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Overview
Synopsis
Most of us probably at one point in our lives encountered the rebellious outcast who follows their own path no matter what. They frustrate us, they confuse us, they might even scare us. But they also amuse us. And we can’t help but love them. For the buttoned-up architect Dennis, that person is childhood best friend Scooter Thomas. Scooter is a lot of archetypes rolled into one, but the common thread in his identity is his refusal to conform to a world that clearly wasn’t designed for him. The play is a memory play, almost exclusively taking place in Dennis’ memories over the course of about 20 years. In the fourth wall-breaking Scooter Thomas Makes it to the Top of the World, Parnell takes us on a poignant trip through a lifelong friendship and all the laughs and tears that come with it. With two actors, a minimal set, and 20 years worth of time, it’s rich with opportunities for inventive storytelling on a small scale.
Show Information
- Book
- Peter Parnell
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1977
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Various imagined locations over 20 years.
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- All-Male Cast, Community Theatre, High School, Small Cast, Includes Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A mental illness causing persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.
When an actor breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience.
The imaginary wall between an audience and actors. To “break the fourth wall” means that actors acknowledge that the audience is there.
A play in which a lead character narrates the events of the play, which are drawn from the character's memory.
A play with only one act. One-act plays may have several scenes and vary in length, from short single scenes to full-length scripts.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright