Leaves of Autumn
Frank Murphy sees the world differently. A firefighter with a high school education but a philosopher's mind, he notices details others miss - a skill that's saved lives on the job and created a rich inner life at home.
When lymphoma returns after six years in remission, Frank struggles to share his perspective with his college-age son James before time runs out. "You see trees," he tells his son from his hospital bed. "I see leaves."
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Through fragments of memory - Frank's rebellious days at a Jesuit school, solitary nights at a Maine lighthouse, proud moments with his three children, and a final movie outing with James - we witness a seemingly ordinary life filled with extraordinary awareness.
A year after Frank's death, James finally understands what his father tried to teach him: life isn't measured in achievements but in moments fully witnessed - in leaves that are most vibrant just before they fall.
Told with humor, heartbreak and hope, "Leaves of Autumn" reminds us that how we choose to see the world defines how deeply we live within it.
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Read Leaves of Autumn here.
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Running Time: Approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes, with one intermission.
Themes
At its heart, "Leaves of Autumn" explores the profound difference between merely existing and truly seeing the world. Through firefighter Frank Murphy's journey with terminal cancer, the play examines how our perception shapes our experience of life. Frank's philosophy—that we should notice individual "leaves" rather than just "trees"—becomes a powerful metaphor for mindful awareness and finding meaning in life's fleeting moments.
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The play contrasts formal education with wisdom, challenging assumptions about who possesses intellectual depth. As Frank struggles to pass his perspective to his college-aged son before time runs out, we witness the complexity of family legacies—how the most valuable inheritance may be a way of seeing rather than tangible possessions.
Through its narrative structure of memories and flashbacks, "Leaves of Autumn" suggests that a life's meaning emerges not from grand achievements but from accumulated moments of attention and presence. Like autumn leaves that are most vibrant just before they fall, the play affirms that awareness of mortality can intensify our appreciation for life's ordinary beauty.
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Contact
For inquiries regarding production rights and licensing for Leaves of Autumne, please contact:
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Marc Wisdom
Email: mwisdom562@gmail.com
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All rights reserved. Gentle Shadows is protected by copyright. No part of this play may be performed, reproduced, or adapted without written permission from the author or their authorized representative. Professional and amateur production rights available.
