New Plays from New York

© 2013 by Jeanne Chenault Porter. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/04/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1232-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1231-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013901666

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

FOREWORD

FAST FORWARD

First produced January, 2011 by the Brief Acts Company

(A Division of Love Creek Productions)

Royal Theatre, 348 West 44th Street, New York, N.Y. 10036

Director: Christopher Romero Wilson

Cast: Alan Bordelon (Chip); Richard James Porter (Max Hirsch); Brian Reilly (Derek); Schnele Wilson (Melissa)

ISADORABLE

First produced June, 2011 by the Brief Acts Company

(A Division of Love Creek Productions)

Beckmann Theatre, 314 West 54th Street, New York,

N.Y. 10019

Director: Aryanna Fernando Celenda

Play was nominated for Outstanding One-Act Drama by Love Creek Productions.

Cast: Carole Boniece (Clarice Conyngham) nominated by Love Creek for Outstanding Female Lead, Mary Jane Gocher (Miss Marquand) nominated by Love Creek for Outstanding Female Supporting Actor, Jennifer Plotzke (Elaine Maine) nominated by Love Creek for Outstanding Female Lead

THY NEIGHBOR!

First Presented July, 2011 by The Riant Theatre as part

of The Strawberry One-Act Festival.

Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 West 26th Street, New York,

N.Y. 10001

Director: Jeanne Chenault Porter;

Advanced to Wild Night by The Strawberry One-Act Festival

Cast: Jenny Dunne (Amy); Deborah Johnstone

(Marilyn Mack); Robert Munro (Mike)

Produced subsequently Feb., 2012 by the St. Jean’s Players, Winter One-Acts Festival, 173 East 75th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021

Director: Jeanne Chenault Porter; Assistant Director: Diane Piro

Cast: Samantha Rivers Cole (Amy); Donna Noval (Marilyn Mack); Hansen Wetsel (Mike)

FALLING STAR

First presented September, 2011, Fall One-Act Competition of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre 303 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036

Director: Christopher Romero Wilson

Cast: Mary Jane Gocher (Frances); Christopher Lowe (Bruce); Julia Morgantini (Judith Ingram)

PARTING COMPANY

First presented July, 2012 by the Midtown International Theatre Festival (Thirteenth Season)

The June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018

Director: Julia Morgantini; Stage Manager: Jane DiBartolo

Cast: Bill Barry (Victor Zoltan Maxx); Chris Costa (Billy Nock); Dianne Diep (Lisa Monroe); Pëtra Enison (Merisa), Pascal Escriout (Henri-Georges); Christopher Lowe (Philip); Julia Morgantini (Marcelle Maxx), Richard James Porter (Louis), Alex Riney (Alfredo), Charity Schubert (Helen)

VISITING HOURS

First presented April, 2012 by the Roy Arias Studios and Theaters’ Spring Festival

Little Times Square Theatre, 300 West 43rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036

Producer and Assistant Director: Christopher Romero Wilson; Director: Schnele Wilson; Stage Manager: Melissa Farinelli

Cast: Kathleen Boddington (Martha)*; Jarde Jacobs (Josh, Ted); Mimi Jefferson (Estella); Teri Monahan (Janet)*; Ryan Victor Pierce (Jack)*; *Equity

TO BUTTZVILLE AND BEYOND

First presented August, 2012 by The Riant Theatre,

The Strawberry Theatre Festival, Summer 2012

The Theatre at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street, New York, N.Y. 10036

Director: Melissa Farinelli

Cast: Neil Brown (Chris Moore); Nancy Kellogg Gray (Bertha Bold); Lindsay Nagel (Alison); Erin Nelson (Claire Tressler); Richard James Porter (Fred); Shawthel Stephenson (Tom Klinefelter); Christopher Romero Wilson (Aldon Moore and voice of Pastor Ted); Schnele Wilson (Celia Moore)

WHILE YOU WERE OUT…

To be First Presented as a Staged Reading with possible Full Production, Planet Connections, New York, June 2013, Gene Frankel Theatre, 24 Bond Street, New York, N.Y. 10012

Characters: Beatrice Anderman (Bea); Stan Anderman; Meraide Egan; (Dandy) Randy Moran; Vera; Christine Wright; Isabella, Jane, and Maria

For M.L.C.

