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Cast of Characters KATIE: A 10 - 13 year old girl who views the world with a child's sense of magic, wonder and fear. GWEN: Katie's Mother. An average mother dealing with the struggles and joys of child rearing. MARVALINE PANKY: A spectacle of sight and sound. She is a large, loving, grandmotherly woman with a penchant for the absurd and outlandish. Her manner and dress reflect this. Represents Magic. MOLLY: Katie's big sister. Your typical annoying sibling, but she has Katie's best interests at heart. AMARYLLIS: A mute, interpretive dancer, a la Isadora Duncan. Does not speak but she does sing. Endearing, expressive, and the object of Liverwurst's affections. Represents Love. LIVERWURST JONES: A beatnik who lives in Katie's compost heap. Filthy and smelly but happy and non-judgmental. Carries a small bongo slung over his shoulder. Represents Faith and Hope. SARGE: Katie's Marine Corps Barbie doll. A no-nonsense drill instructor. Although dressed in fatigues, her hair is always perfectly coifed. carries a swagger stick. Represents Strength. DUNCAN: The family dog and our Narrator. A friendly, lovable mutt. SPOT & DOT: The family cats. Self-absorbed and "catty." Valley girl in style and presentation. TRILBY, CELESTE, GABRIEL, KALI, AND REUBAN: The Bogeymen. These characters
represent the darker aspects of human nature, the fears Katie must face if she
is to make peace with herself. MUSICAL NUMBERS
About the animals : They can hear and see everything, however, the humans {including Katie} cannot hear them talk. DUNCAN: {To AUDIENCE} These are Katie's invisible friends. You can see them because you're really cool. SPOT: {Filing her nails}. That's a matter of opinion. DOT: I heard that. DUNCAN: {To AUDIENCE} But don't tell anyone else cause they might be, yah know, uncool and they'll think you're crazy or something, and they'll come take you away in the twinkie mobile. Uncool people are everywhere. It could even be the person sitting right next to you. Don't look! I said...! Oh geez. Never mind, just shhh, mum's the word. Me? I'm Duncan. In case you're a little slow, I'm a dog. You know, "woof, woof." And this is a true story... IF you believe in magic. {DUNCAN opens the music box on the bedside table. MUSIC UP. It is a nice touch to open the music box before each number as if all the songs were originating from this source. ALL on-stage sing} MAGIC GWEN: {ENTERING. MUSIC STOPS, ALL freeze, except KATIE who sits nonchalantly on the bed} What's going on in here? KATIE: Nothing. Why? GWEN: I thought I heard something. KATIE: {Making a great show of listening}. I don't hear anything. GWEN: Well, it's time for bed. {EXIT GWEN. RESUME SONG} ALL: No dreams left unlived, no fears left unbound. MOLLY: {ENTERING. MUSIC STOPS, ALL freeze except KATIE}. Have you seen my new shirt? KATIE: {Casually putting MOLLY'S shirt under the covers}No. Have you seen my scrunchie? MOLLY: {Putting her hand to her hair to hide the scrunchie she is wearing}No. {EXIT MOLLY quickly. RESUME SONG} ALL: Revelations, jubilations, incantations. Celebrations! GWEN: {ENTERING} Kate, come on, this is the fifth time I've asked. Bedtime. KATIE: Right. {KATIE gets into bed and snuggles up with her blankie. GWEN sits down beside her to tuck her in} GWEN: Oh, Katie, when are you going to get rid of that blanket? DUNCAN: {To AUDIENCE} Did I mention that Katie was in the middle of a childhood crisis? KATIE: Mom. {She rolls her eyes} It's not a blanket, it's my blankie. GWEN: That doesn't answer my question. KATIE: What was your question? GWEN: Katie. DUNCAN: {To AUDIENCE} Some people think Katie's getting too old for a blankie. But you're never too old to love something, are you? SPOT & DOT: Profound. DUNCAN: {Shaking his fist at them} You're gonna meet 'em. KATIE: Why do I have to get rid of it? It makes me feel good. GWEN: You're almost eleven, and besides look at it. It's awful. At least let me wash it. KATIE: NO! You'll throw it out. GWEN: Katie, I'm not gonna throw it out.
GWEN: Well, I'm not going to fight about it. KATIE: You're not? Cool. Wait a minute, is this reverse proctology? GWEN: Excuse me? KATIE: What? GWEN: Oh, nothing. I guess you'll give it up when you're ready. KATIE: How will I know when I'm ready? GWEN: You'll know. Just let me wash it, PLEASE! {KATIE tightens her grip on the blanket} O.K., fine. Can I at least have a goodnight kiss? {GWEN tickles KATIE, they kiss goodnight} I love you. KATIE: Love you too, Mom. GWEN: {Crossing to the door} Goodnight. {GWEN turns out the lights and EXITS.} KATIE: Night, Mom. {Beat} MOM! DOT: Here we go. KATIE: {ENTER GWEN. LIGHTS ON} I'm thirsty. DUNCAN: {To AUDIENCE} For those of you without children, this is what's known as "The Big Stall." It's a bedtime ritual enjoyed by parents the world over. SPOT & DOT: {Playing out the nightime ritual. They know it by heart.} There's water by the bed. GWEN: There's water by the bed. DOT: I have to go to the bathroom. KATIE: I have to go to the bathroom. SPOT: You just went. GWEN: You just went. DOT: Oh...{Thwarted} yeah. KATIE: Oh...{Thwarted} yeah. SPOT & DOT: Goodnight. GWEN: Goodnight. KATIE: Can Duncan sleep with me tonight? {Seized by an irresistible urge, DUNCAN begins to scratch furiously} SPOT: Uh, oh... DOT: Emergency itch! SPOT: Gag me. DOT: Gross me out. SPOT & DOT: To-tally! DUNCAN: {Noticing they are eyeing him, he stops. To AUDIENCE} They're watching me, aren't they? SPOT & DOT: Filthy pet. DUNCAN: It's dandruff. GWEN: Not tonight. SPOT & DOT: DE-NIED! {They high five} DUNCAN: It's the garage for me tonight. KATIE: PLEASE! {DUNCAN whines and begs} Pretty please! GWEN: Well... I guess so. DUNCAN: Whew! That was a close one. {DUNCAN rolls over and KATIE scratch his belly. He howls and paws the air} GWEN: I'll be right down the hall if you need anything. KATIE: Promise? GWEN: Promise. {GWEN turns off the light and EXITS. A moment of darkness then...} KATIE: MOM! {LIGHTS ON, ENTER GWEN} Leave the lights on, o.k.? GWEN: I'm not gonna leave the lights on - you'll never get to sleep. How about the nightlight? KATIE: {GWEN turns on nightlight and tries to leave again} What if there's a monster in the closet? GWEN: Make friends with it. KATIE: Oh, fine! What if I can't see it cause there's no light and it eats me all up? Hmm? GWEN {Brightly}: If it eats you all up, then I can wash your blanket. DOT: Good one. KATIE: You're not very sympathetic. GWEN: Sweetheart, nothing is going to hurt you. Not while I'm around. KATIE: Promise? GWEN: Promise. |
