A PLAYSCRIPTS TITLE

Rue

Short Play, Drama  /  8w, 4m plus ensemble

Mandy Conner

Sixteen-year-old Josephine struggles with anxiety following the disappearance of her parents. Refusing to leave her home, deep in the Louisiana swamp, she chooses to turn to its dark inhabitants for answers.

Rue

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    8w, 4m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    40 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Shakespeare), Fable/Folktale
  • Suggested Use
    • Competition or Audition Material
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Rue

Details

Summary

Deep in a Louisiana swamp, sixteen-year-old Josephine struggles with intense anxiety following the mysterious disappearance of her parents. She refuses to leave the safety of her home and face the outside world, even as it becomes increasingly dangerous for her to stay in the marshland. Against the wishes of her brother and best friend, Jo turns to the dark inhabitants of the swamp for answers. But is she brave enough to face the truth about her family – and herself? A one-act drama that exlpores family, mental health and folklore. 

History

Rue was first performed by China Spring High School Theatre on 1 March 2022. It was directed by the play’s author, Mandy Conner.

Keywords
Performing Groups

JOSEPHINE (JO) – Sixteen-year-old girl of the swamp, struggles with anxiety 
MOTHER – Don and Josephine’s mother 
FATHER – Don and Josephine’s father, also plays LOUP-GAROU 
DON – Eighteen, Josephine’s brother 
WILLA – Old lady fue follet 
BATTRY (BAT-tree) – Old man fue follet 
KASSIE BOGGS – Jo’s best friend, not from the swamp 
FLORA BOGGS – Kassie’s older sister 
LYLE BOGGS – Kassie’s father 
ANITA JUSTICE – Town gossip 
MISS VICKIE – Town gossip 
MIZ CREESHA – Old swamp hag 
LOUP-GAROU – A monster from Cajun folklore who lives in the swamp, often described as having the body of a man and the head of a wolf 
ECHOES/EXTRAS

Cajun Slang

Fue Follet: fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands, similar to a will-o’-the-wisp. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad, depending on the circumstances. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters.

Gone on: go on

Hoss fly: horse fly

Skeeters: mosquitos

Cajun Slang

Fue Follet: fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands, similar to a will-o’-the-wisp. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad, depending on the circumstances. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters.

Gone on: go on

Hoss fly: horse fly

Skeeters: mosquitos

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    Louisiana marshlands. Present day.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 40 minutes

Licensing & Materials

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

Scripts

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Authors

Mandy Conner

Mandy Conner
Mandy Conner has been teaching in the Central Texas area for over twenty-five years. She began her love for theatre while attending McLennan Community College and Texas Tech University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English. She has earned fourteen trips to the UIL ...
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