From the Mouths of Monsters
Photo from the world premiere of From the Mouths of Monsters at the Kennedy Center: Shannon Dorsey (left) and Tia Shearer
“ “[A] gripping, intense glimpse into the mind of 15-year-old girl struggling to find her voice—and by extension herself—amid all the forces and circumstances trying to keep her from becoming who she is meant to be.””
Show Bio
Idris Goodwin’s From the Mouths of Monsters was commissioned, developed, and premiered in a workshop production at the Kennedy Center in 2017, starring Shannon Dorsey as Michelle and Tia Shearer as all the other characters. Reviews were positive, including from DC Metro Arts’ Andra Abramson, who wrote:
“Aimed at teens…the story is sure to resonate with this age group and will remind us older folks of the stress teens are under to both fit in and stand out in today’s high-pressure world…Goodwin’s lyrical language adds at least a hint of poetry to everything the characters say and makes this play easy to listen to and digest.”
The work reflects and showcases many of Goodwin’s frequent themes and foci including beat poetry, musicality of language, the desire for authenticity, and how artists are connected through space and time. The play diverges from much of his work in terms of the speculative, and supernatural elements; however, Goodwin’s theatrical and fast-paced style compliments and enriches these ideas. CFCArts’ production will represent the Florida premiere of this play, which was recently published by Playscripts in anticipation of our production.
Further reading:
https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2017/03/11/review-mouths-monsters-kennedy-center/
https://dctheatrescene.com/2017/03/12/mouths-monsters-tya-treat-swift/ (though I feel this review misses the deeper Frankenstein connections and the thematic arc of the story)