PARK BENCH STORIES

Island Theatre presents Park Bench Stories, a Film in 5 Scenes, by five local playwrights. This 40-minute film will air continuously on YouTube and at IslandTheatre.org from June 16th through June 30th.  

Viewing is free, with donations welcome.

A group of 5 local playwrights and screenwriters had been meeting together for a year when Covid struck, shutting performance venues for the foreseeable future. Challenged to keep motivated, one member suggested they each write a variation on a theme using a single park bench as their only prop and location. By limiting each play to 2 or 3 characters, they would be able to film their plays outdoors, socially distanced, while working inside a theatre was not possible.

The result: five linked stories that take place on a single day, as this simple bench becomes a locus for lost love, human connection, humor, sadness, and enlightenment for the diverse characters who meet there.

“What started out as five writers just trying to stay creative and sane has blossomed into much more than what any of one of us could have imagined on our own.”

The five plays and writers are Jason Erickson (Congratulations on Your New Bench), Joseph Steck (IRL Sal), Maria Beatty (Dog Gone It), Kit Laws (So Close), and Jeffrey M. Brown (Rob and Bob). Video and production was done by Jason Erickson and Joseph Steck. The park bench was lovingly crafted by Jim Laws.

The play is recommended for high school age and up.