The Water Falls.

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The water falls., a penetrating drama written by Quest Affiliate Artist, Willy Conley, delves into the world of a young deaf man trying to comprehend the death of his hearing grandfather.

" The play is a reflection on loss. The loss of a grandparent can be quite profound," Conley says, "with repercussions for several generations." Indeed, when Jed experiences the suicide of his grandfather the pain is compounded by a chronic failure to communicate. "Communication is addressed on a universal level," the playwright observes. "My two deaf characters just happen to be deaf."

The water falls. is part detective story, part semi-autobiographical vignette, according to Conley, who has a Master of Arts degree in playwriting from Boston University, where he studied under Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Towson University.

" What I like about this play, and about Willy Conley's writing in particular is that while he does come from a 'deaf space' he relates a human experience," says Tim McCarty, president of Quest Productions.

An avant-garde, surrealist theatrical experience, The water falls "is a non-linear play, and we were concerned that the audience would get lost," McCarty says. "But that's the power of the play: once they figure out it's happening in Jed's head, it becomes a detective story."