| | Author: | Mary Bracken Phillips | | EMail: | marybrackenphillips1@gmail.com | | ICWP Member?: | Yes | | Nearest Large City: | New York City | | Country: | United States | | Play Title: | Cradle Song | | Runtime: | 91-120 minutes | | Synopsis: | Paula and Jonathon have elected not to have children, as it would interfere with their rapidly rising careers. As fate would have it, they slip up and their son, Brian, is conceived. After a tough wrestling match with her conscience, Paula decides to have the child. Jonathon, however, is horrified at the prospect of becoming a father, believing he will be a lethally incompetent one. When Brian is born, the couple struggles with who will take time off for what and when, but as the months go by, they fall in love with their son. Until in his fifth month, Brian is found dead in his crib while his parents are both at work. What follows is a tragedy of grief, blame and self-recrimination and the couple separates. Jonathon withdraws from life altogether and Paula's rising star self-destructs. In the end, with nothing left to lose, they reunite, sadder but wiser, and resolve to have another child, concluding it was better to have had Brian and lost him than never to have had him at all.
| | Male: | 2 | | Female: | 2 | | Max. Cast: | 4 | | Min. Cast: | 4 | | Media: | Musical | | Genre: | Comic/Drama | | Theme: | parenthood | | Web Page: | marybrackenphillips.com | | First Name: | Mary Bracken | | Last Name: | Phillips | | Notes: | "Cradle Song" was developed at Musical Theatre Work, NYC, produced at Goodspeed Musicals Chester, and Off Broadway at The Theatre at St. Peter's Church, NYC.
“…a zesty, excellently performed little show-a tragicomic musical about love, death, ambition, and rebirth in Manhattan’s dress for success trades.” New York Newsday
“…the intimate production races by in a fast, seamless two hours.” Phillips’ book and lyrics are illuminated by her knowledge and brisk, flavorful adult dialogue shot through with unsentimental New York humor.” Variety
“Therapeutic theatre on the edge of poetry…This little musical is irresistible.” Stamford Times
“The ups and downs of Paula and Jonathan offer humor and anguish and even occasional moments of poetry.” Hartford Courant
“The script is by no means a morality play and the ambiance is more light then grim, even when it comes to the pathos.” N.Y.Times
|
|
|