FOREWORD

A native of Manhattan, Jeanne Chenault Porter is living proof that there is an afterlife—that is a life after a long, very different, but successful career. Jeanne is a recovering academic who has always been involved in the arts. For seven years she studied piano and theory at Juilliard and violin at Mannes. After majoring in art history and English literature at Barnard College, and receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, for years Jeanne was a professor of art history at Hunter College, Finch College, The University of Tennessee and, most recently, The Pennsylvania State University where she taught seventeenth century painting in Italy, France, and Spain with a focus on her signature city of Naples. She was a recipient of numerous scholarly awards including a Fulbright to Rome. Her publications are primarily in the field of European Baroque or Modern American painting but since she had always attended and loved the theatre, she decided recently to write a play. One effort led quickly to another and within three years she had produced eight. Jeanne appreciates the support she has received from actor husband, Richard James Porter, also a former art historian and gallery director, who is currently on stage in Manhattan and elsewhere. To put it another way, for Jeanne the theatre is Act III.

FAST FORWARD

by

Jeanne Chenault Porter

Characters:

Derek Treadwell, in his late 20’s

Melissa Treadwell, his wife

Prof. Max Hirsch, (a former academic colleague of Derek’s father)

Oliver Henry Treadwell Jr., (Derek’s half-brother, known as Chip)

The time is the present. Derek and Melissa, an attractive couple in their thirties, have just returned from a week’s vacation in Cancun. It is around noon as they make a lively entrance into their stylish, modern, hi-tech home in a small mid-western town. There are several computers, sound equipment, and a huge flat T.V. hangs on the wall. The stage is brightly lit.

(There is spirited Mexican music, such as La Calaca’s El Tecolato (The owl), as Derek and Melissa enter the house. Melissa is wearing a Mexican straw hat and they both carry tourist mementos which they soon put on a table.)

DEREK:

Is that it? Anything left in the car?

MELISSA:

No, that’s it.

DEREK:

I can’t understand why you don’t consolidate all your pieces of luggage. It’s a wonder it all makes its way home especially in these crazy times with the body scanning, shoe removal, pat downs and God knows whatever else they’ll dream up.

MELISSA:

You know it’s all stuff I need.

DEREK:

(exasperated and to himself) How many times have I heard that?!

MELISSA:

I have it carefully organized and labeled and I carry on whatever I possibly can. I never take more than a few pieces of jewelry. And that reminds me… I must go to the safety deposit box asap! Even with this new alarm system I hate to leave stuff in the house while we’re gone. You know what happened to Monique!

DEREK:

Hey, we’re safe. Stop worrying. Everything’s high tech these days!

(Derek gives Melissa a hug) What’s important is that we had a great trip! Cancun was better than ever. Don’t you think? I could live there… full time: the sunsets, the beach, the tapas…

MELISSA:

The shopping! I never get tired of it.

DEREK

And… as I recall, you never got tired of those mojitos either. But who’s counting. Right?

MELISSA:

Look who’s talking!

DEREK:

Me? I certainly downed more than a few this time. (pause and muses) You know it’s so different from the trips I used to take as a kid. My family went to Europe almost every summer but never to any trendy place like a resort in Mexico. During the summers Dad always had a project, usually in England. We’d spend the day with Mom while he visited various libraries and archives: The British Museum, The Bodleian at Oxford.

MELISSA:

Sounds boring to me.

DEREK:

Well, it wasn’t. It was really… . never mind. I’ve got to call the office. There were three closings this week and fortunately Marianne handled them all. She is good! (Sits at computer.) Just look at this! Would you believe I’ve got eighty emails?

