Blackbird (play)

Blackbird is a play written in 2005 by Scottish playwright David Harrower. It was inspired in part by the crimes of sex offender Toby Studebaker, and depicts a young woman meeting a middle-aged man fifteen years after being sexually abused by him when she was twelve.

For other uses, see Blackbird (disambiguation).

Blackbird
Script cover
Written byDavid Harrower
CharactersUna, Ray
Date premiered2005
Place premieredEdinburgh Festival
Edinburgh, Scotland
Original languageEnglish
SubjectAn uneasy reunion between a woman and a middle-aged man fifteen years after he sexually abused her when she was twelve
GenreDrama
SettingOffice break room

David Harrower's Blackbird is not to be confused with the Adam Rapp play of the same name.

Synopsis

At his workplace, 55-year-old Ray is shocked to be visited by a young woman, 27-year-old Una. Fifteen years earlier, they had a sexual relationship for three months when Una was 12 and Ray was 40; subsequently, Ray had been jailed for three years for statutory rape.[1] Ultimately, they ran off together, and, while Ray was taking time to compose himself after realizing what he had just done, he left her alone in a motel room. She got worried and left to find him, which led to both of them frantically searching for one another and raising suspicions within the small coastal town where they were staying. Eventually, a couple out walking their dog took Una in and called the police after learning why she was there. Ray was then arrested and imprisoned. Upon his release, he managed to establish a reasonably successful new life under another name, but Una recognized him in a photograph and tracked him down.

Ray takes Una to the office break room, where the two engage in a long and difficult confrontation involving Una's continuing struggles to understand and come to terms with the abuse and her intensely conflicting emotions, which pivot between anger, curiosity, confusion, and even a persistent attachment to Ray, whom Una loved – and she believed that he loved her. The fearful Ray, who is himself trying to forget the past and the potential feelings he had for Una, parries her demanding questions and descriptions of her feelings and experiences, all the while uncertain of her intentions.

Film adaptation

A film adaptation of the play titled Una premiered in September 2016 at the Telluride Film Festival. The film stars Rooney Mara as Una and Ben Mendelsohn as Ray.[2]

Productions

Blackbird was commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh,[3] with a 2005 premiere at the festival, directed by Peter Stein. In February 2006, it opened at the West End Albery Theatre with Roger Allam and Jodhi May.[4] In September 2006, it was well received in Stockholm at Dramaten (Royal Dramatic Theatre), in a co-production with Helsingborg City Theatre, directed by Eva Dahlman; with Göran Stangertz and Anna Björk.[5][6][7] In the spring of 2007, the play had simultaneous American premieres by the Manhattan Theatre Club (off-Broadway) and at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. The New York production was directed by Joe Mantello,[8] and featured Jeff Daniels and Alison Pill in the lead roles. In April 2008, the play was revived by David Grindley at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, prior to a national tour of the UK.[9] In March 2008, the play opened in Mumbai, India, starring Indian film and theatre veterans Akash Khurana and Shernaz Patel. This Akvarious production was also later presented in Bangalore and in New Delhi. Shernaz Patel went on to win the award for Best Actress, for her portrayal of Una, at the 2010 Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards.[10]

A 2016 Broadway revival was mounted at the Belasco Theatre on 5 February 2016 (37 previews), and opened officially on 10 March (through 11 June 108 performances), starring Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels. It was directed by Joe Mantello.[11] It received critical praise.[12]

Blackbird had its South Korean run on 13 October to 13 November 2016, at the DCF Daemyung Culture Factory Theater in Seoul's Jongno District. Cho Jae-hyun portrayed Ray while Chae Soo-bin and Ok Ja-yeon were alternates in the role of Una.[13][14]

Awards and nominations

References
  1. "Blackbird Review: Child Rape, 15 Years Later" by Jonathan Mandell, newyorktheater.me, 18 March 2016
  2. Rooney, David (5 November 2014). "Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn to Star in Blackbird". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  3. IASH. "Former Fellow's Film Takes Flight". Retrieved 11 January 2019. News, August 2017
  4. Fisher, Philip."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Blackbird, The British Theatre Guide, May 2006
  5. Schwartz, Neil. Strömförande kontakt, Expressen, 18 September 2006
  6. Gustafsson, Asnnika."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Blackbird – en svart roll för Stangertz, Sydsvenskan, 17 January 2007
  7. Granath, Sara. Ett overgrepp pa nytt, SvD, 11 October 2007 (updated)
  8. Sommer, Elyse. A CurtainUp Review: Blackbird – CurtainUp, April 2007
  9. Thaxter, John."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Blackbird – The British Theatre Guide, April 2008
  10. Nair, Nandini."Beyond black and white", The Hindu, 8 May 2009
  11. Viagas, Robert. "Blackbird, Starring Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams, Now in Broadway Previews", Playbill, 5 February 2016
  12. "Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels stun in abuse drama" by Alexis Soloski, The Guardian, 11 March 2016
  13. 채수빈, 연극 ‘블랙버드’ 관객 호평 속 마무리
  14. 조재현, 美 브로드웨이 흥행작 연극 ‘블랙 버드’ 공연

Further reading
  • Harrower, David (2005). Blackbird (first ed.). London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-23080-6.
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