A haunting, powerful, and somewhat twisted story about of loss, regret, and what to do when a marriage no longer serves you, “Barefoot on Gravel Roads” explores a few days in the life of one woman whose life is about to drastically change. Micaele Johnson writes not just plot and dialogue, but an entire environment through poetic and evocative stage directions, making the rural landscapes where her characters reside a character in and of itself.

With echoes of Stoppard's "True West," Johnson weaves a tale of family intrigue and secrets as its matriarch approaches the end of her life. Strongly drawn characters, with several amazing roles for women, the story unwraps and unfolds itself, slowly revealing the full story that lies just beneath the surface. Exceptionally well crafted and realized characters, this script begs to be fully staged.

I really liked this play. The characters are all well defined, and I was intrigued with learning their relationships to each other. Family secrets abound, with each one revealed in a clever and thought provoking way. I'd really like to see this staged.