MOORHEAD — A liberal-minded birdwatching father.
A conservative-leaning daughter employed by a right-wing company.
Will the two meet in the middle?
In “Birds of North America,” which is playing Feb. 21 through March 9 at Theatre B in Moorhead, we find out as father John (Scott Ecker) and daughter Caitlyn (Clare Lynch) take the stage and share conversations that comb the depths of their bonds with each other.
The conversations also reveal differences that threaten to prevent them from ever truly seeing one another. It’s a feeling that will resonate with anyone who has struggled to understand a loved one with an opposing viewpoint.
Jean Wilhelmi, who makes her debut at Theatre B as director of “Birds of North America,” said the production is extremely relatable in the way it portrays the timeless struggle of communication between parents and children, within families and across generations.
Jean Wilhelmi makes her debut at Theatre B as director of “Birds of North America.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
“I find it a fascinating exploration of two characters who desperately want to connect with each other but fall into old patterns and misconceptions of one other,” Wilhelmi said. “They make so much progress in their relationship simply by their commitment to spend time with one another through birding.”
She added that the audience will likely feel as if they wish they could intercede — to be able to be the one who points out what each character really means to say to the other.
“I think each audience member will find at least one scenario that happens to John or Caitlyn that touches on personal experience,” Wilhelmi said. “I think the play’s message is that you keep on trying — to talk, to work, to find joy, to connect and to live, in spite of all the disappointments and difficulties that occur over a lifetime.”
Ensemble actor Clare Lynch plays Caitlyn, a career-oriented woman who’s in the wrong job, according to her father John. Lynch was drawn to the character of Caitlyn because of the subtle ways the character interacts with her father.
Clare Lynch, who plays the role of Caitlyn in “Birds of North America”, reviews lines in the green room before the dress rehearsal.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
“My favorite part of the script is actually the playwright’s note to the actors at the beginning: ‘John and Caitlyn take nearly everything the other says personally,’ ” Lynch said. “A lot of the relationship between the two characters is in the subtext.”
Anyone can find something to relate to in this story, according to the actor, who added that Caitlyn and John’s joys, struggles and points of friction are wide-ranging and often political.
“One of my favorite parts of this play is how it examines a generational political conflict but flips the narrative from what we’re used to seeing in pop culture. Instead, we see the conflict from a different angle, which I think is ultimately more powerful and timely for our current political landscape,” Lynch said.
Scott Ecker, who plays John, said he’s excited to bring a little “dramedy” to audiences.
“It is human all the way through,” Ecker said. “This is a two-person dramedy that accurately captures the way family members interact in the best and worst ways.”
Scott Ecker and Clare Lynch rehearse for “Birds of North America” on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. The show runs Feb. 21 through March 9.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Like Lynch, Ecker believes “Birds of North America” is a story for anyone.
“Any audience member can see themselves in the representations of the parent or child,” he said.
But what might be more captivating than anything is the play’s ability to open up cast members’ own reflections on relationships and parental roles.
Ecker is a step-parent and said that in his family life, he is often concerned about saying the wrong thing, even in a loving way. Rehearsing for the play helped him understand that humans make mistakes, especially while trying to communicate something, and yet they still have the capacity to love each other.
“This play breaks down those moments that you react to emotionally in real life, and it has helped me understand how those types of misunderstandings can happen in the real world,” he said. “Things are increasingly divisive and there is an increase in callousness present in social media and our political landscape. But this show gives a genuine example of how interaction can still exist and how little steps to be a better person for your loved ones is possible.”
Clare Lynch said she appreciates how “Birds of North America” examines generational political conflict in a way that is opposite to how it is typically portrayed in pop culture.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
What: “Birds of North America” by Anna Ouyang Moench
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 21 through March 9 with 2 p.m. matinees on Feb. 23, March 2 and 9
Where: Theatre B,215 10th St. N., Moorhead
Info: Tickets range from $12 for students to $25 for adults. The Sunday matinees are discounted for seniors at $20. For more information or to buy tickets, visit
theatreb.org.
1/4: Director Jean Wilhelmi talks with actor Clare Lynch before rehearsal on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
2/4: Clare Lynch plays Caitlyn in “Birds of North America.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
3/4: Scott Ecker, a Theatre B ensemble member, rehearses a scene with ensemble member Clare Lynch on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, for the play “Birds of North America.” Ecker plays the father, “John.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
4/4: Rachel Geinert is a Theatre B ensemble member and stage manager for “Birds of North America,” which opens Feb. 21.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
This article is part of a content partnership with The Arts Partnership, a nonprofit organization cultivating the arts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo. For more information, visit
theartspartnership.net.
Lonna Whiting is an independent journalist and content strategy consultant based in Fargo. She covers a broad range of topics, including local arts, health care, senior living, startups, technology and education. Whiting also writes extensively about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease for journals and publications such as Being Patient, an award-winning global news forum for dementia researchers, physicians, patients and their care partners. Read more of Whiting’s work at lonna.co.
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Publish date : 2025-02-17 00:48:00
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