Deep Blue Sound

by Abe Koogler

On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? DEEP BLUE SOUND is a funny and moving play about the connections we make—and the ones we long to make—to other people, and to the world around us.

Genres: Plays

72 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Evie Dittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid play. The dialogue between the Islanders (while sometimes trying a little too hard to be conversational) created a very vivid atmosphere, and the environmental/philosophical messages worked very well together. I care very deeply about cetaceans, and this play was a reminder that sometimes just caring isn't enough. One big complaint: the "whales" this play focuses on are specified as Orcas. Orcas are dolphins. I don't understand why this is not more common knowledge. Orcas are dolphins.

https://us.whales.org/2022/02/23/is-a...

https://nypost.com/2025/08/07/science...

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This was an interesting read. Keep in mind I was reading it with an eye to auditioning. I’m not going to be able to audition, but I sure wish I could. It is an ebb and flow story with no easily discernible plot, told in flowing vignettes. We get to know something about the island community and the inhabitants. No distinct villains, no distinct angels. It is deep and moving nonetheless. The absence of the whales is a thread running through the whole play, but ultimately is a smallish thing, with a big splash.

Recommended

[Anna Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent writing. I would love to see it staged but the ending definitely left me wanting a little bit more closure

[AJ (the.booknerd.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Really bummed I won’t actually be seeing this at TXST

Feels like a Fletcher show for sure tho lmao