←Recommendations of The Wild Turducken

I've been on a bit of kick of late. Reading ten minute plays because frankly I haven't yet figured out how to write a decent 10 minute play that is sincere and thought-provoking. Fenton manages, in a taut piece of work, to capture not only the need to maintain our childlike innocence for as long as a possible but also what happens when our parents--and those we love-begin to change because of our social and political environment.

We all know the feeling of dread as we sit down at the holiday table, knowing there's a silent agreement that we're not going to talk about THAT - and knowing just as well that someone is going to ignore the silent agreement and ruin the charade. It's a holiday tradition as absurd as, well... hunting a wild turducken in the woods. This play is a smart reminder that you have a choice in what traditions you uphold. It has a fantastic premise and is packed with snappy, funny dialogue. A great play!

It would be interesting to sit in an audience during a production of WILD TURDUCKEN and watch as families grow more and more uncomfortable as they recognize more and more of themselves in Fenton's timely holiday story. The shared history, the long-standing traditions that don't quite make sense, but that's all right, they don't need to. And then the lingering questions about right and wrong and why people believe what they believe, and the aftermath they leave in their terrible wake.

Never thought I’d use the phrase “Thanksgiving classic” unironically, but we also probably never thought Trump would be elected either, right? Fenton’s play is honestly a marvel, not just comedically musing on the joys and absurdities of family traditions, but also the “no politics” escapism and why sometimes…it doesn’t help. If something’s causing families to splinter and break apart, you can’t ignore that cause. Not indefinitely. Take the holiday though. Rest up. Then back to the work.

Holiday traditions rarely mix well with politics, and THE WILD TURDUCKEN is no exception. By setting this play in 2016, Peter Fenton takes us back to a time when it felt like politics were just starting to make family gatherings a struggle. The struggle continues, but maybe by hanging on to some of our traditions, even if a mythical bird is involved, we can maintain a sense of normalcy. Something to contemplate over a plate of turducken.

Politics ruining holiday gatherings is a tale as old as time, but it has rarely been as vitriolic as it is these days. I love that this play is about that, but not ONLY about that. The jokes are great and serve to make the dramatic moments even stronger, and the hunting of the turducken - an activity which everyone knows will not result in a captured bird, but which everyone does anyway - feels a lot like this moment in political time: Does anything we do matter? Well, we need to try.

The Holidays and the family play or story very clearly work like hand-in-glove. Mr. Fenton's "The Wild Turducken" expounds on this in a delightful and compelling way. Politics, family contention and food! With a few doses of sardonic humor. Nicely done!

The holidays, for as much as we want them to be apolitical and comforting, can be a minefield for many families, especially in a post-2016 world. Peter Fenton understands this, and devises an effective comic drama on the topic in "The Wild Turducken." I love the humor, but also the heart that Fenton brings to this play. The issue won't be solved with a single conversation, but the conversation must be had. Excellent!

Peter Fenton gives us an interesting, amusing and emotional short with The Wild Turducken. I love how much is said beyond the dialogue. Exploring family dynamics in times of political divide (in Pennsylvania!) can be a minefield, but Fenton has found the path through to, if not complete understanding, at least acceptance and love. Well done.

The title suggests something silly or strange, but this holiday story is actually very grounded and relatable. The ending is particularly heartwarming and would be fun to see played out on stage!