Speckled Birds
by Shirley Lauro

Name: Speckled Birds
Brand: Shirley Lauro
SKU: 9780573698002
Rating: 3 (1 reviews)

Speckled Birds Book Cover — Speckled Birds Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

Present Day Role(s) for Senior Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

A play about growing up in our "have and have-not" society, and discovering what "family" really is.

Though Angie, an adolescent, lives in a wealthy town, she is poor.

Deserted at birth by her mother, her father killed in War, she lives in a trailer with her ailing but loving grandma.

Though a gifted athlete, Angie's afraid to compete at her preppie school, feeling she's "trailer trash."

While terrified a disliked aunt will soon take her away to live with her and put Grandma in a facility, Angie meets a boy, Theo, at school.

Brilliant, wealthy, but an awkward loner, Theo's parents have no time for him and schoolmates taunt him, his only friends being his computer and his bird.

Finally, as Angie and Theo form a unique bond as soulmates, they gain the courage to begin their journeys toward adulthood...resolving family problems, and taking actions to utilize their talents at school.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Theo A little older than Angie. Awkward, clumsy, ungainly in some way. Can be very tall, thin, or heavy. Teasing nicknames can be “TEDDY BEAR” or “TEDDY TWIG,” etc., depending on his physical demeanor. Brilliant computer “nerd.” Great heart and sense of humor but painfully shy and needy. White.	male	—	A little older than Angie. Awkward, clumsy, ungainly in some way. Can be very tall, thin, or heavy. Teasing nicknames can be “TEDDY BEAR” or “TEDDY TWIG,” etc., depending on his physical demeanor. Brilliant computer “nerd.” Great heart and sense of humor but painfully shy and needy. White.
Grandma 70ish. Strong featured, Appalachian woman descended from generations of coal miners. A woman who’s come through hard times and survived. Likeable, wise, tough and strong as bespeaks her heritage -- but aging now. White.	female	70s	70ish. Strong featured, Appalachian woman descended from generations of coal miners. A woman who’s come through hard times and survived. Likeable, wise, tough and strong as bespeaks her heritage -- but aging now. White.
Dad 30ish. His spirit appears in play as Angie remembers him when he went to War: a strong, warm hearted father and a genuine Appalachian man in a camouflage War uniform. White.	male	30s	30ish. His spirit appears in play as Angie remembers him when he went to War: a strong, warm hearted father and a genuine Appalachian man in a camouflage War uniform. White.
Clarice Late 30s. Wears what she thinks are extremely attractive clothes that show her off, although she’s a little too plump, and they don’t. Hostess of the Crystal Café, where she wears black short dress, frilly which apron, very high heels. Angie’s aunt by marriage. Calls it as she sees it, but doesn’t see it. Or calls it – because she is a kind of a “Knoxville Mrs. Malaprop” – misusing and mispronouncing words. But thinks her syntax and vocabulary’re great. Clarice is also lonely and stuck in her life and needy of love. She is trying to overcome this. Somehow. White	female	30s	Late 30s. Wears what she thinks are extremely attractive clothes that show her off, although she’s a little too plump, and they don’t. Hostess of the Crystal Café, where she wears black short dress, frilly which apron, very high heels. Angie’s aunt by marriage. Calls it as she sees it, but doesn’t see it. Or calls it – because she is a kind of a “Knoxville Mrs. Malaprop” – misusing and mispronouncing words. But thinks her syntax and vocabulary’re great. Clarice is also lonely and stuck in her life and needy of love. She is trying to overcome this. Somehow. White
Miss Duval Middle-aged woman (No male substitution, if possible). Suit, glasses. Projects a sweet, naiveté, coupled with a prissy, “I’m only here to help and I am right, good, wonderful” quality. Underneath, she wants to hang onto her job and turf above all, and is desperate that there be no cause trouble, scandal, or suspicion anywhere near her. White	female	—	Middle-aged woman (No male substitution, if possible). Suit, glasses. Projects a sweet, naiveté, coupled with a prissy, “I’m only here to help and I am right, good, wonderful” quality. Underneath, she wants to hang onto her job and turf above all, and is desperate that there be no cause trouble, scandal, or suspicion anywhere near her. White
Angie (Evangeline) A country girl. Somewhat naïve. 14. Freshman in high school. Tall, lanky, athletic build but with long, lovely hair, a soulful, beautiful face and a courageous soul. She wears make-shift athletic, then too big jeans and shirt, with her shirt-tail hanging out and later, good athletic clothes. White (see casting note)	female	—	A country girl. Somewhat naïve. 14. Freshman in high school. Tall, lanky, athletic build but with long, lovely hair, a soulful, beautiful face and a courageous soul. She wears make-shift athletic, then too big jeans and shirt, with her shirt-tail hanging out and later, good athletic clothes. White (see casting note)