Shoulberg’s one-woman play ‘Girl on the Wing’ premieres

Paul Shoulberg’s one-woman play “Girl on the Wing,” starring Anjanette Armstrong, premiered Friday at the Bloomington Playwrights Project.\n“Girl on the Wing” tells the story of MJ – or Margaret Jesus – a girl who is frustrated with more than just her given name. The play documents her life from birth to young adulthood. \nThe story begins with MJ inside of her mother’s womb, which Armstrong simulates by wrapping herself in a blanket. The play continues with memorable moments in her life such as her tenth birthday party, a scene in which she passes around cake to the audience, and the loss of her virginity. These scenes combine to share MJ’s inner life through moments of perkiness, humor and darkness.\nThe story explores poignant themes such as experiencing romance for the first time, missing a mother who deserted her family and being mired in an uncommunicative relationship with an overbearing Christian father. With only a few props on stage, the one-hour show delves into MJ’s range of moods and thoughts. It even incorporates a clever film-noir styled section, in which Armstrong wears a fedora, smokes a cigarette and speaks in the third person about her childhood experiences with her mother. \nShoulberg found the experience of writing a one-woman show to be a challenge compared with writing multi-character plays. \n“It’s like writing fiction, like a short story. I had to think in different rhythms. Usually you are playing off of different characters talking, but (in this case) you constantly need to create new energy with the same character.” \nArmstrong also agreed that “Girl in the Wing” poses unique challenges to her because it is her first time performing a one-woman show. \n“Just learning that many lines, usually there’s another person who can take some of the pressure off,” she said. \n“The Girl on the Wing” is inspired by a Shins song of the same title, said Shoulberg. Unlike many of his previous works, the title came to him before he developed the concept of the piece. At that time, he knew he wanted to write a one-woman show for Armstrong but was still sifting through various ideas. The entire play took him about four weeks to write – a quick pace for many playwrights, but longer than usual for him, Shoulberg said. \nShoulberg and Armstrong have known each other since 2005. The year before, Shoulberg met producer and director Tom Robson and sound designer Matt Reynolds, both of whom are involved in the production of the play. “Girl on the Wing” is the second production on which the team has collaborated together.