Production History
| 10-Minute Play Festival, Fire Rose Productions, North Hollywood, Calif. | January 2010 |
| Herring Run ArtsFest, Middleborough, Mass. | September 2006 |
| FastFest, Minnesota Association of Community Theaters | June 2006 |
| New Play Festival, Chameleon Theatre Circle, Lakeville, Minn. (Audience Favorite) | February 2006 |
| Ten Minute Play Festival, Theatre One Productions, Middleborough, Mass. | February 2006 |
Excerpt
CHARACTERS:
- ANGIE KELSO, a woman in her 40’s or 50’s
- RAYMOND KELSO, her husband, roughly the same age
SETTING: A hillside home in Southern California
ANGIE and RAYMOND lie asleep in bed. The bedroom door is on one side of the stage, and a dim light shines through the large bedroom window on the opposite side. There is a closet as well, and a nightstand with a telephone. A heavy rain is falling. There is a loud, rumbling noise. ANGIE sits up and looks around to see what’s going on.
ANGIE (whispering, then speaking): Raymond. Raymond.
RAYMOND (dreaming): Why would I want 50 pickles?
ANGIE: Honey, wake up. I heard something.
RAYMOND: Whaa …?
ANGIE: Honey, I’m scared, I heard a really loud noise outside.
RAYMOND: That’s too many pickles.
Another rumbling noise. ANGIE shakes RAYMOND awake.
ANGIE: There, did you hear that?
RAYMOND: Huh? It’s thunder, go back to sleep.
ANGIE: I know what thunder sounds like, thank you very much. That wasn’t thunder.
RAYMOND: Shhh. I have to buy the pi…
(he falls asleep again)
ANGIE: Typical. Jesus, it is really pouring.
Another rumble, louder still than the previous two.
ANGIE (CONT’D): Holy guacamole!
ANGIE gets out of bed and goes to the window. RAYMOND groans and slowly sits up.
ANGIE (CONT’D): Aaahh!!! Landslide! Landslide! The neighbors’ house is sliding down the hill!
RAYMOND: No shit, are you serious?
RAYMOND turns on the light, gets out of bed and joins her at the window.
RAYMOND (CONT’D): OK, you were right, it wasn’t thunder.
ANGIE opens the window and they look outside.
ANGIE: Look, the whole thing is breaking up!
RAYMOND: Wow. Can you see them?
ANGIE: Who?
RAYMOND: The neighbors.
ANGIE: No. I hope they’re OK. What are their names again?
RAYMOND: I have no idea. Their car’s not in the driveway. I bet they’re out of town. Wow, that was scary, huh?
RAYMOND goes back to bed and turns out the light.
ANGIE: Are you crazy?
RAYMOND: Sorry.
RAYMOND turns on the light.
RAYMOND (CONT’D): Come back to bed.
[TO BE CONTINUED …]
For more information on this play or to acquire production rights, please contact david@davidschrag.com.