A small mining town. The sounds of the tropical Ituri rain forest. The Democratic Republic of Congo. / A bar, makeshift furniture and a rundown pool table. A lot of effort has gone into making the worn bar cheerful. A stack of plastic washtubs rests in the corner. An old car battery powers the audio system, a covered birdcage sits conspicuously in the corner of the room.
-- Stage Directions (Act 1, Scene 1)

Importance: The stage directions quoted here create a concise, vivid sense of setting and context for the play's action. Note the attention to both the contents of the room and the sense of the nearby world outside.

He believed as long as the words of the forest people were spoken, the spirits would stay alive.
-- Mama Nada (Act 1, Scene 1)

Importance: In this quote that describes the recently deceased owner of the cranky parrot that lives in her shop, Mama Nadi metaphorically refers to the lives and stories not just of...