the Natural Differences Series

When Uncle Leonard is asked by a nephew to tell him a story, we see the told tale: Leonard meets a near twin on a path in the park, who challenges him, saying, "You're different than I am.".

The same fable as Chapter 1, but for his niece, Leonard tells the story by wrapping it in the natural beauty of a Michigan woods, in the middle of winter. A still photos saga of an angry man amidst the shine of snow, ice and frigid waters.

When Leonard's son asks grandma to read the new picture book that came in the mail... Low and behold, it tells our fable from the point of view of the angry man who stops Leonard in a fit of anger. Illustrations by Jen Koppin.

Prompted by another nephew, Leonard switches his role in the fable to that of an African American nature lover. With the same narration as Chapter 1, does this tell a different story? Or not? Tell us what you think in our blog.

Leonard's niece, Samira, drifts off to sleep while listening to his band. And she dreams. Her dream of Leonard's story is both darker and more surreal than our other versions of this fable. Filmed on stage as a minimalist, mime performance.