←Recommendations of The Eighteenth Quinquennial Endlings Picnic

Existential dread of mortality is on the menu alongside a heaping portion of guilt for the damage we humans cause. Fantastic dialogue and very well defined characters stand out throughout this short comedy. Would be a ton of fun for actors too.

A lovely and haunting piece about the environment that finds humor alongside pathos. It was selected as part of our student-directed one-act play festival and was well received by the audience, and the cast and director had a blast working on it.

This play starts out so fun and colorful, with people dressed as animals at a picnic. But then we realize the reason for their gathering, the mood changes. But this is a great way to bring up the subject. Each of the animals have similar tactics to the way humans are dealing with the end of their species, rage, awareness campaigns, gathering. It's relatable, and melancholy. But at least it is being spoken about. And that is beautiful.

I love this play's approach to raising awareness about environmental issues. The characters all represent different attitudes towards environmentalism and getting things done, and hearing many different perspectives while acknowledging both the need for change and the fear of it, will inspire many audiences. The dynamics between each character, who are all different from each other, is so relatable as well. It's lighthearted but serious at the same time. Love!

Edit: I just finished directing this play and it was such a wonderful experience working with the sweetest playwright. This play holds a special place in my heart!

A poignant exploration of the struggles faced by the last survivors of endangered species. The play unfolds in a conservation area park in the near future, where these beings gather for a picnic to bond, mourn, and reflect on their unique existence. The play delves into themes of extinction, loss, loneliness, and the impact of human actions on biodiversity. It also touches on the ethical dilemmas surrounding conservation efforts. I found this to be a very thoughtful and moving play.

Wow. There’s a lot packed into this little 10-minute play. There’s wonderful banter as the characters navigate themselves through a hopeless situation. In many ways the animals represent people who face shared problems, but disagree on solutions. I was very moved by this play.

A funny, sad play about a problem with no obvious solution, not one that manages to save all endangered species. On on the fun parts of reading this was trying to imagine the costumes. On the one hand, the characters could be modeled on Egyptian gods. At the other extreme, they could be like Halloween costumes. The characters are spirited, and the dialogue is fun. I find myself wishing this little group well in rising up against the caretakers, even though any such effort seens doomed. Not that any of these five has anything much to lose.

Really admire the complex mood, how Blevins weaves together the complementary emotions of her five endlings in this wonderful piece. Part of the terrible sadness of these pending extinctions (“walking taxidermy” as Martin the depressed Golden Frog puts it”) is that it has been brought on by us disgraceful humans and Elisabeth the Amur Leopard’s rage is understandable. I love it that Olive the Black Rhino plays sensitive hostess to the picnic. I was unexpectedly moved by Tanya the Oryx missing the herd. “All those miles felt like nothing because we moved together, all those hooves.” Astounding work!

Despite the connection offered us by social media, we are perhaps ironically closer to the titular endlings more than we know. We’re not the last of our species, but we are just as distraught, stressed, hopeless, and lonely when we face the state of the world. And, of course, another big difference is that we’re the ones who caused it. A powerful condemnation of humanity’s carelessness with the planet, as well as a fine meditation on ending, and knowing your time is limited. It means those you share it with mean everything.

This play is so fun yet so sad at the same time. Jillian Blevins does a phenomenal job with the world building and providing these delightful characters and fulfilling journey that will stick with you. So much to work with for designers, director, and actors. Would really love to see this staged!