←Recommendations of Park & Play

09.20.24 - Just finished listening to this on the Gather By the Ghost Light podcast and what a hoot it was. As someone who constantly gives voice to my own dog, I was totally down with the voices of the character mutts in this delightful play by Kara Emily Krantz. As I listened I was able to picture the dogs individual body languages and behaviors. The story is fun, and silly just the way dogs can be. I loved it.

This is a fun short play where humans and dogs spend time in a park.... sounds familiar? Just like my last dog, Jessie's dog is a moody mut, he doesn't want to make friends with the other dogs, besides, he has his human to care for.
A fun short, bought to life by the brilliant Gather by the Ghost Light crew.

Kara Emily Krantz gives us such a lovely surprise with Park & Play. The canine characters each have their own unique voice and physicality; and it's remarkably relatable - how many times have we been open to new experiences with new people? How often do we close ourselves off from the possibility of new friendships? This short play gives me faith in humanity. I also highly recommend listening to the work on Gather by the Ghost Light.

A sweet story that gives some humanity to our four-legged friends. The personalities of these canines really shine through! A fun listen on the Gather by the Ghost Light podcast!

So many plays that feature speaking dogs as characters dumb down their language and turn them into caricatures: the achievement with "Park & Play" is that both Archibald and Lucy the dogs speak intelligently and with forethought, seamlessly blended with the casual interjections of Jessie the uncomprehending human. This would be a hugely fun piece for the dog actors, and it holds a valuable lesson about the benefits of letting one's guard down. Nice work.

This is my favorite play starring actors as dogs. There is genuine emotion and conversation around feelings, being guarded and open to new experiences that makes this silly play a winning one. Put on some tails, get a bench, and grab a ball - and produce this play at your next comedy showcase! Connect with Krantz.

I adore Archibald the dog in this sweet, short play. Our favorite blanket burrito breaking out of his shell to reluctantly make his first canine friend. Krantz offers us an in to the fun internal life of Archibald and Lucy, and I'm sure dog owners will identify strongly with Archibald's long-suffering owner Jessie. All in all an engaging romp in the park!

Okay, full disclosure: I have a soft spot for dogs, and this romp with Archibald and his new acquaintance had me from the first. The dialogue is spot-on, the action and moments are truly engaging, and the real kicker is that you know each one of them so well... maybe you even have Archibald or Lucy sharing their lives with you. A must for any show, canine or otherwise.

This is a brilliant piece of theater. As a fan of Krantz's longer works "All Bark, No Bite" and "inValidated," I was impressed with her ability to create such endearing characters in this short play. She creates characters actors want to play - witty, neurotic, and loveable. The insight the dogs offer is often communicated more clearly than human counterparts. A fun read!

Awww! Another shining example of humans as dogs from a playwright who provides such lovely, reflective, humane material (check out ALL BARK, NO BITE!! and RECESS!!) in everything she writes.
In reading Krantz's PARK & PLAY, I was struck: At various times in my life I have been burnt-out, slightly exasperated Jessie; I have been rambunctious Lucy, eager to make friends. And I have been Archie, set in my ways and unable to relax and quite honestly, a bit of a sourpuss.
Krantz's gift: Lovely characters that speak to every part of us, while delighting us all the while.