The Disapparation of James





A REMARKABLE – Illusion In Several Chapters Performed By An Incomparable Mistress Of The Quill.


James Woodrow – a BOY Greta Woodrow – his SISTER Hannah Woodrow – their MOTHER Justin Woodrow – their FATHER Mike – a CLOWN Tom Johnson – a POLICEMAN ...and various & sundry other PHYSICIANS, PSYCHIATRISTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, WELL-WISHERS, and PROUD OFFICERS OF THE LAW


THE WOODROWS, a familial group of EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARINESS, make their way to THE CIRCUS IN CELEBRATION of young Greta's coming of a certain age, to wit, seven. IN a SPECTACULAR ILLUSION involving both the youngest member of the Woodrow clan and A SIMPLE WOODEN CHAIR, the precient and prestidigitating MIKE THE CLOWN makes young JAMES VANISH in a CLOUD OF AMAZEMENT. The MAGIC is transmutated into PANIC when James FAILS UTTERLY TO RETURN FROM HIS VANISHMENT. THE AFTERMATH of this EXTRAORDINARY EVENT mixes in a POLICE INVESTIGATION, the agonizations of PARENTS NEAR INSANITY, the doleful meanderings of a REGRETFUL JESTER and the QUESTIONING OF THE VERY LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE! You will be well advised not to miss this DELIGHTFUL AND DASTARDLY DISAPPARATION!

POLICE TAKE NOTICE: Those without shoes or pants will not be permitted to remain in the theatre overlong.


CHAPTER I – James Woodrow's parents have never seen him SO EXCITED. The boy sits between Hannah and Justin in their orchestra-section seats, BOBBING UP & DOWN on his springy plush chair and SINGING some James-like song to himself. His father caresses his thin orange hair and assures him, “THE SHOW WILL START SOON, buddy, settle down, okay?” while exchanging PUZZLED GLANCES with his wife. James’s sister, Greta, is rhythmically kicking the chair in front of her, SQUAWKING EMPHATICALLY. Their mother, strategically placed in between the children, whispers, “Shhhh, Greta, sweetie, don’t do that.” –programme continues–


Children who are habitually QUIET and WELL-BEHAVED are welcome to ENJOY THE SHOW, and will be charged the same as adults. Please do not make any LOUD NOISES during the performance, as this may STARTLE THE ACTORS and cause them to FORGET THEIR LINES. An ACOUSTICON is available for those with difficulties in hearing. Parties requiring an acousticon seat should make reservations in ample time as these seats cannot be held.


	"Mysterious and ultimately moving, The Disapparation of James powerfully evokes the tenderness of the bond between parent and child, and the parent's never-ending awareness of its fragility." –*The Washington Post* "Ursu's story is sweetly done, her own compelling magic trick." –*Entertainment Weekly* "A compulsively readable and an elegantly written novel." –*The Orlando Sentinel* "In this tale of loss, love and redemption, the 'Poof!' is the least of the magic." –*San Jose Mercury News* "If other books published in 2003 are as good as this one, we're in for exciting reads." –*St. Paul Pioneer Press* "Ursu takes a familiar subject and leads us to unexpected places" –*Dallas Morning News* "Ursu's compelling novel blends surrealism with a keen understanding of the human heart to illuminate how a family deals with a loss for which there is no logical explanation." –*Portland Oregonian* "The Disapparation of James pulls readers rapidly along through Ursu's skillful probing of inner dramas. Her deft touch makes the tale absorbing and prevents it from descending to sensationalism or sentimentality." –*Rocky Mountain News* "...a wry, haunting meditation on love, loss and family ties." –*Star Tribune* "The Disapparation of James celebrates the glory of ordinary life in the midst of trauma." –*New York Newsday* "Ursu wins the reader over with her humane wisdom and charming vision of the limitless possibilities of a child's imagination" –*Publisher's Weekly* "Ursu makes her story unique, detailing the wild, stream of consciousness thoughts of a family left one member short. She has a knack for toying with reality, stopping time and backing up to play out a different possible outcome. The result is a compelling and compassionate story..." –Bookpage "Readers must finish the book to find out if James reappears. But along the way Ursu conjures interest in much more than that. The magic here lies in watching characters grow 'under extreme circumstances.'" –The Boston Herald

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