The Syringa Tree
by Pamela Gien

The Syringa Tree Book Cover
The Syringa Tree Cover

Highlights

120 mins All Women Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle) Bare Stage/Simple Set

Awards & Recognition

Obie Award

Winner! 2001 Obie Award for Best Play

Synopsis

THE STORY: THE SYRINGA TREE is a personal, deeply evocative story of an abiding love between two families—one black, one white—and the two children that are born into their shared household in early 1960s South Africa.

With both humor and palpable fear, six-year-old Elizabeth Grace tries to make sense of the chaos, magic and darkness of Africa.

At first seen through the eyes of a child, the story of these families’ destinies spans four generations, from early apartheid to the present-day free South Africa.

Press Reviews

"Instantly engaging, exotic, complex, deeply shocking…a thoroughly persuasive transport to a time and a place…stun[s] with the power of a gut punch…” —The New York Times. “A tour-de-force solo drama…emotionally powerful without being overtly political; audiences regularly emerge from the theater crying.” —The New Yorker. “…THE SYRINGA TREE is a powerful play.” —Wall Street Journal. “Astonishing…affecting…[with] a dramatic and heartbreaking conclusion…A deceptive sweet simplicity haunts THE SYRINGA TREE…” —Associated Press. “The work is a virtuoso piece…"

— New York Daily News

Publication

ISBN-13 9780822217923
ISBN-10 0822217929

The Syringa Tree is a play written by Pamela Gien and published by Dramatists Play Service .

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Rating

4.2

60 ratings · 119 reviews

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Performance Rights

Available for Licensing
Amateur & Professional
Fee: Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Restrictions: Major Markets Plus (US) / Standard Plus Add'l Postcodes (UK)

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