Plays for Stage
Dinner with Nigel
Arthur and Martha were a fun loving couple in their heyday. Now approaching middle age, those good times are memories. They are quick to find fault and argue the details of what they once celebrated. Arthur having recently lost his job, reads books, magazines, secretly gambles and watches T.V., searching for hidden clues that make the universe ‘tick’. Martha constantly cajoles him to get off his butt and working again. Stranded in a tense relationship while trying to reconnect with happier days, can their relationship be saved? Purely on chance reading of an article in one Arthur’s magazines Martha takes a gamble with their retirement savings on an investment for their future. Welcome to Nigel*. The answer to their prayers? A robotic android servant (homebot) designed with A.I. intelligence by The Hakiki Corp (Japan). Engineered to make life so much easier than one could ever imagine – at a price. Will the promise of this innovative and advanced technology light their fire once again and revive moving together towards a brighter future. Or will this business venture with Nigel, ruled by algorithms, further confuse and divide?
For Nigel (m) consider non-gender specific actor of ANY ethnicity. Movement, language (Spanish), dance and vocal skills are useful but not mandatory. Also; during this printed version of the play Nigel is given gender identity as ‘he’.
Script available
Two Tickets to Kathmandu
Edith Gluck was a ‘serious’ actor before she met and married. Barry Gluck, the star of ‘Barry the Parrot’, a successful television show for children. Filming an Easter special before a live audience, the future of the show was destroyed by an unfortunate on-set mishap. After this, the Gluck’s were left few alternatives. Hired for kid’s birthdays, office parties, touring pubs, clubs and legion halls performing abridged Shakespearean skits with Barry in his parrot costume. On vacation in Kathmandu, Barry Gluck is killed, after a delayed earthquake tremor strikes while he is hanging, parrot style, upside down in a tree. Edith, now a widow approaching middle age, resides in the main apt of their house in Camden Town, along with the spirit of Mr. Gluck and some artifacts from their past. She is in the habit of addressing the stuffed replica of Mr. Gluck as if he were still alive. And expects visitors and house guests to do likewise. Mr. Gluck, often interjects comments in the style of a Shakespearean insult. Percy Brewer, an aspiring young actor, arrives to rent the advertised vacancy in the Gluck house. Their meeting takes them on a journey to Kathmandu in the quest to finally release the spirit of Barry Gluck to dwell among his beloved feathered friends.
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 88 minutes
Acts: 2. Cast: 3 M / 1W
The Appointment of a Scapegoat.
Genre. Murderous sibling drama. 97 pages.
2 Acts. Run time: 120 minutes
Following the sudden death of their parents in a tragic car accident, two enstranged sisters Julia, (the elder) and Charity (adopted) reunite. This reunion is submerged in memories of their childhood games. The inherent jockeying attached to sibling rivalry, is magnified by Charity (a.k.a. Little Sister) unloved by the parents who adopted her. Their competitiveness drives to win whichever game is played. We are introduced to encounters with various boy-friends Charity had attracted before leaving home. Julia, on the surface appears protective towards her Little Sister, but bears a grudge. She welds a steely undercurrent that reveals a ruthless ambition to possess and control. There is also the question of her possible involvement in the fatal car accident of their parents. And the ensuing struggle for property and estate. The canvas to this dark tale is the old house soaked in the Celtic calendar, rituals and roots. The only possible solution to this jigsaw requires the appointment of a scapegoat.
Male cast: 2 (if doubled)
Female cast 2 (see note).
N.B. Full cast would be 6 except possible casting of 2W / 2M*. If played by the same two women, both as children and adults. The four male characters with smaller roles could also be doubled. If that is not feasible. Number of cast members will be adjusted accordingly.
Spex
A plan for a perfect evening. A couple celebrating their anniversary at an upscale restaurant. Harry, too intelligent for his own good, is determined to be on his best behavior. We sense he could be asking for trouble walking into a place outside of his comfort zone. He might have been able to handle that but what happens when this alpha male, prone to jealousy, meets a tough bug that gets up his nose just before dinner is about to be served?…
SYNOPSIS: A marital celebration marred by jealousy. Confrontation with a bug in the nose. Paranoia. All’s Well That Ends Well. ATCHOOO!
Genre: Comedy, Sketch Comedy for beginner classes.
Acts: 1
Run time: 15 minutes.
Male 2. Female 1
Put a Cherry on it.
The three characters in this play represent parts of the individual persona. Doing, Talking and Feeling. The physical, mental and emotional behavioural traits we utilize and combine in varying percentages. Highlighted by reactions and words, when spoken. The questions asked are: (1) in a particular set of given circumstances, how do we apply and adjust our responses to each other. And, (2) In seeking our place in the world, what are we prepared to do for acceptance (3) How do we navigate the give and take required. (4) Does that describe how other people see us and how we would define ourselves?
Improvised and experimental. Creation of drawing, painting or art object in process can be offered up for auction in Act Two.
Genre: Comedy
Suggested fundraiser.
One Act. 15 mins
Cast (3) 2 M / 1 W
Moving Day. Based on the music of Erik Satie.
Libretto and lyrics by David Simmonds
Libretto and lyrics by David Simmonds
