←Recommendations of The Flight Patterns of Migratory Birds

Sweet and tender. Like chocolate chip cookies. Andy Boyd paints a delicate and rich (like a cookie) vignette of rural Midwestern America and the growing pains between mother and teenage daughter.

The Flight Patterns of Migratory Birds is a charming exploration of body image, family, and self-acceptance. The nuanced character relationships—especially Jenny’s journey—are both relatable and poignant. The play seamlessly blends humor and heart, offering thoughtful reflections on life and personal growth.

A surprising, nuanced, and poignant exploration of family, body image, and relationships. The unassuming and well-drawn scenes seem to just float by, all the while propelling us towards larger conversations and truths about the characters and issues at play without devolving into unnecessary melodramatics. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of these characters, but Jenny in particular was a compelling nucleus to follow and her evolving relationships with her mom, herself, and her hopes/dreams was so beautifully plotted. Her body image journey was specific and detailed and tied beautifully with her connections to others.

A lovely story about small town life, body image, and self-acceptance. Boyd displays a fine ear for dialogue and character dynamics. I thoroughly enjoyed following the evolving shapes the characters’ relationships took throughout the play, and yearned that they would all find their places in the world by the end.

The birds also present a fun challenge for designers—I would love to see how they’re represented in different productions!