THE PLAY

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From ancient Yule time folklore to Dickens, O' Henry or even Dr. Seuss, the winter holidays have always been a time for family and community to gather around a fire, tell tales and share something spicy and sweet (and sometimes spooky.) Tales of wonder and sentiment, warmth, great humor and, yes, even ghostly yarns to make you curl up a little tighter under your covers are a hallmark of the age no matter what your background.

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In keeping with this tradition, BSB has mulled a merry evening of scary, humorous and heart-warming fare. Whether it be to find some time away from a full house or to revel in time together with family, these tales are as diverse as they are delicious. Four titles in under two hours, this is the perfect answer to a delightful and joyful night out during the busy season-- with a little something for everyone!

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Stories include:

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The Long Walk to Forever by Kurt Vonnegut is one of the author’s most lyrical stories, a subtle and cautionary tale examining his familiar theme of personal values versus social mores. Newt and Catharine had grown up next door to each other. There had always been playful, comfortable warmth between them, but never any talk of love... until this night. As Catharine finalizes preparations to marry another, Newt arrives back in town (at great personal cost) to profess an unspoken, but very real, love. Deep in the woods on a familiar, well-worn path, Newt and Catharine must resolve whether this is a short walk for old-times' sake or a long walk to forever.

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Christmas Spirit by MS Wulfgar takes place on a lonely, isolated park bench one fateful night in late December. On his way home from the annual work Christmas party, Marty Gottesman finds himself face-to-face with a chilly reckoning ripped from the pages of Yuletime folklore. In turns, frightening, honest, humorous and surprising, Christmas Spirit is an exploration of how tradition fits into a modern context and how assumptions can come undone in the wake of a simple declaration.

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The Other Room by Ariadne Blayde is the funny and heart-breaking story of Austin, a brilliant teenage astronomer who happens to have autism. When a chance encounter with a popular classmate leads to a growing connection, Austin's imagination, intelligence, and constant struggles to connect with the world around him are revealed in the form of four characters representing his inner life. The Other Room is a compelling and sensitive glimpse into a unique and misunderstood mind.

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Outside, In the Dark by Moira Mangiameli dips in and out of the recollections of Auntie Mack on Christmas Eve as she tells the tale of the ‘Crick Monster’ that stole away children, including her cousin, Lila, on the dark nights in rural Alabama when she was a teenager. A classic yule time horror tale unfolds into something deeper and more sinister as the story winds on and Auntie Mack’s “grownup eggnog” dwindles. The distinction between perception and reality blurs and the truth, inevitably, reveals itself.