"Graduation"
by Anthony Roberts
Picking up a bouquet for the young woman who graduates today with each mark of the hour falls away the little girl who brought me wild flowers a handful of dandelions and violets pulled from the lawn now replaced by roses and peonies that I rush home to refrigerate and put in water so that they retain their beauty it will be reflected in hers as she strides across the stage the first mountain visible to the world conquered But I think of the obstacles overcome that the outside world doesn’t see how she struggled with her vision turning what is called a disability to an advantage as she grew discerning subtle changes in hues applying artistic eye to everything she touched each new adventure a possibility Her child’s eyes closed tight in prayer those days I was gone fighting a war wrapped wherever I was in her care until my time there was no more her arms clinging tight as I walked through the door “Daddy, promise you won’t fight wars anymore.” Watching me at war with myself in a daily battle with things she could not see that war waged with the bottle on the shelf each battle lost meant losing more of myself until all that was left a hollow eyed shell of me her voice reminding me of what I still could be who applauded my surrender and its accompanying victory Who since I’ve watched grow and take on the world on her own always nearby as she chose to fight some battles alone when she lost wishing I could make her pain my own but her eyes each time she won -they shone! bright with greater courage than I’ve ever shown Now my hands holding flowers alive, fresh and strong remembering wilted dandelion stains on my hands has it really been that long? those wild flowers once picked don’t last and I can’t go back in time and try to do better in the past So daughter tomorrow we’ll both continue to move ahead into a future that remains hidden take strength from what I’ve said and these words I’ve written They are a small part of the life that you will create a small part of the memories that await
We’re sold out for the next two weeks. That’s right, we have no tickets left for our remaining performances of Meteor Shower. So let’s get a jump on our staged reading of Ira Levin’s legendary Broadway comedy/thriller Deathtrap.
If you want the best date night possible…if you want drinks, dessert, a hilarious live performance, professional actors, an intimate unforgettable space, and pay-what-you-can tickets…if you have a Saturday night available…it simply does not get better than this. So come on out and join us at our Parlor on Quaker Avenue for our staged reading of Ira Levin’s legendary Broadway comedy/thriller Deathtrap.
Don’t know Deathtrap? It was the winner of the 1978 Edgar Award for Best Play and record holder for the longest-running comedy thriller on Broadway. It’s about Sidney Bruhl - a successful Broadway playwright with writer’s block and a recent spate of box office failures. Desperate to break his dry-spell, Sidney finds hope in Clifford Anderson, a student in his seminar class who has submitted a thriller script, cleverly titled Deathtrap as well. Can Sidney convince Clifford to collaborate and give him co-credit? Or is there a way to cut Clifford out altogether and get sole credit?
We expect Deathtrap to be sold out - so get your tickets now! As always, you’re welcome to show up and hope for a cancellation. But if you really want to see the show, why not book now and save yourself the uncertainty?
This week on the Savage Wonder podcast…
It is a real thrill to interview our first finalist from our inaugural playwriting competitions - Arthur Boatin. Arthur's play NOW DEPARTED placed third in our inaugural 10-minute playwriting competition.
A character-driven piece, NOW DEPARTED is the story of a chance meeting by small-town natives Rhonda and Clayton. They learn who have in common and compare notes on parenting, drinking, and losing a partner.
Our judges described the play as a "subtle and effective slice of life mini-drama. Realistic dialogue and a well-constructed story — not easy within such a short form!"
Arthur Boatin is a Michigan native who since 1985 has lived in Maine, where much of his writing is set. His employment history includes proofreading, newspaper reporting, foreign student advising, and teaching high school and college English. He worked as a guide in the American pavilion at the Brussels Worlds Fair. In 1959-60 he was a soldier in the U.S. Army.
Arthur’s one-act plays have been produced (2015) and stage read (2017, 2021) in Portland, Maine. His first full-length play, THE DAUGHTER OF THE RULER OF THE SEAS AND TIDES, received a Zoom reading by Maine Playwrights Festival in March 2021. His work is included in the Smith and Kraus publications THE BEST MEN’S STAGE MONOLOGUES 2020 and THE BEST WOMEN’S STAGE MONOLOGUES 2020.
Arthur has published short fiction in literary magazines, including Worcester Review, Whetstone, Anastamos, and Western Humanities Review. His essays and journalism have appeared in the Boston Phoenix, Technology Illustrated, and the Downeast Coastal Press.
Please join us in congratulating Arthur on this outstanding accomplishment!
Learn about Arthur's wife Elaine Ford here.