Island City: Writing Is Easy; You Just Open a Vein and Bleed

By Oline Cogdill

The frustration, intensity and seemingly near impossibility of writing has been summed up by the phrase “Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead,” which has been attributed to several sources.

Anyone who writes knows how accurate that phrase, which has been attributed to several sources, sums up the difficulty of writing. All that’s changed is substitute computer screen for paper.

That also pinpoints one problem facing celebrated children’s author Ezra in the lovely Everything Beautiful Happens at Night, receiving a heartfelt run through April 26 at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors.

But Ezra faces a more severe problem than writer’s block, that he has run “dry” turning out annual books about his popular characters Chipmunk and Squirrel, which have delighted children for more than 20 years and made him wealthy.

This closeted gay man deeply wants a connection with another man that goes beyond his frequent brief encounters of anonymous sex in gay bars. Ezra needs to be in love, he desperately wants to be in love but has no idea how to achieve this. Nor can he talk to anyone about this—not his parents who live far away and have little idea that he is gay. And certainly not his long-time flinty editor Nancy who wants no discussions about his sex life or desires.

Gracefully directed by Bruce Linser with an expert cast of three, Everything Beautiful Happens at Night explores the creative process, the secrets we keep that bind us/handcuff us/prevent us from truly embracing life, the choices we make and friendship. Enhancing the production are excerpts from Ezra’s Chipmunk and Squirrel stories with lovely illustrations by multi-award-winning Filipino-American artist Bong Redila, who is based in Miami.

An editor and author of children’s books, Ted Malawer’s script packs a lot in its hour, 40-minute intermissionless running time, though the production could benefit from a 10-minute tightening. The world premiere was at Capital Stage in Sacramento, in early 2025; the Island City production marks the play’s second U.S. staging.

Everything Beautiful Happens at Night is set in New York City, beginning in the winter of 1984 through 1985 — the time frame will have a special meaning to audiences of a certain age. The answer to Ezra’s loneliness, at first, seems to be Jake, a young man he picks up in a bar.

Jake is years younger than Ezra, dressed in shabby clothes and, as Ezra learns, pretty much homeless. They are light years away in age and culture. Jake is immediately out of place in Ezra’s well-appointed Manhattan apartment. Ezra loves opera; Jake has never heard an aria. Ezra’s fastidious nature—always using a coaster, it pains him for his clothes to land on the floor, contrasts with Jake’s slovenliness.
But Jake has heard of Ezra’s books — the young man’s mother used to read those stories when he was a child. Talk about a generation gap.

Before they can settle in for an evening of stranger sex, Jake steals money from Ezra’s wallet and takes one of his valuable Chipmunk and Squirrel first-editions when the author is in the other room.

A few weeks later, Jake reappears at Ezra’s apartment. He’s been beaten and needs help but refuses to allow the author to call the police. What begins as a one-night stand grows into a real relationship. Jake learns to appreciate opera. Ezra begins to dress more stylish. And Ezra begins to write again and may just make his next deadline.

And there’s the rub.

Ezra wants to add a bit of a spin to Chipmunk and Squirrel. Not a huge change — certainly not by 2026 standards. Just three little words at the end, showing that maybe Chipmunk and Squirrel are more than friends.

Nancy goes ballistic, refusing to publish the book with the new ending, maintaining that Ezra will ruin his career, alienating the parents, teachers and librarians who have been his biggest fans.

The realistic dialogue elevates Everything Beautiful Happens at Night. But it is Island City’s terrific cast and Linser’s assured direction that invest the audience in the play. Wry humor is perfectly explored as are the growing love story, the challenges of friendships and the bittersweet turns.

Laura Turnbull, one of South Florida’s most respected actresses, delves into exploring the layers of the prickly Nancy. A curmudgeonly, work-driven editor, Nancy lives as solitary life as does Ezra, who is the closest thing she has to a friend. With her 1980s-styled hair wig, Turnbull disappears into the role of Nancy, veering from sarcastic, seemingly disgusted at discussing sex to a compassionate speech when accepting a much-deserved award for Ezra, while hiding secrets of her own.

Aidan Paul, one of South Florida’s rising young actors, makes a credible story arc as Jake as he goes from an adrift young man with no plans or hopes to a loving companion who grows up before our eyes. Paul was last seen in Zoetic Stage’s recent production of The Inheritance Part I, and gets a chance to showcase his acting mettle here.

As Erza, Christopher Dreeson shows a character at conflict with himself, wanting a relationship yet afraid to admit it, fearing the commitment that comes with it. His solace is writing, yet even that is not working for him. When Dreeson finally stands up for who he is, it is a revelation. Dreeson, last seen in Island City’s The Little Foxes, is a joy to watch.

Island City’s production team makes the most of its tiny stage with Ardean Landhis’ scenic and lighting design; W. Emil White’s costume design and David Hart’s sound.

Malawer has stated in articles that Everything Beautiful Happens at Night was partially inspired by his childhood LGBTQ author heroes Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are) and Arnold Lobel (Frog and Toad books). Experts have mentioned that those authors’ delightful books were code though the writers’ sexuality was never mentioned.

Everything Beautiful Happens at Night shows how important the power of storytelling is.

Everything Beautiful Happens at Night runs April 2 through April 26 at Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors. Performances 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday. Running time one hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. Performance times vary with a special Women’s Night on April 24. Tickets start at $45. Contact 954-928-9800 or islandcitystage.org for tickets and parking information.

Laura Turnbull and Christopher Dreeson