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Layers by Gary Rodgers play script cover

Layers

by Gary Rodgers Canadian Author

Step inside Robin’s world as he grapples with his conscience and his anti-conscience. And then deeper into a world of misinformed theatrical anthropologists from the 25th century. And then deeper still as the writer tries to figure out an ending... which he may not be able to do if he’s not actually the writer.

This is not just one play. It’s a play within a play within an onion within a cabbage. Layers is filled with, well, layers. Characters and story overlap and cabbage gets thrown. Make sure you read to the very end because it’s not the writer who writes the final word...

Comedy Experimental Form

Recommended for High Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 35 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
17 Characters
2 M 1 F 14 Any Gender
Doubling Possible
Set
Simple set
Length
36 pages
Free Excerpt
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

17 Characters

  • 2 Males
  • 1 Female
  • 14 Any Gender
  • Doubling Possible

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

  • LAYER 1 Any gender 12 lines
    Overly pleasant and cheerful.
  • LAYER 2 Any gender 10 lines
    Equally as pleasant and cheerful as Layer 1.
  • LAYER 3 Any gender 7 lines
    Serious and intelligent.
  • CONSCIENCE Any gender 24 lines
    Respectable, moral and rather naïve.
  • ROBIN Male 64 lines
    A typical awkward teenaged boy who is in love with Mona.
  • ANTI-CONSCIENCE Any gender 21 lines
    Manipulative, mischievous and unethical.
  • KNOWLEDGE Any gender 18 lines
    Follows Quote and is obviously under her control. He despises Quote and nags her relentlessly.
  • QUOTE Any gender 11 lines. lines
    Gives many physical gestures to Knowledge to direct his movements. She governs him but is quite annoyed by his incessant nagging. She speaks only in quotes.
  • ART Any gender 54 lines
    A regular pot user, rough around the edges, tough and streetwise. She often speaks incoherently or repeats herself as though she is high, however, this is not to be overdone.
  • CRAFTY Any gender 54 lines
    Art’s drug buddy, she is equally tough, streetwise, and stoned.
  • MONA Female 9 lines
    Typical teenaged girl, has been waiting for Robin to ask her out.
  • PROFESSOR LIVINGSTONE Any gender 60 lines
    Pompous and pretentious, she is Sedrick’s superior and supposed mentor, though terribly perturbed by Sedrick’s lack of experience and expertise.
  • SEDRICK Any gender 43 lines
    Apprentice to Professor Livingstone, longs to become an advanced dimensionality anthropologist. Has endless admiration for Professor Livingstone and Lord Master Hamdenburg.
  • LORD MASTER FRONZ HAMDENBURG Any gender 35 lines
    She is Professor Livingstone’s colleague and is equally pompous and pretentious.
  • WRITER Any gender 38 lines
    Nervous and jittery, easily spooked, looks as though he may have fallen asleep at his desk last night while writing a play.
  • ADVISOR Male 54 lines
    Confident and usually in control, offers Writer advice and his thoughts regarding his play.
  • PLANT Any gender 37 lines
    An unsuspecting audience member.

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