Graven Images

With Playwright Stephanie Buckley

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

When my husband was a kid, his family took a vacation to Amish country.  My in-laws were (and are) enthusiastic picture-takers who were told “No pictures, please!” many times during the trip.  I thought it would be interesting to mash up the Amish’s discomfort with having their images captured with online learning which usually requires teachers and students to have their images captured.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

I was pushed (by Eldridge) to expand the teacher role.  In doing so, I exposed my own stubborn focus on how my students will use what learn in the future rather than just acknowledging that learning can be its own joy.  Therefore, my favorite line in GRAVEN IMAGES has become my new philosophy of education: “… Maybe, in this world, we listen to each other’s speeches because we are actually interested.  In this world, we sleep when we are tired, and homework is optional….  In this world, we can learn to communicate with quiet people who seem like they don’t have much to say.”

WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?

The well-intentioned-but-sometimes-mediocre teacher is me.  The students are an amalgam of twenty years of students who continue to surprise me with the ability to thrive in challenging situations.

WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?

I set out use a little bit of physics and a little bit of philosophy to criticize our over-photographed culture.  Instead, I celebrated humanity’s ability to find the silver linings in misfortunes.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

Creating plays that can be performed during the pandemic has been my silver lining.  I am so thankful to be able to share them with a larger audience.