The Dodo Bird
March 2007
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The Dodo Bird is by the American Playwright Emanuel Fried, (March 1, 1913 -February 25, 2011) “Manny” had been a teacher of creative writing at State University College at Buffalo, New York. He also served as a consultant to the area’s AFL-CIO Council officers who were charged with carrying out an arts program for labor. He had been a factory worker, a union organizer, a candidate for the U.S. Congress, a writer of fiction and non-fiction in addition to his play writing, an insurance broker, and an actor on Broadway. His first play Mark of Success, written in 1939, was not staged until more than 20 years later at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina. It was that year’s winner of their New American Playwrights’ Contest.
The Dodo Bird first appeared in the winter of 1972-73 in the issue of Drama and Theater, a magazine published by State University College, Fredonia, New York. It was first produced in 1967, an intense one act drama which explores what it means to live on the fringe of society, to be a man who failed to achieve the universal dream of being able to sustain himself and his family and ceased to live by the culture’s standards. |
The Dodo Bird represents those we often choose not to see; the guy with glazed eyes walking down the street talking to himself, carrying a bottle in a brown paper bag, maybe asking for change. All these Dodo Birds came from someplace, had parents once, maybe their own family, maybe a job.
In this play, set in a nondescript western industrial town, the Dodo Bird is fortunate to work as a millwright’s helper, due to the kindness of millwright Russ Nowark, who keeps him on despite frequent hospital visits for the d.t.’s; the job is just enough to get by on. The story of how this particular human being reached this point of desperation and isolation is revealed in one evening in a bar across the street from the foundry, where the Dodo Bird is sober, washed, and waiting for a visit from his estranged daughter. |
"Emanuel Fried's The Dodo Bird is a surprisingly interesting piece of a kind of brutal, gutsy realism we seldom see today." |
"There is tension here and a highly amusing bit when nice guy outwits brutal guy. There is also some very true language." |
"The Dodo Bird tells a highly suspenseful story and makes some highly relevant points. Mr. Fried is showing us how important job security is to maintenance of personal dignity. He is noting the predicament that faces every worker when he becomes obsolescent along with his job."
— Nathan Cohen, Toronto Daily Star
Stephan Turner first played the role of Dodo in 1997 with his Stage Actors Ensemble in Chicago. In 2007, The Gate Theater Group opened its doors with their first play The Dodo Bird. Stephan was a compelling Dodo then and he is again in this presentation. His emotional and very touching monologue at the end of the play explains how this particular situation came about. Newcomer Joel Johnson plays a ‘true to life’ Bull with returning TGTG actors Jim Matchett and Jeff Lynn playing convincing roles of Mick and Russ.
On May 11th, TGTG staged an evening performance of The Dodo Bird in Chiang Rai at the Legend River Resort & Spa.
On May 11th, TGTG staged an evening performance of The Dodo Bird in Chiang Rai at the Legend River Resort & Spa.
