PLAY IT, SAM. PLAY “AS TIME GOES BY.”
Ten people are in a bar, and the dialogue consists only of the American Film Institute's
100 most-famous movie quotes.
8M / 2W
FRAGILE
When HOWARD HABER walks into the post office to pick up a package for his wife,
Sylvia, he's on just another errand.
Until he discovers that this particular package is a Restricted Delivery, and the CLERK can’t give it to him
because Sylvia didn’t sign the pink slip authorizing Howard as her agent.
And it isn’t long until other details about this particular package start coming out.
It’s from an address Howard doesn’t recognize...
There’s no name on the return address...
The package is in a plain brown wrapper...
Put that together with a few other details, such as Sylvia didn’t tell Howard there was a package
to be picked up...
And, come to think of it, she didn’t give him the slip - he found it lying on the bedroom floor this morning...
And soon Howard’s errand to pick up a package becomes a quest to know what’s in it.
While both he and the Clerk begin to wonder just how strong Howard’s 30-year marriage really is...
2M
SIMMER, AND SERVE COLD
Evelyn and Lydia have been working in the same office for more than two years.
Too bad they've been angry at each other for most of it.
Now that Lydia's been down-sized, this might be a good time to 'fess up
to all the nasty things they've done to each other.
After all, as Evelyn puts it, "Half the kick of doing shit to someone is them knowing you did it."
2W
Second Place — Driftwood Players Fourth Annual Festival of Shorts 2013
I DID THAT
Burdened with a massive guilt complex and a deep need to confess,
Eric is an all-too-frequent visitor to his local police station.
Tonight he's going to make his biggest confession yet.
But tonight Detective Jack Murphy is alone in the squad room.
And all he can think about is his own deep need for a spaghetti dinner.
How will this end?
2M
IRISH STEW
Lauretta and Carlton are getting on in years.
They're at that point where they're losing their facility with language.
And their short-term memory isn't quite what it used to be.
But years ago, when they saw this coming, they made a decision to not rage against it.
As long as they had each other.
And so, as they sit in their home, physically agile but mentally short a few key nouns...
"Some days, sharp as a tack. Other days, dumb as hammers..."
They let it take as long as it does to find the Irish shoe Lauretta keeps asking for.
Amidst all the false starts that are oh-so-common now, they remain patient and loving.
"What are we gonna do with each other?"
"What would we do without each other?"
1M / 1W
Winner — 3rd place, People's Choice Showcase
2014 Short + Sweet Sydney.
“...a clever wee take on losing facilities with languages and memory....
It's witty and moving, giving a voice to an issue so often whitewashed by mainstream media,
but so prevalent among our elder population. In watching this piece I realise that Short + Sweet
has political power to present the clamouring voices not often afforded expression in modern culture.”
- Vanessa Byrnes, theatreview
www.theatreview.org.nz
“I felt like a visitor to the home of an elderly, quirky couple with a very intimate relationship.
As well as being very entertaining, it was a privilege to be there!”
- Mary Wren, Sydney Arts Guide
THE RULE OF APP-TRACTION
KIMBERLY, ASHLEY and MANDY are teenage girls tapping away on their smartphones
(when are they not?) as they spend an evening together.
When a huge sinkhole opens two blocks away and starts swallowing the street,
they don’t miss one exciting moment. Because they’re plugged in to Facebook, Twitter, Tubmlr,
and Instagram.
And they know that when it comes to finding out what’s just outside your door -
from whether it’s raining or if the street’s still there...
There’s an app for that.
3W
PICKING UP THE PIECES
SHARON and LARRY have broken something.
Their treasured porcelain vase?
Or their marriage?
Now they’re trying to pick up the pieces.
But they can’t agree on exactly how to put it back together.
And they don’t seem to have the right glue.
Will they walk away and leave it broken?
Or keep trying?
1W / 1M
KINDRED SPIRITS
DESMOND and ALICIA are getting to know each other online.
As a ship captain, he travels a lot. As an airline pilot, so does she.
They may never be in the same place long enough to meet in person,
but they can still share their worlds and all the beautiful things they experience.
And the more they share, the more they realize they’re kindred spirits.
Perhaps they should try to meet face-to-face.
Or would that be way too intimate?
Especially since neither of them is who they say they are.
1M / 1W
GRAM SCAMS
(GRANDMA (70+) is at home when the phone rings. It’s her grandson Michael (20’s).
“I’m in Canada. I was in an accident. My jaw is wired and I can barely talk. I need $15,000
to pay hospital bills and get my car fixed.”
What loving grandma could resist helping out her desperate grandson?
Perhaps one who’s a little more savvy and up-to-date than most people think.
2M / 1W
Audience Award Winner — Theatre Oxford's National Ten Minute Play Readings.
Oxford, MS.
Audience Favorite — Lakeshore Players' 12th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival.
White Bear Lake, MN.
YOU’RE…
It’s Central High’s class of ‘75’s 40th Reunion.
BRUCE and NEAL are positive they remember DORIS and FERN.
Too bad what they remember doesn’t make any sense to Doris and Fern.
When PETE shows up, Bruce and Neal are sure they remember him, too.
Doris and Fern aren’t so sure, and Pete doesn’t remember anyone in the room.
Have the passing years changed everyone so much?
Is their memory simply not what it used to be?
Or is there another explanation?
Thank god everyone’s wearing name tags...
3M / 2W
Sydney 2014
