December 1, 2005
Gr 7 Up -Two sophisticated plays based on the theme of the power of love. In "Wild Girl, Wild Boy", Elaine, who has lost her father, finds comfort in the -wild boy - who comes to visit her and whom only she can see. Her mother fears that her daughter has lost her wits from grief. Eventually, Elaine persuades her to trust in the power of their love for their deceased father and husband, and the two begin to build a new life -one that has room for fantasy, hope, and dreams. "Skellig", based on Almond's novel by the same name, also includes a strong element of fantasy. Young Michael's family moves to a new home just as his baby sister is born. When his jealousy overwhelms him, he retreats to the dilapidated garage on their property and discovers that a strange old man named Skellig is living there. Fascinated by the recluse's eccentricities, Michael and his friend Mina discover that he is no ordinary mortal. When it becomes clear that Michael's newborn sister could die from a weak heart, the boy enlists Skellig's help in saving her. Well written and serious in nature, both plays have a strong spiritual element. The author's afterword explains the subtleties of writing drama vs. prose. Almond's plays -well received in Britain, as evidenced by their extensive tour and by the fact that Trevor Nunn was involved in staging one of them -will appeal to savvy thespians looking for a challenge. They will be of greater interest to and more appropriate for schools (middle through college) with strong theater departments, rather than for general collections." -Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI"
Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 1, 2005
Gr. 5-8. Almond's exquisite novel " Skellig" (1998) was dramatized and performed in London at the Young Vic. The play is reproduced here, along with a shorter play, " Wild" " Girl, Wild Boy," which has been performed for youngsters across England. What both have in common is the stirring use of magical realism to show the delicacy and strength of grieving young people, who refuse to conform and be tamed. Even those unfamiliar with " Skellig" will be swept into the drama of Michael, whose sister hovers near death as he cares for an old tramp, who turns out to have angel's wings. In " Wild Girl, Wild Boy, "Elaine, unable to read or write, conjures up Wild Boy as she grieves for her dead father and remembers his love of the wilderness. In dynamic stage confrontations, the conformists yell insults at the girl who doesn't fit in. The fast action and colloquial dialogue in both works root the beautiful fantasy in everyday life. Almond's splendid afterword raises questions about truth, lies, and storytelling, as well as the roles of writer, reader, actor, and audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2006
"Two Plays" includes a revised script to the dramatization of Almond's novel "Skellig" as well as the script of "Wild Girl, Wild Boy", an earlier play. Almond further pares his already aural language, intensifying its rhythmic and musical qualities to ensure energy in performance. He preserves the stories' ambiance of mystical surreality by using repetition and multiple voices.
(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)