“Amy and Katy stumble upon a place they have passed countless times but never really seen. A quiet clearing in the woods, where an old stone wall has become home to hundreds of painted stones.
They meet Jay who seems to know everything about the stones. She tells them that each carries a message from a stranger; a thought, a memory, a hope, an expression of love or loss. Jay encourages them to stop, look and listen. In a world of instant messaging and instant lives, these simple stones offer something different. That anonymous words can remain long after their creators have gone.
As Amy and Katy begin to understand the meaning behind the stones, they discover that the messages are not really about the people who left them. They are about the people who find them. A few words from a stranger can suddenly feel intensely personal, offering comfort, recognition or hope at precisely the moment it is needed.
But who was Jay? Simply another visitor to this hidden place, or something more? Perhaps Jay has met strangers here before and with a purpose: to make people stop, look, listen and remember.
As they leave to create their own stones, Amy and Katy understand that they have become part of something much bigger than themselves: an invisible conversation between strangers, carried across time through simple words painted on stones. Stones which have been given something which makes them priceless. A heart.”
NOTES
Running time: approx 10 minutes. This brief play has been written with three female characters, Jay, Katy and Amy but gender is irrelevant for the storytelling. Given the nature of the writing it is best suited to teenager performers. I would strongly advise against breaking this play up to create additional characters or sharing the dialogue out. Further restructuring of the dialogue would dilute it and (IMHO) would not work.
It will be seen from the script that the play can be performed in any space without the need for any technical requirements. It simply needs a bench of any type and several stones which are located on the floor.
It is written and intended for performance purposes (and of a duration) to be used alongside other pieces.
There is a lot to explore in an educational setting with this story. Having prepared for and performed this short play, I think there are opportunities for additional work. Maybe, creating their own stones with their own messages, remembrances, positive and reflective; even creating their own space for them? There’s a thought! MPR
