowed down to artifacts that puzzle the protagonists in this short play.

I love the moods I felt reading Sheila Cowley's "Duck" -- joy knowing that Jamie's and Casey's relatives had lovely, lively salad days; wistfulness in wishing some of the history of these wonderful items could be explained (a red hibiscus dress? a Bowie knife? a curry comb? a painting of a duck?), but knowing they could not; and pleasure in how Jamie's feelings toward these items change. "Not all of it."

Another layered, complex, subtle play by Cowley.

A very relatable play that makes us appreciate our loved ones all the more and makes us want to investigate their memories before it's too late. Lovely.

This play makes you wonder about those conversations you never had, the moments when you could've learned more about a loved one. The belongings left behind by loved ones that passed away are not junk, they're artifacts, icons, but sadly it's too late. This play could inspire audience members to ask about a family member's stuff, no matter how strange. A smart choice for a festival on family themes.

A touching and sweet short about memory and family and lore and all the stuff that comes with it. I particularly enjoy that the stage directions instruct the play to be produced on a bare stage, leaves so much room for the actors to play and for the audience to use their imagination. Really well done.