Drilling Company Presents BIRD BRAIN, 3/13

To share a delightful family theater production with a wider audience, The Drilling Company is remounting "Bird Brain" by Vern Thiessen, directed by Hamilton Clancy, for an open ended run with previews beginning March 5 and opening March 13. The Drilling Company had presented the piece in workshop last Spring. This is the U.S. Premiere of a play that was originally commissioned by Carousel Players, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada and debuted there to enthusiastic notices. It's about a hard working woodsman confronted with a terrible conflict: obey the laws of the land or protect the birds in his hat.

Vern Thiessen based his play on the story, "Vogelkopf," by Albert Wendt, who is fairy-tale writer, playwright and author of radio plays who lives near Leipzig, Germany. It was partially developed by Theatre Wrede, Germany.

The Drilling Company, located at West 78th Street near Broadway, is an Upper West Side destination for new works of children's theater in addition to being a prolific presenter of new plays, short plays around common themes, and Shakespeare in the Parking Lot (on the Lower East Side).

Playwright Vern Theissen is one of Canada's most produced playwrights. His plays "Valentine" and "Interest" have been produced by The Drilling Company. His last US production was "Lenin's Embalmers," a dark comedy, at Ensemble Studio Theater in 2010. His preceding NYC production was "A More Perfect Union," presented in 2009 by the Epic Theater Company at the East 13th Street Theater. Thiessen has written for stage, radio and television. His other plays that have been seen in the U.S. include "Shakespeare's Will," "Apple," "Einstein's Gift," "Blowfish," "The Resurrection Of John Frum" and "Vimy." He is a recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award, Canada's highest honor for playwriting.

"Bird Brain" tells the story of a kind-hearted woodcutter who is shamed into keeping a nest of baby birds warm under his hat. The problem is, he lives in a country of ironbound laws and customs, where hats must be removed to show respect to many people, including officials of the realm, your spouse and your customers in trade. The woodcutter has learned, however, that he will be clear-headed so long as the birds live cozily on his head. At first, he runs afoul of a powerful government minister and even his queen with his stubbornness and faces death for his nonconformity. But it's discovered--to his great fortune--that the queen shares his secret and all ends happily. Canadian reviewers have described the piece as a rollicking story well told which will keep young audiences on the edges of their seats.

The actors are Anwen Darcy, Aimee Whelan and Hamilton Clancy as the woodcutter. Set and Prop Design are by Jen Varbalow and Leontine Greenberg.

Earlier this season, Director Hamilton Clancy staged "El Viaje de Beatrice" by Andrea Moon. Last season, he produced "Frog Singer" by Laura Strausfeld. Both were at The Drilling Company.

 

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