The Atomic Monster From Out of Space

Setting and Notes

This musical stage play plays homage to the golden age of the 1950s classic horror monster movie. It is set in a small American town in the 1950s. The stage is bare, although the set can be dressed to reflect 1950s style B-movie science fiction and horror films, for example a diner or a drive-in movie. Apart from the first and the last, each scene alternates between stage left and stage right, each one represented by lighting, small set prices and props. If the stage is dressed as a Drive in, a screen at the back can be used to project images representing and enhancing each scene.

Who is the play for?

This play is written for a large non-professional cast and as such, I will not be seeking royalties for non-profit making amateur productions. Please see the previous copyright section at the beginning of this book for more details. I have tried to create an adaptable cast of characters with a script that gives as much flexibility as possible for casting within existing drama groups.

Music and Style:

I have provided song lyrics but it is up to your particular production to provide the music. I have suggested a broad musical style with each song. If you choose to use pre-existing music then it is your production’s responsibility to seek any appropriate permission.

CHARACTERS

WILLIAM DENNING: A stoic two fisted all American hero. He is solid, brave, principled and direct.

PATSY COLLINS: A plucky and inquisitive go getting female reporter.

EMERSON KAVANGH: A warm and kindly old Professor. He is knowledgeable, wise and a Brit.

The CORUS: The rest of the cast play various other parts throughout the play.

Casting Suggestions:

The play requires a large cast, a minimum of eight players (including the two leads), preferably four boys and four girls and in a range of ages. The use of the CORUS to play supporting roles is a tool to allow the roles to be shared out among existing drama group members. If you wish to cast these roles specifically, the main ones are:

JAMES SKINNER: A Jock.

NORBERT PAINE: A Nerd.

SECRETARY: Voice off stage.

JAMES’S MOTHER: A fussy middle-aged woman.

JENNY BEAN: A Frat Girl.

LEROY SPECK/THE CREATURE: Another Jock.

KELLY CARR: Another Frat Girl.

COUNTRY WOMAN.

COUNTRY MAN.

A MUTATED BAG (A puppet and its operators).

TIMMY: A Spoilt and opinionated brat.

NATHANIAL PAINE: The Mayor.

RITA: A young woman in love.

CLYDE: The subject of Rita’s affection.

Note: If using a minimal cast of four boys and four girls as suggested above, the final scene may require that one of the female actors double as THE CREATURE in the final scene and that TIMMY and THE MUTATED BAG be played by one of the female actors from the beginning.

SCENES

ACT I.

Scene 1: A Dance Competition.

Scene 2: Norbert’s Shed.

Scene 3: William’s Office.

Scene 4: Jim’s Living Room.

Scene 5: The Swamp.

Scene 6: The Forest.

Scene 7: The Swamp (Again).

ACT II.

Scene 1: Mayor Paine’s Office.

Scene 2: A Drive-in and a Diner.

Scene 3: A Lincoln and a Lair.

Scene 4: William’s Office.

Scene 5: The Cellar.

Scene 6: The Swamp (Once More).

Scene 7: An Abandoned Laboratory.

ACT I

Scene One

(The Dance Competition: The stage is bare. CORUS members are dancing in pairs to Rock and Roll music as if at a dance competition. One CORUS member is walking round with a clipboard, marking notes and judging the dancers.)

(WILLIAM enters center stage