MELISSA:

Where’s my phone? (She rummages in her purse.) I desperately need a hair appointment. All that salt water and sun just about ruined me. I think what I really need is an herbal with André and a sauna. Oh, my nails! They’ve taken a real beating. (Finds her phone.) But first I’d better check with the kennel. They were supposed to give Muffin her spa visit today. I’ll pick her up. By the way we have nothing to eat here. I’ll get a few basics while I’m out.

DEREK:

Basics. Yes! Good! That’s what we need. Get some food. We’ll take care of the rest later.

MELISSA:

Right! (She pauses, looks around, and collects their Mexican souvenirs which she takes off stage. Melissa reenters.) Oh, by the way, when is that guy bringing our Blue-Ray?

DEREK:

(somewhat exasperated) Next week. I don’t know. Call him.

MELISSA:

I will! (she picks up her phone)

DEREK:

What did you do with the mail?

MELISSA:

What mail?

DEREK:

THE mail! Our mail! Did you pick up that stack on the porch? (She does not answer but is preoccupied with her cell phone. Derek goes and retrieves the mail.) Probably just bills as usual. (Pause) Hey, I was wrong. (Melissa stops and focuses on what Derek is saying). There is a… No, wait! There are, one, two, three (emphasized) letters. There’s even one that has a slight fragrance of lavender or soap . . . (laughs) Maybe it’s a love letter!

MELISSA:

(Melissa is suddenly interested and walks back to Derek. She sniffs the envelope.) Hmmmm. Mothballs! Geriatric admirer?

DEREK:

(He opens it and starts to read. Suddenly he drops the letter.) What the _____!? Hey, what is this? This is so weird! (He picks it up and examines the return name and address.) What is going on? And who is Pearl Erdmann?

MELISSA:

Haven’t a clue. But you know, Derek, I’ve been waiting for this! You give your clients a ridiculous amount of personal attention, especially the elderly women. They are lonely. It had to happen sooner or later.

DEREK:

Very funny. I never heard of this woman… until now. Wait! Do you know what this says? You won’t believe it. It’s a sympathy note! This woman thinks Dad has died! Listen to this: I would like to offer to you my heart-felt condolences on the death of your father… etc.(Pause and reflection)

MELISSA:

Obviously senility has set in big time!

DEREK:

Cut it out, Melissa! This isn’t funny. Wait a minute.

Oh, my God! Where’s my phone? We’ve only been gone 10 days. We talked to Alma several days ago… Do you suppose… . ? No, it can’t be! Not that! Please, not that! Besides, Alma has my cell phone number. Nothing could have happened that fast. (Derek grabs the phone out of his pocket and dials his father’s nearby home.)

Alma? Thank God! Yes, this is Derek! Yes, we had a great trip. Is everything O.K. with Dad? (Pause). I have been so worried. Frantic! Oh, . . . uh… nothing really, as it turns out nothing. Just a sort of misunderstanding. Can you put him on? (Long pause) He’s what? Not having a clear day? Has he said anything incoherent recently? I was afraid of that. Does he talk about my mother? (slight chuckle) And no more talk about speeding in cars or burying money in the back yard? Well, that’s good. Always let me know what he’s up to. We’ll be over to see him before long. Thanks again, Alma. Don’t know what we’d do without you. Right. Bye.

(Derek hangs up.)

MELISSA:

What’s going on? Is your Dad O.K.?

DEREK:

All is well, at least as well as it can be with Dad. What a relief! We are so lucky to have Alma. But you know it still seems so odd to call his little house and hear her simple hello.

MELISSA:

I see we’re back to your favorite subject: your long-lost, very privileged childhood.

DEREK:

(reminiscing) When I was a kid we had Margaret to answer our phone: Prof. Treadwell’s residence. (Melissa stares at him with skepticism.) Yeah I know it sounds rather pompous but that was a whole other world. Dad used to hate too much familiarity from strangers. It always rattled him when the receptionist at the doctor’s office called him by his first name. That began to happen about the time he retired.

MELISSA:

Mom always said that being called by her first name made her feel young… but of course she is quite a bit younger than your father.

(Derek eyes the second letter but hesitates. Finally he grabs it and rips it open and reads out loud).

