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Overview

Synopsis

When Charlotte Blossom’s beloved Aunt Olivia, a famous and eccentric artist, is dying of cancer, the whole family -- husband Wally, a composer with writer’s block; son Turner, a classical guitar prodigy; and daughter Pony, a girl with a fearful imagination -- take a road trip all the way from New York to Taos, New Mexico, to say goodbye. Along the way, they encounter an adorable newborn, a precocious psychic, mysterious nighttime noises, and the knowledge that we are born as fish, and to fish we do return. With emotion heightened by major changes and regular road trip anxiety, the members of the Blossom family must each come to terms with their place in the cycle of life. Tina Howe’s Approaching Zanzibar is both intimate and grand, a glorious and magically absurd romp through a vast American landscape and the inner workings of the human family, and the human heart.

Show Information

Book
Tina Howe
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1989
Genres
Drama
Settings
Contemporary, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1980s, 1990s, august, on the road, the blue ridge mountains, a tent, asheville, north carolina, the smoky mountains, oklahoma city, texas, taos, new mexico
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Charlotte Blossom

Lead

Female

Spoken

Wallace Blossom

Lead

Male

Spoken

Turner Blossom

Lead

Male

Spoken

Pony Blossom

Lead

Female

Spoken

Scotty Childs

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Olivia Childs

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Joy Childs

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Randy Wands

Featured

Male

Spoken

Amy Childs

Featured

Female

Spoken

Dalia Paz

Featured

Female

Spoken

Dr. Sybil Wren

Featured

Female

Spoken

Palace St. John

Featured

Female

Spoken

Fletcher St. John

Featured

Male

Silent

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Key Terms

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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