Martyn Chapman
Author
My Plays
Christmas on the Law
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A humorous yet poignant family drama, adapted from my own popular short story.
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Characters
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Cast of nine characters
Mmin. male characters = 6
Min. female characters = 3
Duration
Approximately one hour and thirty minutes
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Synopsis
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Every Christmas Eve, a family make a short pilgrimage to the summit of the extraordinary conical hill (‘The Law’) that dominates their small Lothian town, celebrating this delightful festive occasion with cookies, beverages, and shadowy tales of the town’s historical past.
But behind these seemingly innocent stories of whalebones, witchcraft and retribution from times gone by, lies a tragic secret that links to the present day.
Will this be the Christmas when the family can be reunited, finding the love and happiness they once held so dearly?
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Nothing is What it Seems
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A mysterious tramp teases the audience with dark tales of conspiracy theories, his secret identity, and the disturbing truth behind a sordid yet tragic crime that was committed close by. But is everything all that it seems?
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Characters
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An unshaven, scruffily dressed tramp, sitting on a park bench - Male. 35+
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Duration
Approximately twenty minutes
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Style
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Prose monologue – a good and challenging character piece – with minimal set and a simple costume.
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The Shadow of Christmas
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A reluctant Father Christmas talks about his feelings during the festive season, remembering the daughter he lost and considering what life might have been like.
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Characters
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Father Christmas - Male. 45+
An ordinary man reluctantly taking on the voluntary role of Father Christmas.​​
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Duration
Approximately fifteen minutes
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Style
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A short single set, one-act play. Humorous and poignant.
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