Saturday, November 5, 2011

Play: TREE-ESTRIALS IN THE HALLOWOOD

This club play was written and devised as a group collaboration between the actors and the director, Trish Denton.
November 5, 2011

TREE-ESTRIALS IN THE HALLOWOOD

Starring:
A Solar Ray (Sylvan)
Sunchemist (Phinn)
Mother Tree-estrial (Lily)
Daughter Tree-estrial (Grace)
Tree-estrial Essence (Molly)
Tree-estrial Youth (Evie)

I. The year is 2050, when cars are powered by candy-corn. Far, far away from the chaos of traffic and rash decisions is The Hallowood, a forest protected by a small band of mystical beings known as The Tree-estrials. Mother Tree-estrial and her daughter take a walk to observe the state of the woods. These woods are no ordinary woods, they are very special indeed. For here is where all the Halloween snacks, treats and sweets are grown. Lollipops bloom by the bushel, caramel apples dangle from the trees and candy corn spills from the nooks and knots of them. Daughter Tree-estrial notices that one of their splendid trees has had its bark scorched. She runs over to the tree and finds a notice stapled to it: THESE WOODS HAVE BEEN SLATED FOR REMOVAL THIS TUESDAY NEXT. -THE CANDY CORN CAR CORP.
"Slated for removal?! Mother, what does this mean?" Daughter Tree-estrial bursts into tears. As Mother Tree-estrial tries to comfort her, she calls upon The Essence for guidance, "Essence! Please show us what this means!" In tap shoes and a dazzling suit of stars and stripes, The Essence springs forth bellowing:
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home."
II. Atop the canopy of the trees is stationed the laboratory of the Sunchemist and his apprentice Solar Ray. The two work side by side mixing solutions and testing them. The Sunchemist makes a mixture that causes a tiny explosion. He looks to his apprentice to follow suit. Solar Ray makes his own mixture, resulting in a BIG explosion. The two lay twitching on the ground, somewhat mangled from the blast, as The Tree-estrials enter the lab. "Oh my!" The ladies drop their umbrellas in utter shock. "Sunchemist, are you okay?" He is barely phased, and invites the ladies in. Mother, Daughter and child tell of their dilemma in protecting the wood from the Candy Corn Car Corp. "They will remove all of the trees for fuel for their cars!" The Sunchemist has a hopeful wrinkle in his forehead. He is deep in thought. "I know just what we need. The solution for a protective shield... a force field around the wood. Solar Ray, please go to the look-out." The Sunchemist begins to feverishly mix solutions. "I see them approaching!" Shouts Solar Ray.
III. A terrifying army of Forgotten Halloween Candies marches toward the Hallowood. Hardened taffy, shattered lollipops, disintegrating and rotten candies slowly, but steadily storm toward the wood. "We have to act fast!" Shouts Mother Tree-estrial. "Let's begin the ritual..." Says The Essence to Sun Ray. The two begin dancing to incite the magic needed for the force field. As the others join in, The Sunchemist brings down his solution and begins to sprinkle droplets around within the dancing circle. As the dance generates more power, Sun Ray runs to the look out to see if the force field is working. He shouts down "It's working!! Dance faster!" The ritual begins to escalate... "They are approaching the force field!!" The Tree-estrials dance faster and sing louder... "They've stopped! They can't get in!" The dance is so wild that no one hears... "They're turning around!!" The ritual begins to wind down... "They're gone, " Whispers Sun Ray. The Tree-estrials look to one another with satisfaction. This is a victory that will never be forgotten by children on Halloween.