I actually live in the Bay Area (CA), hence the references to Berkeley and Oakland.
Thanks for the feedback!
Stage Play / Community Health [Monologue]
(Robert enters from upstage left with a briefcase and a stack of papers. He looks fairly confident and somber. He walks downstage, places the briefcase beside the podium, adjusts his glasses, shuffles papers, clears his throat, and begins.)
Hi, I’m Robert Johnson, representative of the Orinda Parent Teacher Association. Like many of you here tonight, I have children—and I’m concerned about their well being. Let’s face it: things in our town are changing. An epidemic of disturbing traits is plaguing your sons and daughters. Some may already be at risk. But it’s not too late. I’m here tonight to talk to you about the three symptoms of this… (distastefully) disease. (With an overly dramatic tone) Our community health is at stake.
(Quietly reading to himself) Walk… downstage… stage… left… near audience… for impact.
(He walks far downstage, stage left.)
First, the precursor symptoms, which are more subtle. In general the child develops strange mannerisms and patterns of speech. You may hear your son or daughter start to talk about the “yay area”, about “chronic” and getting “stupid, dumb, and hephy” (squinting at notes)—I’m sorry, “hyphy”. They lock their doors, keep to their rooms, and spend excessive amounts of time and money in Berkeley. Suddenly, their taste in music starts to change. Raffi tapes are replaced with music such as Lil’ John and E-four-zero. You may start to wonder, “Where did I go wrong? Was it when I dropped little Johnny on his head? When I didn’t tuck Alice into bed? When I skipped the pages of Goodnight Moon?”
(Quietly reading to himself) Proceed… to stage… right.
(He walks to the right of downstage.)
Before long, the second group of symptoms appears: a change in appearance. The child is showing physical indication of the illness—a real sign for concern. You might wonder why they wear excessive amounts of Tag body spray and have developed a growing interest in lighters. You might even smell the scent of the dread mari-hu-wana about your child. You catch your son making “thizz faces” in the mirror. Now, we’re not exactly sure what “thizz” is, but it is clearly a growing threat to our sheltered, suburban families. You may notice that things begin to disappear: cash, jewelry, tinfoil… apples.
(He walks to the very center of downstage, close to the audience.)
But that’s not the worst of it. The third symptom manifests itself in deteriorating relationships. You find yourself in a fight with Eric again. He’s insisting that you don’t understand him. Sally’s complaining that she needs her independence. You’ll probably wonder when your child stopped playing with the family poodle and baking cookies for Grandma—- and started baking brownies for his friends.
Yes, you sense that “something is wrong here,” but dismiss the thought with excuses: It’s normal; it’s just a phase; it could never happen to this family. (With overly dramatic intensity) But it does. Every day, 49.2 percent of high school students use some form of illicit substance. And so your children will borrow another few dollars and come back home from Oakland at midnight with their heads lowered, not quite meeting your eye.
(Robert walks back to the podium (slightly upstage, centered) and speaks in a completely serious voice.)
If your son or daughter has exhibited any of these three symptoms, they may already be at risk for developing serious, life-threatening problems. Remember that as parents, you have more influence over your childrens’ lives than friends and teachers combined. Talk to your children about their behavior. Parents: The Anti-Drug.
(A slide reading “Truth: The Anti-Propaganda” appears. He glances at it nervously and motions to the person in the tech booth, muttering ‘Next slide, next slide’. It switches to a slide reading “Parents: The Anti-Drug”.)
Indeed. Thank you for your time.
(He picks up his briefcase and papers and walks calmly offstage.)
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DCAllen reviewed Version 1 -
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First of all: very polished, professional presentation.
If this is meant to be satirical, there needs to be more than just that speaker’s mannerisms to lend a satirical note. At the end, I’m still not altogether sure that this IS satire.
The symptoms (locking doors, needing independence, etc.) seem to be quite normal teenage things. Stealing the apples, however, was a nice touch; and I can imagine that this line gets a laugh.
Why not also work through the effects of smoking marijuana? This would also gives this piece a bit more length. And there would be lots of opportunities for your awkward speaker to give warnings about sleepy pot-heads.
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JamesPatrick reviewed Version 1 -
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I believe you’ve written a nicely succinct monologue that would allow an actor the opportunity to present a straight forward image of a somewhat dull and out of it character. Since it is a monologue, though, perhaps you shouldn’t rely on background images or slides (there was only one reference to a slide in the piece). Afterall, most actors perform monologues in auditions where props are difficult to come by.
My criticism would be that the character is somewhat passive for a monologue; I’m not sure how well an actor would be recieved if he did this for a monologue. Would the producers/casting directors be able to see that the character was supposed to be so dull? That criticism is wholly utilitarian though.
Thanks for sharing.
James
LJ85 reviewed Version 1 -
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I’m very impressed by this piece, I was even more surprised that it is written by a 15 year old! I like the fact that the insinuations about drug abuse are relatively subtle throughout, despite it being the focal point of the piece;
“You’ll probably wonder when your child stopped playing with the family poodle and baking cookies for Grandma—- and started baking brownies for his friends.”
I thought that this was one of the most effective lines.
This is a piece that I would very much like to see acted out on a stage, and I could visualise the scene, which I believe is a sign of a very strong script!
Well done.
pushover4u reviewed Version 1 -
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This some how is really funny. I don’t know how, but it is. Maybe it’s the fact that people actually do stupid things like this as though nobody knows the signs. I mean seriously if my parents started to smell perfume or something to mask odor on me and saw my change in friends noooooo they wouldn’t think something is wrong. Come on of course they would. I have to say Robert Johnson’s ignorance is funny. I really like it.
PDXfixerupper reviewed Version 1 -
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”...coming back from Oakland…”
Now, THAT is funny. Oakland! And if you’re not from USA (I don’t recall where you are from) it’s also an extraordinarily savvy observation.
I think this would make an excellent one-act vignette, exactly as-is. Just imagine what a dry, comedic actor with impeccable timing could do with this. Or one of the Monty Python guys?
confessdeny reviewed Version 1 -
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had me laughing. i really get the nervousness of this presenter. i could see it all go down (or is that up??) in flames.
hmatt reviewed Version 1 -
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“Was it when I dropped little Johnny on his head? “
This sentence seems out of character. He believes everything he says and it all makes sense, up until that point. If he is making a joke there he doesn’t acknowledge it, which is strange.
I like how he reads his own directions aloud though. That makes me laugh.
brokenhand reviewed Version 1 -
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this is absolutely hilarious. i can’t believe it came from a fifteen year old person.
the only thing: it’s basically a blatant parody of “Reefer Madness” only brought up to today’s era. You have done a very good job making it your own, however.
I love how you talk about the thizz face and smoking out of apples, although it does make this guy seem more informed then I think you want him to be.
I would cut out the part where he says “Parent’s: The Anti-Drug” and just have it appear on the slide. I think you should also play up the fact that the guy has no idea what he is talking about. Maybe you could inclue some questioning by the parents, etc.
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