The December’s People’s Choice goes to…

The people have spoken… The December People’s Choice Award goes to Jennifer Le Blanc for her play Nutcracker Sweets, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on December 20th at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, and simulcast online. Congratulations, Jennifer!

Courtesy of Jennifer, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

NUTCRACKER SWEETS
by
Jennifer Le Blanc

Cast of Characters

DAD: M (He/Him/His) 30s-40s Any Race. Loves football,
specifically the Raiders, and his kids. Doesn’t talk about
feelings. Wishes he could get more shifts at work. But,
hey, we got our health right? Who’s complaining?

MOM: F (She/Her/Hers) 30s-40s Any Race. Loves her family,
baking, and could really use a break. Also wishes she
could get a few more shifts, but all in all, she’s fine.
Could use a hand here. Oh forget it, I’ll do it.

SARAH: F (She/Her/Hers) 6 years old daughter. Brash,
unapologetic. Have you ever met a kid who loves pink
and picks up a doll by the face and thrusts it at you
screaming, “Let’s have a tea party RIGHT NOW or else!”
This is that kid. And she’s awesome. The world has not
yet taught her to take up less space. Let’s hope it never
does.

JUNIOR: M (He/Him/His) 11 years old. Dad is his hero and best
friend. Maybe Junior plays up the macho a bit too much.
Until he doesn’t. Ideally actor has some dance
background.

USHER/ DANCER F (She/Her/Hers) Usher means well, but accidentally
steps in it. Dancer will be playing all roles in the
Nutcracker. Ballet experience (pointe work and
familiarity with Nutcracker a plus)

Scene:
The family home, the car, and the San Francisco Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker.
The family is dressed up, but not expensively. They are wearing the very best that can be
bought at Goodwill. And they are rocking it.

Time:
Nowish but maybe like next year. Let’s imagine that no one needs masks this time next
year because the pandemic is over. Wouldn’t that be great?

Playwright’s notes:

Casting: The kids are played by adults who are lovingly committed to doing kid behavior. Kids are often awesome and complex and completely absorbed by their quickly changing emotions.

Director/Choreographer: The stage directions and the movement are where the story is.

Mom and Dad are in the living room.

MOM

Guys, we cannot be late.

DAD

Get your asses in here!

MOM

Very festive.

DAD

Sorry. Get your asses in here, falalalala! You look beautiful.

Junior enters. He is stiff and uncomfortable in a
suit. His hair is slicked down.

JUNIOR

Do I have to wear this?

DAD

Absolutely, kiddo, if I have to wear a tie, you have to wear one. Solidarity in misery.

MOM

You look absolutely adorable. Doesn’t he look- where’s my camera?

JUNIOR

Whyyyyyyyyy?

DAD

It’s some strange female right of passage-

MOM

Sarah! Do you know how many little league games- Sarah! And freezing our tits off at
football games- which are 90% waiting and 10% violently piling on top of each other and
inexplicably measuring grass- SARAH!

(Sarah runs in- big dress, bow in her hair,
barefoot.)

Shoes.

Sarah runs off.

DAD

It’s important to your mother. And she baked a ton of cookies for your football team-

MOM

A shit ton.

DAD

So we’re going to suffer through a night of pink tutus and prancing, champ.

MOM

Well, that’s a ringing endorsement, hun, remind me to let you write the Christmas cards.

(Sarah runs in, one shoe on, the other in her
hand.)

Tights?

SARAH

Ummmmmm…

Sarah vaguely looks around and shrugs. Dad
looks at his watch but makes no attempt to help.

MOM

Sarah, do you think you’re leaving this house without your tights? They were laid out
right next to your dress! Who puts on dress shoes without socks?

Sarah exits. Junior looks down and exits, too.

DAD

Not you, too.

VOICE OF JUNIOR

Sorry! I didn’t know where to find clean ones!

MOM

In your sock drawer-

VOICE OF SARAH

I can’t find them!

Mom exits toward Sarah’s room. Junior enters
from his room carrying athletic socks.

VOICE OF MOM

On your bed, Sarah! And so help me God, Junior, if you come out wearing white socks…

Junior turns around and goes back into his
room. Dad scrolls on his phone.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround on January 24th! For more info, click here!