Jumping the Wind by Tara Meddaugh: 10-minute play for outdoor theater
Cover art by Rebecca Frey.
Have you ever seen a play about pollen before? I’m not talking documentary-style. I’m talking about pieces of individual pollen, with their own hopes, dreams and fears. In my allegory, Jumping the Wind, we meet two pieces of pollen, Pollen V-6 and Pollen K-10. The flower on which they have lived their entire lives has wilted and is dying. If they do not make a dangerous jump to a fresh flower, Cat will destroy the flower and any remaining pollen that night. All other pollen have already made the jump to presumed safety, but Pollen V-6 has been too frightened to leave. She doubts the tales that anything better lies beyond. The leader, Pollen K-10, has remained behind with her, and has to decide how long he will stay to rally her before his own safety is in jeopardy. Jumping the Wind is a story of leaving the familiar, and taking risks for the promise of something better. It’s the story of facts versus hope. And a story of friendship and trust.
Here are seven (7) reasons why Jumping the Wind is a memorable and practical play to produce:
High Stakes Acting/Directing: This play is a whole lot of fun to act and direct. Both roles for actors are complex and interesting, and the stakes are so high! We’re talking life or death, wind overpowering stakes.
Creative Design: This play leaves so much room for creative design and production. We’re in the world of flowers and pollen after all!
Flexible Number of Actors: 2 actors +….?? This play has 2 speaking roles, so can simply stay as a play for 2 actors, which is convenient to rehearse and direct. However, if a director would like to add more roles, there is an infinite number of non-speaking parts for actors playing “The Wind.” (“The Wind” can also be accomplished through lighting, sound or simply the pollens’ reactions).
Flexible Gender Casting: This play has flexible, gender neutral casting. Characters are pieces of pollen after all!
Flexible Age Casting: Again, we’re talking 2 pieces of pollen, so they can be played by teen actors through mature adults.
Outdoor Socially Distanced Theater: This play takes place outdoors, on a flower, making it perfect for staging outside. So if you’re looking for a short piece of theater which can be staged safely outside, with socially distancing practices in place, this is a great one to consider. The world of the play is outside. Why not bring your audience there too?
Allegorical: Allegories are discussion-oriented by nature. Pieces of pollen are not just pieces of pollen. What can an audience take away from this play? What conversations can follow about trust, lies, truth, facts, politics, friendship and sacrifice (and so much more)?
Pollen: This is a play about pollen! Circling back to my opening question—Have you ever seen a play about pollen before??
Jumping the Wind is a 10-minute play, which originally was performed as part of Movements of the Wind. Movements of the Wind is a full-length play following the journeys of garden characters as they manage their way through the volatile effects of Mother Nature.
READ AN EXCERPT: Click here to read an excerpt from Jumping the Wind.
READ THE PLAY: Click below for the entire digital copy of Jumping the Wind.