Blackbird is a play written in 2005 by Scottish playwright David Harrower. It was inspired in part by the crimes of sex offenderToby Studebaker, and depicts a young woman meeting a middle-aged man fifteen years after being sexually abused by him when she was twelve.
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.
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 Review: Child Rape, 15 Years Later" by Jonathan Mandell, newyorktheater.me, 18 March 2016
^Rooney, David (5 November 2014). "Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn to Star in Blackbird". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
^IASH. "Former Fellow's Film Takes Flight". Retrieved 11 January 2019. News, August 2017
^Fisher, Philip.. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011. Blackbird, The British Theatre Guide, May 2006
^Schwartz, Neil.[1] Strömförande kontakt, Expressen, 18 September 2006
^Gustafsson, Asnnika."Blackbird - en svart roll för Stangertz - Kultur & Nöjen - Sydsvenskan-Nyheter Dygnet Runt". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011. Blackbird – en svart roll för Stangertz, Sydsvenskan, 17 January 2007
^Granath, Sara.[2] Ett overgrepp pa nytt, SvD, 11 October 2007 (updated)
^Sommer, Elyse.[3] A CurtainUp Review: Blackbird – CurtainUp, April 2007
^Thaxter, John.. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011. Blackbird – The British Theatre Guide, April 2008
^Nair, Nandini."Beyond black and white", The Hindu, 8 May 2009
^Viagas, Robert. "Blackbird, Starring Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams, Now in Broadway Previews", Playbill, 5 February 2016
^"Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels stun in abuse drama" by Alexis Soloski, The Guardian, 11 March 2016
Actors Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams discuss the revival of David Harrower's acclaimed 2005 play, Blackbird, Charlie Rose
January 23, 2023
blackbird, play, other, uses, blackbird, disambiguation, blackbird, play, written, 2005, scottish, playwright, david, harrower, inspired, part, crimes, offender, toby, studebaker, depicts, young, woman, meeting, middle, aged, fifteen, years, after, being, sexu. For other uses see Blackbird disambiguation 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 BlackbirdScript coverWritten byDavid HarrowerCharactersUna RayDate premiered2005Place premieredEdinburgh FestivalEdinburgh ScotlandOriginal languageEnglishSubjectAn uneasy reunion between a woman and a middle aged man fifteen years after he sexually abused her when she was twelveGenreDramaSettingOffice break roomDavid Harrower s Blackbird is not to be confused with the Adam Rapp play of the same name Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Film adaptation 3 Productions 4 Awards and nominations 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksSynopsis EditAt 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 EditA 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 EditBlackbird 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 Goran Stangertz and Anna Bjork 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 Edit2006 Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play 2016 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play nomination 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play Jeff Daniels nomination 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play Michelle Williams nominationReferences Edit Blackbird Review Child Rape 15 Years Later by Jonathan Mandell newyorktheater me 18 March 2016 Rooney David 5 November 2014 Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn to Star in Blackbird Indiewire com Retrieved 17 February 2016 IASH Former Fellow s Film Takes Flight Retrieved 11 January 2019 News August 2017 Fisher Philip The British Theatre Guide Reviews Blackbird Albery Archived from the original on 17 November 2011 Retrieved 22 November 2011 Blackbird The British Theatre Guide May 2006 Schwartz Neil 1 Stromforande kontakt Expressen 18 September 2006 Gustafsson Asnnika Blackbird en svart roll for Stangertz Kultur amp Nojen Sydsvenskan Nyheter Dygnet Runt Archived from the original on 22 July 2012 Retrieved 22 November 2011 Blackbird en svart roll for Stangertz Sydsvenskan 17 January 2007 Granath Sara 2 Ett overgrepp pa nytt SvD 11 October 2007 updated Sommer Elyse 3 A CurtainUp Review Blackbird CurtainUp April 2007 Thaxter John The British Theatre Guide Reviews Blackbird The Rose of Kingston and Touring Archived from the original on 17 November 2011 Retrieved 22 November 2011 Blackbird The British Theatre Guide April 2008 Nair Nandini Beyond black and white The Hindu 8 May 2009 Viagas Robert Blackbird Starring Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams Now in Broadway Previews Playbill 5 February 2016 Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels stun in abuse drama by Alexis Soloski The Guardian 11 March 2016 채수빈 연극 블랙버드 관객 호평 속 마무리 조재현 美 브로드웨이 흥행작 연극 블랙 버드 공연Further reading EditHarrower David 2005 Blackbird first ed London Faber amp Faber ISBN 0 571 23080 6 External links EditActors Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams discuss the revival of David Harrower s acclaimed 2005 play Blackbird Charlie Rose Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blackbird play amp oldid 1113468420, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
