Sweep Under Rug by Lindsay Price - Theatrefolk

Sweep Under Rug

Recommended for High Schools

Sweep Under Rug

by Lindsay Price

In the future the issue of poverty is solved through separation and subserviance. A teen causes trouble simply because she wants to better herself.

 About 35 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 5
1 M | 3 W | 1 Any Gender

Simple Set

 34 pages

Drama Character Study Issue-Based

"When you have a Bobby Sue to tell you what to do, life gets better!"

Sweep Under Rug envisions a future where struggling families are placed in the "Bobby Sue" program. A "Bobby Sue" is a guardian of sorts, someone who warns against missteps and guides its owners along the "appropriate" path in life.

But what happens when people want to think for themselves?

Sweep Under Rug shared top-prize in NYC's TADA! Youth Theatre's Annual One Act Playwriting Contest.

5 Characters
1 M, 3 W, 1 Any Gender

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.

Counsellor Kelly [W] 36 lines
Early twenties. Government worker, counsellor for blocks 7A to E. Believes in the program 110%. Has been on the job six months.
Conrad [M] 97 lines
Eighteen. Miranda‘s boyfriend. He hasn‘t seen her in a year. Revolutionary.
Miranda [W] 95 lines
Seventeen. Elder sister. A secret poet. Very smart, but defeated. Has lost most of her vocabulary.
Ariel [W] 113 lines
Sixteen. Younger sister. Extremely smart. Also believes in the program.
Bobby Sue [A] 95 lines
No age, but looks like a fresh-faced teen from the 50‘s. She is a highly advanced computer. Always happy. Moves mechanically but should never speak like a robot.

Subgenres
Fantasy Character study

Settings
The future

Dress
Contemporary costumes Elaborate costumes Fantasy costumes Period costumes

Audience
Teen

Features
Poetry Character study SEL

Set
Simple set

Cautions
Adult themes

Themes
Adolescence Betrayal Friendship Illness/Health Love Memory Parenting/Family Relationships Individuality Obedience Technology Morality Peer pressure

Cross-Curricular Uses
Technology

Other uses
Competition Audition material Class work

Prop List

Party hat, Noisemaker, Another party hat, Clipboard, Large file, Frying pan

Multimedia
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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.

Related Titles

We accept orders worldwide using the following payment methods:
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

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