Water Wonder by Cheryl McNamara

Eleven-year-old Richard is feeling a little friendless and insecure about his love for the woods near his home. He can’t even get the Cardinal to eat from his hand. It doesn’t quite trust him. His best friend Tyler would rather destroy things than appreciate them. Richard must also contend with his nerves. He never believed that the woods were haunted, until he and Tyler see the ghost of a strange woman after fighting over a water gun. They flee.

Richard asks his older sister, Stacey for advice on saving his friendship with Tyler, and if she believes in ghosts. She doesn’t. Stacey articulates what he hates to admit. Tyler is the only friend he has.

Richard returns to the only friend he’s got: the woods. He encounters a charming businessman named Spark who tells him of his plans to transform the woods into Wonder Water - a state-of-the-art water processing plant. Cardinal listens in.

Shocked that his favourite place is about to be destroyed, Richard begins a journey of discovery and empowerment. On a quest to find out just what makes the brook in his wood taste so good, Richard consults once again with his sister who, through a string exercise, teaches him about interconnectivity and resiliency.

Richard returns to Spark, who isn’t convinced by what Richard has learned. The “ghost” makes an appearance. Really, she’s an older woman and rather mysterious. She tells Richard about the Mayor who she knew as a child. She informs him that the mayor once loved to fish in the woods and attempted to build a fort, her safe place. The mysterious woman convinces Richard to appeal to the Mayor to save the woods.

Richard visits the Mayor, hopeful he will change her mind, but she is too busy to think about the importance of nature or spend quality time with her own grandson, Tyler. She intimates that Richard is not the only one concerned about the proposed plant but dismisses their fears as overblown.

Feeling that no one is listening, Richard returns to the woods where he feels safe. He expresses his frustration that no one comes to the woods to feel its magic. The mysterious woman informs him that he feels the presence of the Spirt of the Woods. The woman tells Richard her name - Terra. When birds sound an alarm, Terra tells Richard that the Mayor and Spark are on their way to where they are. They hide and the woman disappears. The Mayor and Spark show up to discuss concerns about Water Wonder. Cardinal appears, reminding the Mayor of the time she spent in the woods as a child. Richard and Cardinal learn that the Mayor may be the deciding vote in town council to green-light the project.

Richard comes up with a plan. He tricks Tyler and the Mayor to meet in the woods. Tyler convinces his grandmother to stay, prompting her to reminisce about her childhood and connect with her grandson. Richard eventually joins them, and his ploy is revealed. The Mayor is presented with a choice to either stay and enjoy her time with her grandson or return to council to vote in support of Wonder Water. After a difficult decision, the Mayor decides to return to council to vote against the water plant, and to return to enjoy the day with Tyler and Richard. The boys run off to see the vote.

Terra rejoices, transforms into Cardinal and flies off.

The next day, Spark visits the woods to say goodbye to his Wonder Water dream. Richard greets him and speaks to him about learning from nature to develop innovative products. Curious, Spark asks Richard how to begin. Richard invites Spark to sit with him and listen. Cardinal joins them.

First Produced: 2016 at the Toronto Fringe Festival, St. George the Martyr Church (outdoors), Toronto, ON
Also produced by the Carousel Players, St. Catharines ON, November 2019 and Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay ON, April 2026

Keywords:  Nature, environment, YPT, youth activism, friendship