Theatrefolk Featured Play: The Magic Diary of Mozambique

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. Are your students tired of fairy tales? The Magic Diary of Mozambique by Chris Stiles is a challenging, character driven, story driven piece for middle schoolers that gives them something new and exciting to sink their teeth into.

Darla feels invisible and that nothing goes her way. She wishes she had a better life. When her globetrotting sister gives her a diary, Darla thinks it's just another dumb present. Then, bizarre things start happening and suddenly EVERYTHING'S going Darla's way.

The diary, she discovers, gives her everything she wishes for: good grades, popular friends, lavish gifts from her parents… She's the top dog!

But there are consequences to being on top. Killer roses, an out-of-control golf game and a raccoon invasion send Darla into a tizzy. How will she make it right? Be careful what you wish for.

Why did we publish this play?

This play is delightful. We love the characters, and we love that it's written specifically for middle schools. It addresses how many middle schoolers feel and probably how they wish they could deal with their situation. (you'll have to read the play to find  that out). When we first read it, we had never seen anything like it available for middle school performers and that's why we published it. If your students are sick of doing fairy tales, do yourself a favour and go read the sample pages for this play!

Let's hear from the author!

1. Why did you write this play?

It was a long time ago I wrote this, but I remember much of my motivation for writing Magic Diary was a frustration in searching for good plays for young actors. The idea for this play popped into my head, and I wrote the whole thing sitting at the public pool while my daughters swam.

2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences?

I didn’t write it with a theme in mind, but I guess I’d say the theme Is finding contentment and happiness with what you have, not with what you want.

3. What's the most important visual for you in this play?

I don’t feel visuals are important for this play.  It’s very much an acting and emotion based play. If anything, it’s sound that’s important, the sound of thousands of raccoons descending on Darla’s house (sounds more like a horror movie than a comedy drama when I say it like that, doesn’t it?). But really, it’s a lot of fun to get a bunch of young actors to make raccoon noises.

4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be?

I don’t feel visuals are important for this play.  It’s very much an acting and emotion based play. If anything, it’s sound that’s important, the sound of thousands of raccoons descending on Darla’s house (sounds more like a horror movie than a comedy drama when I say it like that, doesn’t it?). But really, it’s a lot of fun to get a bunch of young actors to make raccoon noises.

5. Why is this play great for student performers?

The Magic Diary of Mozambique is a great play for students because the themes and emotions are very relatable to young people. And the mystic element is fun as well.

6. Who is your favourite character in the play?

I’m not gonna lie, I full on would want to be a raccoon in this play. That’s the funniest part! You get to make animal noises, throw things around backstage to make crashing noises… in the initial production, we even set up a glass breaking station with a box, hammer and (most importantly) gloves and safety glasses. It was a blast!

7. What is your favourite line in the play?

My favorite line is a line I thought had little importance, but got a huge laugh in performance: “That was no squirrel.”