RED WIRE, BLUE WIRE (COMEDY)
Winner: Lane Cove Literary Award, 2016, (best theatre script)
Winner: South Australian Screen Awards for Best Comedy, 2019, (short film version)
SYNOPSIS: Someone’s strapped to a bomb. The timer counting down…and they’re worried about ‘coffee’?!
DURATION: 10-12 mins
CAST (NB: Have fun swapping gender for the roles of Trish and Marty. It’s been performed multiple ways and still holds the comedy/story.)
TRISH PARKER (Victim) : Female 25-30.
MARTY CRAIGMORE (Bomb Disposal Officer) : Male 30-35.
GARY (Bomb Disposal Unit) : Male 30-40. (unseen)
SETTING - Office.
CONTENTS LIST
PHYLLIS GREEN LEAF - The Almond Blossom Prophecy (COMEDY)
SYNOPSIS: Based on Greek Mythology of how the Almond Blossom Tree originated, and how Almonds relate to love. Phyllis Green Leaf tells the story of Attican soldier Demaphon who after his success in the battle of Troy, falls in love with Thracian princess Phyllis, and they plan to marry. However his sick Grandmother Aethra, who he rescued from Helena, needs to return home. Demophon takes a lot longer than expected and Phyllis travels to the harbor regularly for nine months waiting. Broken hearted, she takes her own life. But the Goddess Athena has pity on her, and turns her into an Almond Tree, but without blossom. Demaphon finally returns, and seeing the fate of his beloved, declares his commitment to stay by her side. This vow triggers the tree to blossom as a symbol of their love.
DURATION: 1 hr 45 mins (2 Acts)
CAST - can be just a handful of actors playing multiple roles
NARRATOR: Reverant, shows passion, but grumpy and intolerant old thespian
PHYLLIS: Princess. Dreamy and always good natured; loves nature and her garden.
DEMAPHON: Attican Soldier. Good with a sword, good willing but quite thick and clumsy.
AETHRA: Granny to Demaphon. Grumpy woman yielding a ‘weapon’ walking stick. (very Monty Python when played by a man)
PALLENE: Phyllis’s older sister. Conniving with bad intentions
KING SCITHON: Father of Phyllis and Pallene. Regal, self-important but easily henpecked.
ATHENA: Zeus’s daughter. High opinion of herself. Vanity and power is everything but has a good heart. (Great when played by a man)
PRINCE MARZIPAN: 16 yr old son of Phyllis & Demaphon. Spoiled brat but good intentions buried deep below.
YOUNG MARZIPAN: 10 yr old spoiled brat (played by child or adult) YOUNG PHYLLIS: 12 yr old ‘dreamy’ (played by Adult Phyllis)
YOUNG PALLENE: 12 yr old ‘pouty’ (played by Adult Pallene)
HAG: Evil trickster, (Pallene in disguise) MAID/MESSENGER/VILLAGERS/CHERUBS/GUARDS/ADVISER
STYLE: Very tongue in cheek, classic melodrama, Monty Python-esque with possible audience interaction. Music can be pre-recorded or played live. Sets and props work well as cheap cardboard. Ominous classical music like Grieg compliments the Greek comedy/tragedy.
PETTY CRIMES (COMEDY)
SYNOPSIS: Two burglars struggle with domestic disputes during a house invasion.
DURATION: 12-15 minutes
CAST
AMBER (30’s)
TROY (30’s)
SETTING: Suburban house.
MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN MUSICAL MACBETH (COMEDY)
Amateur theatre has sunk to an all-time low!
STORY: Dysfunctional director Jéan is at the end of his tether, trying to stage his latest masterpiece. However, opening night nerves pale in comparison to flamboyant egos, the hovering Mafia, and a serial killer lurking in the wings…so it goes without saying…you really shouldn’t name that Scottish play!
DURATION: 60 min (1 or 2 acts)
CAST
JÉAN (30+): Always on edge, quick talker to get out of any situation but never thinks too many steps ahead. He knows what he wants and refuses to listen to suggestions; especially if it risks his chance to stay alive.
JENNY (25-30): Jéan's loyal assistant. Gently spoken but quietly direct and quick witted. She appears to be submissive in conversation but will cleverly get the last word - a great asset as she investigates the murder.
WESLEY (30): Melodramatic drama queen. Very protective of his choreography and has something to prove.
MRS DOYLE (40+): Classic stage mother-esque; will do anything for her niece Marionette... anything.
MARIONETTE (18-25): Softly spoken fragile girl who's only on stage because her Aunty has groomed her for it; but longs for something more out of life...for as long as she lives. WENDY (22-30): Thinks she's far more talented than she is. She's a control freak and has to have the last word - quite the bitch.
RACHEL (22-30): Always on edge - a drug addict with a doubtful memory.
HAROLD (50+): An ex-actor who’s now the Janitor, keeping the theatre tidy, keeps an eye on everything, and longs for his 15 seconds of fame.
ANTONIO (30+): Mob boss - as cliché as you want to make him.
BIFF & REGGIE (25+): Antonio's henchmen - who are surprisingly intelligent and have a hidden desire to tread the boards.
MAGGIE (20-30): Lead chorus girl who is desperate for a speaking part so tries to find the killer.
HILDA & GRETEL (20-30): Chorus girls with german accents who's only love bigger than acting is food.
PIPPY (18-25): Smallest chorus girl who just loves to dress up.
OFFICER BEACON (40+ - can be played by Wendy if needed): Tough, suspicious and unforgiving.