“It's
all about balance” It’s Charlie Brigade against his wife, his children – it’s
Charlie against the world. Unhappy with life Charlie falls from the roof
of his house and loses his (life). He wakes up somewhere between here
and there; and while his family lives on and experiences triumph and
tragedy, all Charlie can do is watch and learn and try and to save himself.
On the day Jerry’s dreams finally came true, he died.
“An interesting examination of the prevalence of destiny and the impossibility of tricking death and bad fortune. The dialogue – particularly that of the Friend- is snappy and quite funny.” ARENA STAGE, Washington DC
“You skillfully navigate a bold and inventive structure with compelling language. The character of “Friend” is particularly powerfully imagined. We look forward to reading more of your work.” YALE REPERTORY THEATER, New Haven
BEST USE OF THEATER AS A VEHICLE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: Jim Reyland's SHELTEROn a subject close to his heart, local writer and producer Reyland crafted this drama about life among the city's homeless. Based on Reyland's own activist experience, and drawing from an actual and tragic local death, Shelter drew support from homeless organizations and helped raise awareness of one of those social ills that just won't go away. —MARTIN BRADY, NASHVILLE SCENE, OCTOBER 15TH 2007
“SHELTER”
A play in two acts
By Jim Reyland
Two wealthy brothers, one escapes with lofty ideals
the other is set free on the world with a heart full of self-pity
and a passion
for disruption. With the help of two vagrants they explore the
elusive equality of a single human life and reveal important
aspects of the tragedy of poverty and hopelessness as it unfolds
against the backdrop of an all night "cleansing" at
St. Albert Hall.