DEREK:

Missy, listen to this. Fred and I extend our deepest sympathy upon the death of your father, Oliver, our dear friend whom we have known for over 35 years. We are not sure we can come the distance at our age but do let us know the particulars concerning his funeral. I don’t believe this!! This is just awful, totally nuts!

MELISSA:

Well, three’s the charm. Guess you’d better open it and get it over with. (She hands him the letter. Pause, as he reads to himself.)

DEREK:

And here’s another! (He holds up the third letter.) What the hell?!

MELISSA:

(sudden concern at his distress) What’s going on? What should we do?

DEREK:

(Derek scrutinizes the last letter.) Now these people I do remember… vaguely. The Darmentos. Harry and Fran. He taught Sociology I think or maybe it was Anthropology. Something like that. I think Dad liked him. I remember he was always traveling to South America and he brought Dad back some really hideous masques which Dad felt obliged to hang up in his office. Mom never allowed him to bring them home! (suddenly alert) But seriously, I can’t handle all this. I’m freaking out!

MELISSA:

Could someone be playing some sort of sick prank?

DEREK:

Granted Dad’s name is by no means unique or even that unusual but these people know not only my name, but my address, and that I am his son. Of course our names aren’t exactly the same.

MELISSA:

I always wondered how you got a cool name like Derek. Fortunately, your father stuck your brother with his waspy fame name!

DEREK:

Yeah. He gave Chip, (pompous) his first-born, the full name, Oliver Henry Treadwell. Just as well. I never wanted to be a junior. It’s quite a legacy. Mother chose my name I think. (sighs) You know her stroke was so unexpected. She wasn’t old… . quite a bit younger than Dad.

MELISSA:

Your mother’s forever-young fountain-of-youth attitude is often typical of second spouses.

DEREK:

Guess she wanted me to have a with it, up-to-date, modern name.

(Melissa and Derek go through the rest of the mail.)

MELISSA:

Bill… Bill… The rest are magazines!

DEREK:

(Long pause) Dad was so lost after he retired from McClung. And after that guy got shot right in front of him in the bank robbery, he had had enough of trying to survive in the big city.

MELISSA:

But he always missed New York and especially the college. That was the center of his life.

DEREK:

True. Dad still believed in the old values: learning for the sake of learning, students respecting professors, and professors not, as he said, pandering to students. Then he began to realize that education, like everything else, has turned into big business.

MELISSA:

Well, I miss McClung too. We had some crazy times there. (chuckle) Guess it’s a good thing neither of us is running for public office.

DEREK:

That’s for sure! Poor Dad! He could never believe that Shakespeare is out and hip hop is in. Guess there was a time when Dad’s Jazz and Swing Music were in. . . . . But at the same time was Shakespeare, or at least Hemingway, ever really out?

MELISSA:

(chuckle) I can’t vouch for Hemingway but I remember your father never recovered from Woodstock.

DEREK:

Yeah, for Dad that sort of thing was the writing on the wall: the probable downfall of humanity. He told us about the student protests of the 60’s and had no patience with any of it because he took the cause of justice for granted. He assumed that everyone in the world would treat others fairly and therefore be treated fairly themselves. He felt the same about women’s rights. It’s funny because he was really liberal about so many things including politics and religion, life styles… .

MELISSA:

More ads, more bills. Well, what do you know? At the bottom of this pile is the latest McClung Monitor. Hot off the press. (She hands it to Derek and he thumbs through it.)

DEREK:

Here we are! The Class of 1996! Reunion pictures. God! We’re starting to look old.

MELISSA:

Speak for yourself!

DEREK:

Here’s a bit about old Bob Morse’s recent trip to Honduras. There is a picture of him riding a donkey. As I remember old Bob, he was lucky if he could find his way home to Secaucus. You know the whole game with these magazines is to get you to give money to your old alma mater… . (shock, silence!) What the… . ?!

MELISSA:

(alarmed) What?? What is it? Derek?

DEREK:

(Derek stares at one page.) Missy, you’re not going to believe this! Someone has written an official obituary for Dad in the school magazine!!! Look! They even include a picture of him