←Recommendations of 37 Origami Bees

NORA LOUISE SYRAN in her short play, “37 Origami Bees”, beautifully encapsulates the feelings of a child who has lost a friend. It’s part of the growing up process to learn to connect, communicate, care about others. But, as we do, our feelings can be ‘crushed’. This is a beautiful piece to read.

A lovely short, tender play, with a sting in its tail. This child brings so much love to a creature that is potentially fatal to her. And as one bee dies, she brings another one to life, albeit in paper.
Beautiful.

Friendships come and go. But when you're a little kid and a friendship ends, you still have to see them every day. No matter how far away they are, they're still too close, and no matter how close they are, they're still so far away - in one way or another. Syran beautifully depicts the isolation in captivity that pervades elementary school disintegrations, leaving just enough of a clue as to why. There's beautiful sorrow and pathos in this exchange culminating in a visually stunning landing.

If I had to describe this short in one word, I think I'd choose "tender." There is so much melancholy context living in the negative space of this play. It's ripe with really lovely metaphors that will keep you thinking, despite the play's brief (but incredibly effective) run time. The subtlety here is really deft and lovely! Well done!

Brief and brilliant. A great example of "from the mouths of babes..." -- when we look at creatures younger/smaller, we can learn great lessons.

So much is said without actually being said. This is a well-crafted short. It is very easy to identify with the gentle nature of the child and caring, yet somewhat distracted nature of the mother. These are people we know and care about. Compelling theatre in two pages.

I love this child-centered play full of subtext, and the lesson the child teaches their mother as they wait for the school doors to open is so lovely and poignant. Playwrights who write child characters as convincingly as Syran has are, I believe, rare (speaking as both a parent and playwright) but you don't need to be a parent to appreciate or enjoy this play or its message. So well done!

And a child shall lead them. And the child does beautifully - leading the mother with a wise knowing feel as to who and what are dangerous and who and what you can trust. A lovely view on life, bees, and bullies.

It's not often that a child can fully explain to a parent what it happening in their world, so they let silence and symbols, however simple, carry great meaning if only that parent is listening. In this short exchange between a mother and child, the moment speaks volumes, and kudos to Nora Louise Syran for giving it to us.

We learn, or we’re supposed to, at an early age the difference between right and wrong. Between being a “do bee” and a “don’t bee.” The Child in this story has learned that lesson, and Nora Louise Syran presents it beautifully.