Mr. Burns, a Post-electric Play

Act One

The play begins in the woods on a warm night in early October. There is a group of five people situated on the ground and in folding chairs around a campfire, which provides the only source of light. (Being “post-electric,” the play stipulates that all lighting must come from non-electric sources.) One woman, Colleen, sits slightly apart from the rest of the group, whom we first meet mid-conversation as they very intently work to recount the “Cape Feare” episode of The Simpsons in as much detail as they can remember.

Of the group, Matt appears to be most familiar with the episode and with The Simpsons in general. He and Jenny, who is also clearly a Simpsons fan, lead the charge in the reconstruction of “Cape Feare,” with occasional input and questions from Maria, who may have only seen this episode once. As they discuss ties to the original films, Sam, who has been functioning as a lookout, joins the conversation, revealing himself to be quite the cinephile. He offers bits of