The Flutter of the Goldleaf, and Other Plays

In this one‑act drama a small‑town family wrestles with the unsettling changes brought by their son’s obsession with invention. Philo Warner, a bright but reclusive student, has turned the attic of the family cottage into a cluttered laboratory, filling the space with wires, jars and a mysterious contraption that keeps his mother awake at night. His parents, Hiram and Mary Ann, argue over whether his curiosity is a harmless pursuit or a dangerous distraction that threatens the modest grocery business they rely on.

The play captures the clash between rural tradition and the lure of scientific wonder, using sharp dialogue to expose fears, pride, and the longing for understanding. As the village doctor prepares to call in a specialist, tension builds around the question of whether Philo’s experiments will bring salvation or ruin. The setting is intimate, yet the stakes feel universal, inviting listeners to consider how ambition and family loyalty can both illuminate and unsettle everyday life.