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CHARACTERS:
MICHAEL ALEXANDER, 30’s or 40’s, a recently divorced writer.
ALICE MARTIN, 30’s or 40’s, Michael’s platonic best friend for over 20 years.
MAXIE MALONE, 20’s, Michael’s creation, a film noir movie siren.
DELIVERY PERSON, Chinese, offstage voice
PUPPY, a dog, or a person with a dog puppet
TIME: The Present
PLACE: Alice’s New York City apartment, a walkup in Queens. Obviously this is a woman who loves movies. Her shelves are stocked with books and DVDs, and movie posters are the main décor. There are many tchotchkes. It is a cluttered but not messy apartment – or at least it was before Michael came to stay.
PRODUCTION NOTES:
Chinese delivery person is just a voice, could be male or female. Same for the person using the dog puppet at the end. Quick costume changes are needed for Maxie at the beginning of Scene 2. A wig and layered clothing may be helpful.
FROM THE AUTHOR:
It helps to have some knowledge of film noir style. The dialogue is stylized in places and should be delivered in classic “hard boiled” style.
The other important note is the relationship between Michael and Alice is clearly affectionate, yet platonic. Michael’s journey is about self-acceptance without a romantic relationship to validate it.
Bambi Everson is a playwright, actor, and teaching artist. Her full-length, THE THIN MAN IN THE CHERRY ORCHARD enjoyed a sold out run at the 2019 New York Fringe Festival, and is available in paperback from The Drama Book Shop and Amazon. Her plays have been produced at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Hudson Guild, Emerging Artists Theatre, and The Little Theatre of Alexandria, VA. Her work tends to incorporate oddball characters and situations, from from screwball comedy to dark melodrama.
For inquiries, please SEND BAMBI AN EMAIL