The Tingalary Bird

The Tingalary Bird is a classic among "theater of the avant-garde" pieces for young people, recognizing that youngsters would be quick—often quicker than adults—to accept and grasp an absurdist plot and be absorbed by haunting, unanswered questions and images on a stage where nothing is as it seems to be. Imagine, if you will, a birdcage made of string which suddenly ripples with the majestic music of an antique Irish harp as the Old Man strums it. Imagine that music lifting the Old Woman to dizzying heights as she flies giddily through the air. A few minutes later it is only a poor drab birdcage again, and the Old Woman scoffs at the suggestion that she flew. Which is real? Audiences are held enthralled by the power of the language, and actors find an exciting opportunity playing the intriguing roles.