Moments of Madness
10 - 60 minutes
2-9 VARIABLE
2F, 5M, Betrayal, Blue Moon, Characters From History, Collection, College, College, Communication, Community, Community, Compassion, Deceit, Family Values, Friendship, High School, High School, Jack J. Berry, Justice, Loyalty, Magic, Max 8, Middle School, Middle School, Min 2, Reader's Theatre, Respect, Seniors, Seniors, Streaming| Cast Size: | |
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| Run Time: | |
| Play Type: | Auditions, Bare Stage, Classroom Use, Collection, Colleges, Comedy, Community, Competitions, Doubling Roles, Farce, Mental Health Issues, Seniors |
A Dark Day for Hinkley, J.
Characters:
SUPERVISOR: Male/Female in charge of a mental hospital 40-60 years
SPECIALIST: Female psychologist 20-30 years old.
JOHN: John Hinkley Jr., attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan
Setting: A small office or conference room within a mental hospital At rise, SUPERVISOR and SPECIALIST are talking and JOHN is offstage.
SUPERVISOR: I know you’re new to this facility and haven’t met all our patients but we have a crisis with one and you’re a specialist so here’s a chance to earn your money.
SPECIALIST: Who’s the patient?
SUPERVISOR (looking down at clipboard) NJ1981 — Hinkley, J. Goes by the name “John” these days.
SPECIALIST: What’s the crisis with him?
SUPERVISOR: You’re young so this was before your time but he tried to kill President Ronald Reagan back in 1981. He also shot two or three others, paralyzing one, James Brady, for the rest of his life.
SPECIALIST: Yes, I’m familiar with his case, though I don’t know all the details.
SUPERVISOR: He was declared innocent via insanity and he’s been in this place for a long time – before I even got here. I’ve done some homework on him. He hasn’t raised any flags over the last few years and even has a girlfriend, Leslie, from what I can understand.
SPECIALIST: So you need me to step in because…
SUPERVISOR: We haven’t had to adjust his meds and he has even made it to the #2 spot on the pool challenge ladder. But today…
SPECIALIST: He’s obsessed with reaching the #1 spot? Well, having a goal can be a good…
SUPERVISOR: NO! That’s not it at all. Did you read any of the entertainment news yesterday?
SPECIALIST: I thought we kept those magazines just for the patients. I’ve got better things to do.
SUPERVISOR: Maybe you should start. Anyway, Jodie declared she is a lesbian.
SPECIALIST: Jodie who? I thought you said his girlfriend is named “Leslie.” Oh, there’s some sort of love triangle you need me to resolve.
SUPERVISOR: Wow, you really are young. John did the whole shooting thing to impress Jodie Foster. He fell in love with her, watching “Taxi Driver”.
SPECIALIST: Bob James
SUPERVISOR: What?
SPECIALIST: He did the theme song – very pretty – it’s where Tony Danza and Danny Divito got their starts, right?
SUPERVISOR: NO! That was the TV series “Taxi”. “Taxi DRIVER” was a movie. Jodie was 12 years old. John fell in love with her, stalked her, and attempted to kill the President to try to impress her. That’s why he’s here. Now after all these years, Jodie has come out as a lesbian and someone has to break the news to John. We have NO idea how he’ll react – that’s why we need YOU, you’re the specialist at dealing with disappointment resolution.
A short play collection by Jack J. Berry consists mainly of short comedies. Berry loves to stand the world on its head. A comedy about attempted assassin John J. Hinkley? Travel from Old Testament to WWII in a matter of minutes? These short plays can be produced as an evening of theater or individually as introductions to meetings and events.
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Play Details
A Dark Day for Hinkley, J.
Characters:
SUPERVISOR: Male/Female in charge of a mental hospital 40-60 years
SPECIALIST: Female psychologist 20-30 years old.
JOHN: John Hinkley Jr., attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan
Setting: A small office or conference room within a mental hospital At rise, SUPERVISOR and SPECIALIST are talking and JOHN is offstage.
SUPERVISOR: I know you’re new to this facility and haven’t met all our patients but we have a crisis with one and you’re a specialist so here’s a chance to earn your money.
SPECIALIST: Who’s the patient?
SUPERVISOR (looking down at clipboard) NJ1981 — Hinkley, J. Goes by the name “John” these days.
SPECIALIST: What’s the crisis with him?
SUPERVISOR: You’re young so this was before your time but he tried to kill President Ronald Reagan back in 1981. He also shot two or three others, paralyzing one, James Brady, for the rest of his life.
SPECIALIST: Yes, I’m familiar with his case, though I don’t know all the details.
SUPERVISOR: He was declared innocent via insanity and he’s been in this place for a long time – before I even got here. I’ve done some homework on him. He hasn’t raised any flags over the last few years and even has a girlfriend, Leslie, from what I can understand.
SPECIALIST: So you need me to step in because…
SUPERVISOR: We haven’t had to adjust his meds and he has even made it to the #2 spot on the pool challenge ladder. But today…
SPECIALIST: He’s obsessed with reaching the #1 spot? Well, having a goal can be a good…
SUPERVISOR: NO! That’s not it at all. Did you read any of the entertainment news yesterday?
SPECIALIST: I thought we kept those magazines just for the patients. I’ve got better things to do.
SUPERVISOR: Maybe you should start. Anyway, Jodie declared she is a lesbian.
SPECIALIST: Jodie who? I thought you said his girlfriend is named “Leslie.” Oh, there’s some sort of love triangle you need me to resolve.
SUPERVISOR: Wow, you really are young. John did the whole shooting thing to impress Jodie Foster. He fell in love with her, watching “Taxi Driver”.
SPECIALIST: Bob James
SUPERVISOR: What?
SPECIALIST: He did the theme song – very pretty – it’s where Tony Danza and Danny Divito got their starts, right?
SUPERVISOR: NO! That was the TV series “Taxi”. “Taxi DRIVER” was a movie. Jodie was 12 years old. John fell in love with her, stalked her, and attempted to kill the President to try to impress her. That’s why he’s here. Now after all these years, Jodie has come out as a lesbian and someone has to break the news to John. We have NO idea how he’ll react – that’s why we need YOU, you’re the specialist at dealing with disappointment resolution.