This play is such a personal and beautiful tribute to lost friends, human and canine. It is clever and unique too, as taken from the perspective of the spirits, not the living. I would love to stage this, it would be a wonderful challenge to have an actor play the part of Sam, as a gentle spirit and not a jokey doggy.
Thank you Philip for sharing such a personal story in such a lovely way.

Oh God. I read "A Tree Grows in Longmont" and sobbed hysterically. But this one hits even harder. Somehow the joy of Sam stabs the heart a little harder. Knowing Philip (and other pet lovers who have lost pets) was full of so much sadness and regret at the end, they couldn't even entertain the idea of seeing a manifestation of their sweet pup Sam. The funny thing about happy memories is they can make you cry harder than the sad ones sometimes. There won't be a dry eye in the house with this play.

Williams’s emotionally honest plays often have many layers to peel away, and “Going for a Walk with Sam” is no exception. While he literally and whimsically portrays the spirit of a departed dog, Williams delves deeper, exploring the spiritual connection between humans and their beloved pets, as well as how that connection can become integral to human pairings as well. Staging this warm-hearted play would be a delightful challenge for director and actors alike and I hope someday to see it performed.