←Recommendations of GONE AWAY IS THE BLUEBIRD (10-MINUTE PLAY)

A NEW HOLIDAY CLASSIC! ADAM RICHTER gives a glimpse into the lives of elves... Santa's elves. Between the modern pop music references and the clever use of humor, true happiness will certainly be found in the this short play.

Richter has created a funny, touching play about the differences between materialism and true happiness. The mashup of a record store, Christmas elves, tons of pop culture music references is a delight.

"Anything but Christmas music." Credit Richter with presenting a perspective that had never occurred to me - it would get awfully repetitive at the North Pole with nothing but holly jolly jingles playing non-stop. Better yet, catch an elf (or two) in the act of finding a little bit of merry respite amongst the tunes, and you've got a rich scenario indeed for any holiday play festival daring to delve into the secret lives of elves.

I love lore building. Adam Richter gives us a unique look at the evolution of elves and the nature of happiness. This is a joyful play that leaves us hopeful and happy. Maybe we all have some magical destiny waiting for us.

12.20.24 - I got an early Christmas present this year with Adam Richter's piece showing the secret to happiness isn't having "stuff" (well, maybe SOME stuff). Boyd and Dryville (great name) are Elves on a hunt for kids on the good list when Boyd co-opts the trip to a record store to fulfill his own wish list. But the real secret Santa of this piece is the store clerk who helps out (and moves a little merchandise for him as well). I want to see the Rankin-Bass animated version of this play now.

This is a "smile until your face hurts" story featuring the whimsy of quirky, specific characters (Santa's Elves!) in an unexpected setting (a record store?!), leading us humorously, sweetly, and quite deftly toward a charming lesson about the true meaning of Christmas in our consumerist hellscape! The specificity of the musical references, the goofy names, and the absurdity of the confrontation and circumstances make it a consistently surprising stocking stuffer! Plus, great world-building!

It took just a couple of lines for me to be transported back to Ries Records at the Westgate Shopping Center in Toledo. This adorable short play by Adam Richter has Santa's helpers doing some discreet recon at the record shop and purchasing for their own list of toys, and you can feel the love for both them and the place where they're finding the right gifts for the right reasons. Thanks, Adam, for the vinyl memories, hopes, and dreams.

So adorable. A new Christmas classic with vintage touches and lovely messages that will warm the cockles of your heart! Full of fun characters, a great (nostalgic for many) setting, I'd love to see this one on stage (or screen!) soon.

A quirky take on an elf and their Christmas music wish list that doesn't include Christmas music! This seasonal short is a charmingly radical departure from everything we thought we knew about Santa's little helpers. By turns funny, quixotic, and oddly poignant, GONE AWAY IS THE BLUEBIRD is about going AWOL from the North Pole, and to heck with the consequences..

Omigoodness! This play is so sweet, adorable and super meaningful! I love the characters and the message. Boyd's monologue about the bird really teared me up! But hearing it in the elf voice would be so great! This is a great piece to add to your holiday play lineup. For kids and adults alike!