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The Radio Play Disaster

This is a short play about a struggling group of actors and crew who are doing their level best to broadcast a radio show that could be the turning point for their station. The tone of the play is unapologetically silly, lively, and extremely fun. The characters are written to be played by actors of any gender, and there is plenty of room for actors with non-speaking roles.

Harlan Bean is the radio host who views himself as some kind of visionary, and a genius artist. He wrote the radio show, Battle of the Planets, and he wants ONLY his vision of the show to be broadcast, but he commands very little control over his actors and crew. In theory, he is the picture of those old fashion charismatic radio hosts, but he fails and fumbles at every turn and causes more than half of his own problems. He could look like anyone, and his character partially relies on physical comedy bits.

Max is the stressed out and overworked stage manager. They have pretty dry humor, and very sincere delivery of otherwise terrible news. They could be a man or a woman, but they are younger and would like any job that isn’t playing cleanup to Harlan, and they jump for it whenever the opportunity for a better role presents itself.

Trixie Flanders is the sound director who constantly butts heads with Harlan. She has… interesting sound effect choices, but she is a professional and stands by her trade! She is a large driving force for the story and the comedy. She has a strong, confident voice, and slightly stubborn personality, and she doesn’t stand for disrespect.

Samantha Powers is an actor playing Dr. Mary Landrieu. Sam may not be the brightest knife in the crayon box. There is not a “but,” that’s the whole statement. They are younger, and very innocent and sincere. This could be best played by someone with a soft face.

Larissa Jacks is an actor with only a small role in the broadcast, and this is not to their liking. Larissa plays Dr. Landrieu’s assistant, and often covers for Sam’s misspoken lines. Larissa tries, and fails, several times to make their character more important in the broadcast. They are a very versatile character.

Otis Sheridan was originally going to be one of six actors playing reporters throughout the broadcast, until the others got fired by Harlan, leaving Otis suddenly in charge of playing five characters. They are extremely anxious, sometimes they rush through their lines without breathing, and other times they hesitate because they don’t know what to say when another actor improvises. This role could be played by up to two actors.

Sir Brinsley Catamount is an actor from London. He is a distinguished gentleman, a serious upstanding man, and he is trapped in the most unserious room in the world where he is asked to deliver the silliest lines of his life. He does several accents and voices throughout the play.

Josie O’Connor is the only other actor playing a reporter who wasn’t fired, but she is still only responsible for her one initial character, a reporter named Josephine Maxwell. She has a tendency to overact, with exaggerated and campy speeches. She could be played by anyone.

Adrienne Lucas is an actor playing General Brianna Armitrage. She is very nervous, and stumbles over her words and isn’t very familiar with her role. Despite her nerves and apparent inexperience, she doesn’t seem notably young. Lucky for her she doesn’t have too large of a role.

Tonya Bristow believes she is playing the main character, despite how many times Harlan tells her she’s meant to be in one scene and then die. But she refuses to let the status quo of weak objectified women continue! She is a very strong willed woman who does not shy from confrontation.

Branford Bristow is Tonya’s husband, and a terrible actor. He does not know how to emote during his lines, and he knows even less when to just stop talking. He spends a majority of his time fighting with his wife, so he needs to have good chemistry with Tonya.

Maria Spumante is an actor playing Press Secretary Tabitha Minions. She came into work despite being deathly ill and it makes it so she can barely focus on acting. She doesn’t have many lines, but when she does have lines she misses them looking for cough drops. She could easily be played by an older person.

FURIOUS HAMSTER is an aspiring actor who got lucky in a contest to score a role on this broadcast. He has more gusto than the rest of the cast combined and puts his whole heart into every word he says. He is over excited, and almost cartoonishly expressive and should be played by someone who can match that.