Colby Halloran

Responses

PRESS & RECOGNITION:

The Northeast Corner:

Bird of Passage:

TESTIMONIALS:

The Northeast Corner:

    The Northeast Corner is written with a startling vivid economy of words. Colby Halloran takes us into the mind and world of her younger self with such directness that one can, as she does, struggle to find one’s bearings. She reports in the Acknowledgements that her writing teacher once said to her “Now tell me what you’ve seen this week with those Goddamned eyes of yours.” Indeed. Those eyes (and ears) have taken in all the nuances and subtle gestures that make up the distinct language a family develops in confronting joy and peril. What she sees and hears is deeply felt and honestly reported; I was entranced and enchanted throughout What a unique voice. What a unique writer.” —Michael Pardy

    “With her persistent and keen eye for understanding her family and uncovering the truth, Colby Halloran’s novel recounts how love can mean facing—and accepting—very confusing complications. She strives to “tell it to us straight.” And she succeeds. “The Northeast Corner” is beautifully written; every word is precise and honest. She honored the life she was given. Her people and her place.” — Susan Szeliga, Librarian, Brooklyn, New York

    Bird of Passage:

    “Bird of Passage is in a word — mesmerizing. As I watched the finely crafted production performed at Bagaduce Theater I am sure my pupils were dilated to the max — it hits on all cylinders. Humorous, clever and full of life’s lessons–it’s authentic feel is never in doubt. Best of all is the transport from a remote cottage on an island in Maine to a farmhouse in Wales and then back again to a mysterious fish house just paces away from all the action on stage. That’s the artistry of true travel. Bird of Passage is a gift. — Charley Williams, Orlando, FL

    “Bird of Passage is the best play I’ve seen in years! The growing depths of relationship, humor, spirit as muse, expressions that come to life, the painful yet freeing lesson of writing from the heart – these and more are creatively used to present Bird of Passage .Thank you for building upon “The Ledge” to create this thoughtful, sometimes intense, and sometimes sublimely funny world for us to absorb ourselves in and be transported by. I loved every moment and every word of this play. Bird of Passage is a gem. Colby Halloran is an insightful playwright. I highly recommend seeing this play, you will be glad you did. — Sheila Corbett, Castine, ME

    “My first encounter with Colby was at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1977. I knew her then as a gifted actor, but never guessed that we would reconnect years later in her new identity as playwright with Bird of Passage. This is a gripping piece of work, with echoes of authors as disparate as Chekhov and Stephen King. One of the hardest challenges in drama is to artfully blend the eerie and the comical, but Colby has managed this. It’s also difficult to successfully portray an artist onstage… another laudable achievement. Bird of Passage deserves a much wider audience, and I sincerely hope it finds one.” — Steve Lawson, former Executive Director, Williamstown Film Festival / former Literary Manager, Williamstown Theatre Festival

    “I’m hard pressed to find words to describe how enchanted and moved I am by this play.  Although a major character is a ghost, the play is rooted in reality, with beautifully defined characters and relationships.  This is the only play I can think of that successfully delves into the struggles of writers with their craft and does so with real insight as well as humor.  Bird of Passage is a very touching play with a wry sense of humor.” — Tandy Cronyn, Actor, after attending a reading of Bird of Passage.

    Bird of Passage has stayed with me ever since I directed a reading of it. The beautifully drawn characters inhabit a world where boundaries are truly blurred, between truth and lies, the living and the dead. It’s haunting and unique in so many ways. A dream play for actors and directors.” — Alexandra Aron, theater director / producer, New York City

    “Colby Halloran has written a marvelous play about home, love, work, destiny and death — and perhaps joy after death. Bird of Passage will move you with it’s wry sweetness and its story of a woman between two worlds, this one … and the next.” — Michael Cullen, NY actor

    “Colby Halloran’s play, Bird of Passage, has the richness of a Williams play and harkens back to Synge’s island plays. Profound, nuanced and emotional, the play explores the gutwrenching work of raw creativity and revels in a love of the spoken word.” — Glenn Bugala, Director