The Age of Understanding or, The Character of Dad

by Franky D. Gonzalez

A father taking care of his son while his wife goes out remembers his lowest point as a father and reevaluates his previous assessment of his own deadbeat dad.

A father taking care of his son while his wife goes out remembers his lowest point as a father and reevaluates his previous assessment of his own deadbeat dad.

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The Age of Understanding or, The Character of Dad

Recommended by

  • Mark Loewenstern: The Age of Understanding or, The Character of Dad

    Elegantly moving and universal. What could be more relatable than the relationships Gonzalez explores here? The pains and fears of the child, parent, husband, wife are delved to a surprising depth, and then the playwright confidently lands us with a viscerally satisfying ending. Highly recommend.

    Elegantly moving and universal. What could be more relatable than the relationships Gonzalez explores here? The pains and fears of the child, parent, husband, wife are delved to a surprising depth, and then the playwright confidently lands us with a viscerally satisfying ending. Highly recommend.

  • Jennifer O'Grady: The Age of Understanding or, The Character of Dad

    Absolutely beautiful, painful, and completely unflinching short play about fatherhood. Gonzalez is a master playwright--if you haven't yet read his work, please do yourself a favor and read it.

    Absolutely beautiful, painful, and completely unflinching short play about fatherhood. Gonzalez is a master playwright--if you haven't yet read his work, please do yourself a favor and read it.

  • Christopher Plumridge: The Age of Understanding or, The Character of Dad

    What starts as a humorous exchange between father and his baby son, slowly turns into something quite deep and beautiful! You feel for this father as he recounts his resentment of his own dad. But the real beauty is the ending, when his partner walks back in the room, very clever, read it for yourself. Lovely!

    What starts as a humorous exchange between father and his baby son, slowly turns into something quite deep and beautiful! You feel for this father as he recounts his resentment of his own dad. But the real beauty is the ending, when his partner walks back in the room, very clever, read it for yourself. Lovely!

View all 24 recommendations

Character Information

  • Husband
    Has a hard time finding the right words.
    Character Age
    20s - 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis male
  • Wife
    Confident, assured
    Character Age
    20s - 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis female
  • Baby
    A little boy between 12 and 15 months old.
    Character Age
    1
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Mid-America Theatre Conference, Year 2020