Characters (10. 7 male/3 female)
Note from the writer: "Names and genders of characters are suggestions only and can be changed to suit performers. (Kelly, 2009, pg7)
Mark 14-18
Jan 14-18
Leah 14-18
Phil 16-18
John Tate 14-18
Danny 14-18
Richard 16-18
Cathy 14-18
Brian 14-18
Adam 14-18
Time and setting
The time of the play is not specified but the dialogue references suggest it's set pose 2000. It is set in a field, wood and a street.
Synopsis
The play is excellent for GCSE, A-level or Drama school. There are some good speeches that could be used for professional auditions.
A group of school friends find themselves in a very difficult situation. There friend Adam has disappeared down a big shaft and that assume he is dead. What set out to be a group joke of making Adam walk along a thin walkway, ends in complete tragedy.
The play itself is a dark comedy. There is some hilarious exchanges, particularly in the tense moments of panic and confuse as to what to do to deal with Adams death.
The dialogue or lack of it between Phil and Leah is Brilliant. Phil the leader of the group is of few words and only speaks when it is crucial. Leah is the opposite and can't stop talking. Leah talks about how closely related humans are to Bonobos. Then goes on to discuss there sexual habits in traffic detail.
After setting up an innocent postman for the murder, Adam shows up to the surprise of all. The group are left with the conundrum of coming clean in their setting up of the postman and face getting in to serious trouble or taking Adams life properly this time. I won't reveal the end.
Monologues and duologues etc...
There are some excellent monologues within the play mostly from Leah.
Pages 10-12. Leah's first monologue. It is largely about her insecurity, her affection for Phil and her fear of uncertainty surrounding the situation with the missing Adam.
Pages 22-23. Marks monologue describes what happened to Adam in the grille which he falls into, never to be seen again. It's descriptive and could be delivered in tragic or comedic style.
Pages 26-28. Leah's second monologue is hilarious. She starts of discussing her knowledge of bonobos and how closely related humans sings are to them. With Phil showing Zero emotion or acknowledgment Leah decides to strangle herself with the hope that Phil will take notice of her. Of course he doesn't and Leah eventually gives up on strangling herself to death. She breaks the awkward moments after with her lines about Bonobos sex lives, "they shag a lot, always at it" (Kelly, 2008, pg27)
Pages 30-32 Leah's third monologue is her theory on happiness and she uses science to back it up. Again this has some excellent comedic dialogue. She produces a Tupperware box with her dead bird, Jerry. Which she killed. She shows Phil presumably to impress him. Phil is seemingly unimpressed.
Pages 41-43. Leah's third monologue she is discussing reality and an alternative universe. Leah also is becoming increasingly frustrated by Phil's neutral and silent behaviour. Is never said but the cry for attention must be because she has feelings for him. It's also never clear as to whether they are in a relationship or not, even though they spend lots of time together alone.
Pages 46-48. Leah's fourth monologue, she is beginning to face up to the reality of the situation, even if Phil can't. She starts the speech wth a packed suitcase and is ready to run away. She stops herself before going, knowing that it's a tough decision. She highlights the implications of the groups actions, who have all either gone mad with guilt, are staying away, on medication or in Leah's case, about to run away. Phil nearly says something but decides to focus on eating his waffle instead.
Pages 53-54. Adam appears, not dead but suffering with cabin fever and memory loss. He is alive non the less. He explains how he has been living and surviving, often living in "worms and leaves". The speech is disturbing, yet comedic.
Pages 63-65. After Leah finally leaves and runs away and Phil and the group murder Adam for real, Phil finds himself all
alone. Often sitting in his field for hours on end. Richard tries to snap him out of it in the plays final monologue, to no success.
Key words
Tragedy
Dark comedy
Confusion
DNA
Friendship
Loyalty
Cover up
Teenager
Murder
Set up
Peer pressure
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