#caseywells

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR CASEY - FROM GABRIELA

OMG I CANNOT BELIEVE I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THIS SORRY IT DOES NOT MEAN I’M NOT CASEY’S BIGGEST FAN (SPOILER: I AM). I WILL WRITE A LOT TO MAKE UP FOR THIS WOO!

HI CASEY!!! It is no secret that you are one of the most committed, generous, and caring writer-leader-mentor-s on this campus. Your prowess and particular, innovative, hopeful voice comes through in every genre you master. I am so, so sorry you’re sick with covid and am sending hugs from afar - I am likely echoing the sentiments of our cohort in saying “HERE FOR YOU”! If you need coffee, food, emergen-c, tea, covid test, anything, let me know - I can totally drop stuff off (THAT GOES FOR YOU TOO DEVONY<3<3). I’m rooting not only for you Casey, but also for your characters, who I CARE ABOUT SO MUCH (despite being male *I am relatively unforgiving/un-grace-ful when it comes to traditionally-masculine-men*). This is a play that uniquely speaks to an audience that might not always be on board for theatre/feeling free to feel feelings. This is a play that reimagines a coming-of-age story or odyssey into something that’s not chronological, that is gloriously messy, that feels expansive, and that I trust can move and transform audiences already. You have it all down - all this weekend is about is playing a little and seeing what matters most to you for now. You’ll soon travel and maybe uncover the meaning of life while you’re at it… which I imagine could bring more clarity to every project ever lol. Good things coming, my friend. Stay strong through the ‘vid and through this non-final draft.

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Gabriela - Comics for Casey's Play

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Anna - Comics for Casey

The New Yorker

Peanuts

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Gabriela - Notes for Casey!

Casey!! Felicidades on this beautiful ending. Below are some things I'm thinking about/questions I have here! Excited about this work.

One smaller note: I totally empathize with and understand Daniel not crying at his father's funeral; the shock of that loss, especially when it's a prolonged illness, breeds a numbness. But maybe there's something more to this. (Later I definitely think the not crying is another story; grief is a 'thirsting beast'!) I do think what I'm curious about, then, are the questions below. What does the tear collector consider "abnormal" for this character?

Big picture questions: I'm very curious about the focal point of these last pages and how they relate to the rest of the play. What is each character working toward/struggling with? Is it the crying/not having cried in years? Is it the acknowledging of one's emotions versus the urge to say "I'm a good old chap-man and I'm fine"? Is it the publicly showing emotion? Is it sharing emotion? Is it the dealing with loss (loss of father seems to be very important to multiple characters in this ending)? Is it the open communication? Is it the admitting that this unfeeling man ideal isn't the person each character wants to be? I'm curious and excited to understand which question or questions feel most exciting to you and important to this play/the characters you plan to highlight.

Thank you again! I hope this is helpful, and I'm here if you have any other questions!