Within Reach

by C.A. Scott

SUMMARY

Abbie is a 16 year-old runaway, who has traveled by bus to the big city to make it on her own.  There she meets several unforgettable friends who help her survive on the streets and guide her to make the right decision.  Whether it’s Delia, Doreen, Momma, or Daryl, she is encouraged to go back where she belongs, and understand that help is always “within reach.”

SETTING

​The play takes place in the big city.  It doesn’t matter what city, as long as it’s a big city.  Some of the play takes place on the streets, and in the Within Reach Shelter.

The Street:
The street scenes should feel dirty, gritty, and littered and can be as elaborate or minimalist as you want.  Some street scenes will take place with the curtains closed.

The Shelter:
The shelter is basic.  There needs to be a desk and a phone and some tables to use as a serving line, but mostly it is covered with mats, and sleeping bags, and a few cots.  DELIA & ABBIE need to be on the ground, while MOMMA and DOREEN should get cots.

CHARACTERS

25 Characters:  6 Males, 11 Female, 8 Either

ABBIE:(F) ​A sixteen year old runaway.  She thinks that her family treats her unfairly.
AGNES:(F) ​A crazy old homeless lady who carries around a plastic baby.
BOB:(M) ​​ A homeless drunkard who cares only about beer.
DARYL:(M) A gentle homeless man, who has a gambling problem.
DELIA:(F) ​​An eighteen year old girl who has been living on and off the streets since she was fifteen.  She is tough and street wise but is kept back by the fact that she thinks of herself a failure.
DOREEN:(F) A very sweet, sometimes crass, elderly homeless lady and MOMMA’s best friend.
MOMMA:(F) ​​A very sweet and intuitive elderly homeless lady.  She is called MOMMA because she always has good advice to give.  She coughs, hacks and wheezes throughout, as if she is very ill.  Not all these are scripted.  Add them in where appropriate.
MS. FELDERMAN:​(F) Runs the shelter.  She is caring and stern, a bit like an Army Nurse.
MS. SAUNDERS:(F) ​​Runs the shelter.  She is the sweet and loving, and a bit nosy.
TANYA:(F) ​A nice teenager, slightly younger than ABBIE, who helps at the shelter on Sunday breakfasts.
ENSEMBLE:This includes:  BETTING MAN, DAUGHTER, DELIA’S DAD, DELIA’S MOM, MOTHER, POLICE 1, POLICE 2, RANDOM MAN, TANYA’s DAD, THIEF 1, THIEF 2, and any Random Passerby’s, couples, and other homeless people. There may need to be eight or more cast members playing the various roles. These are very important for the feel of the show.  Feel free to add more as you need or desire to.  They will play other people in the shelter and the people on the street. They may improv some lines as long as they don’t draw attention from the actual story.  You may also use TANYA as a passerby throughout.