Have you ever had a day that started out ordinary but took a sudden turn towards adventure? The play A Very Long Night starts with an ordinary evening in the life of a girl named Skye. Skye prefers candy to broccoli and would rather play outside than read or study. (Can you relate?) She and her mom argue about these preferences, with Gram as Skye’s ally. What happens later is anything but ordinary.
Before the first scene, playwright James Kolditz identifies the setting of the play and its cast of characters.
Setting: Pine Hollow, Oregon; present day
Cast of Characters
SKYE: 11-year old girl; curious and adventurous
MAMA: Skye’s mother; late 30s; caring and sweet
GRAM: Skye’s grandmother; physically frail, but youthful in spirit
ARWEN: 13-year old girl; precocious and serious
CALLEN: 13-year old boy; rough and tumble with a good sense of humor
What clue does the Cast of Characters give you about the events to come?
Read the first scene of A Very Long Night. Notice how the author sets the scene before the dialogue starts.
Question
What do you learn about Skye’s living situation from the first scene?
