Keeping Up With the Joneses
by Alan David Perkins
Copyright © 2007
CLASSIFICATION:
A play for children, ages 8-12.
SYNOPSIS:
It's 1955, and what more represents an average slice-of-life than the family unit. When their nosey neighbor Mrs. Jones comes by to brag about her invitation to attend opening day at Disneyland, the family takes their cue and does the same, despite their oldest daughter's protest. Along the way they visit the first McDonalds opened by Ray Kroc and run into a very young Elivs Presley before arriving at Disneyland. Much to their surprise, Disneyland isn't quite all it's cracked up to be. But after talking with Walt Disney himself, they take it for the memory that it will become.
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CAST:
GAS JOCKEY - Gas station attendant
MOTHER
FATHER
SAMMY - their teenage daughter
KITTEN - their younger daughter
PRINCESS - their other younger daughter
WALT DISNEY
MRS. JONES
FRANKIE - one of Sammy's teenage friends
BOBBIE - one of Sammy's teenage friends
CHRIS - one of Sammy's teenage friends
JUNIOR - Mrs. Jones's child
RAY KROC
CASHIER - McDonalds cashier
STAGE MANAGER - radio station stage manager
TEENAGER
ELVIS PRESLEY
CAMERAMAN
ASSISTANT - Walt's assistant
DIRECTOR - Director of the opening day special at Disneyland
CROWDS (at McDonalds, the radio station and Disneyland)
LENGTH:
20 - 25 minutes.
REQUIREMENTS:
The four key sets needed are the family's living room (which can be implied), the counter at McDonalds, the stage door of a radio station and Main Street in Disneyland. There are also side scenes with the family in a car, which can be done with chairs, and the gas jockey at a gas pump.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
The assignment was to write a play about the 50's for an audience who was born later than that. So, instead of bobby soxers and greasers, I brought some American History to the plate. The events are genuine -- the opening of McDonalds and Disneyland. I also tried to cram a few factoids about the time period as well.
CONTACTING THE PLAYWRIGHT:
The entire script of Keeping Up With the Joneses is available upon request from the playwright. No production of this play can take place without permission from the playwright.
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