THE ELFby Jeff Goodecopyright © 1987 |
"I don't understand, Raymond, you come home from work, you talk to the couch and all of a sudden you have to go back to work. It's my cooking, isn't it?"
Raymond Roberts is a typical American husband. He loves his job. He loves his wife. They have a house in the suburbs where they live with their typical American kids.
Raymond is also an elf, one of the mythical faerie whose responsibility it is to grant the wishes of those in need and generally use their magical powers to make the world a better place. Twenty years ago, however, Raymond fell in love with a young coed at an anti-apartheid rally, and chose to use his magical powers to become the man of her dreams, and settled down with her in this idyllic life in the suburbs.
But retiring from elfdom is not so easy as all that. And this dark comedy tells the story of the day his faerie supervisors finally catch up with Raymond Roberts. Reminded of his sacred elven duty, and the damage that has been done in his absence, Raymond endeavors to make up for lost time. But it isn't easy to save the world and still spend quality time with your family. The struggle to balance two jobs and deal with the unexpected fame that comes with global philanthropy begins to tear at the fabric of his life. And it becomes clear that the happy family was not so happy after all. Their eldest, it seems, is an ecological terrorist, their youngest is a victim of child neglect, and marital bliss slowly gives way to outside pressures and the hidden disatisfactions that have lingered for many years.
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Cast Size: 10-20 (depends on doubling - 20 characters) Running Time: 90 minutes |
PRODUCTION HISTORY:
Iowa
Playwrights Workshop - Iowa City, Iowa
March 12-14, 1987
directed by Bob Hughes
costume design, Todd Nelson
scenery design, Todd McNerney
lighting design, David Blakely
choreography, Jodi Vestal
CAST: Ray ................ Mark Lohman Mom ................ Katie Ryan Mark ............... Scott White the Twins .......... Laura Miller, Tamara Kemper Jim ................ Brad Schnurr Zeek ............... Dede Reznick
TV voices .......... Craig Chesler, Jane deLaubenfels Willie ............. Dan Layne Spank .............. Frank Ensenberger Zowie .............. Mark W. Gentsch Johnny Alberts ..... Moran Ms. Dandridge ...... Jane deLaubenfels
REPORTERS the Gazette ........ Rob Hansen the Star ........... Jayne Rau the Daily News ..... Michele Sohner the Enquirer ....... Kris Farrar the Times .......... Julie Crossen the Globe .......... Cheryl C. Snodgrass the Tribune ........ Craig Chesler the Herald ......... Jeri Lynn Schulke TV-5 News .......... Mona Lim
Sprites ............ Jennifer Schwartz, Stephanie Stewart, Mary Schneider, Kelly Weets, Snod Mailman ............ Kris Farrar Police ............. Rob Hansen and Craig Chesler as the voice of Spot
The Bullis School
- Potomac, Maryland
October 25 & 26, 1996
directed by Bob Johnson
assistant director, Heda O'Brien
tech director, Kate Cudney
CAST: Ray ................ Max Kogod Honey .............. Miriam Berg Cat ................ Rose Bernstein Ray Jr ............. Kenneth Parsons Ray III ............ Amielle Moreno Jim ................ Mark Ma Zeek ............... Elysa Barron
TV voices .......... Josh Simon, Corey Bernstein, Kate Clute, John Halpern Willie ............. Justin Silbert Spank .............. Rachel Trezise Zowie .............. Sarah Swinton Mr. Dandridge ...... Josh Simon Reporters .......... Justin Silbert, Corey Bernstein, Kate Clute, John Halpern Police ............. Josh Simon, Corey Bernstein, Kate Clute, John Halpern Lights & Sound - Dan Mayer & Mark Helman Make-up / Sound Effects - Lauren Heard / Rachel Trezise Props - Rachel Krupsky, Ami Tuff, Heda O' Brien & others Program Cover Design - Sarah Swinton / Rachel Krupsky