A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Body Guards

Short Play, Drama  /  3m

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.'s short play, about two young men charged with watching over the body of their uncle, asks who will care about what happens to the dead.

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The Body Guards

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    10 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

Benny and Skin are charged with watching over the body of their "Uncle" Clarence until the hearse and sherrif can arrive. As Benny gets a little too close to the body and probes a little too much about what Skin knows, the two hear a voice from beyond the door. A short play about who will care about what happens to the dead.

History
The Body Guards was developed in the spring of 1997. It was first produced by the Wakiknabe Theatre Company in Albuquerque, NM in February 1997, directed by Faith Lane. The Wakiknabe Theatre Company again presented the play in January 1999 in Taos, NM. The play was also presented in a staged reading by New Jersey Repertory in Long Branch, NJ on May 24, 1999, directed by William S. Yellow Robe Jr.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
BENNY – A man in his late 40s
CLARENCE – A dead man
SKIN – A man in his early 20s

Native characters should always be played by Native actors. The production must know whether the Native actor is an enrolled member of their tribe or of descent, and if they live their life in community as a Native person, before casting. In no instance should someone who claims to be a Native actor but who has no tribal affiliation be cast in one of these roles.

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting

    An old wooden shack. Early 1960s, winter.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 10 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Media

“Ironic and sometimes bitter humor... invokes a touch of magical realism.” – David H. Fenimore, University of Nevada, Reno

“Charged… with an ironic and sometimes bitter humor about intratribal as well as interracial relations. The Body Guards (1997) invokes a touch of magical realism when two hired corpse-watchers, Skin and Benny, who have been hearing mysterious sounds as they argue over the death of Skin’s hard-drinking Uncle Clarence, are terrified to see his body suddenly sit up.” – David H. Fenimore, University of Nevada, Reno

“Explores many contemporary Native themes through a deft mixture of hard-bitten reality, humor light and dark, and a penetrating yet poignant dramatic vision.” – Native Peoples (on the anthology where the pavement ends: five Native American plays)

Videos

  • William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. on Indigenous Theatre – Brown University youtube thumbnail

    William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. on Indigenous Theatre – Brown University

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £30 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

William Stanley Yellow Robe, Jr. (Assiniboine/Sioux) was a playwright, actor, director and teacher. He was a staunch advocate for Native and Indigenous playwrights, beloved by his students and revered by his audiences. His work has been produced around the United States and i ...

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