The Charlotte Script Workshop is a group of writers and actors that get together once a month and read up to 30 pages from new screenplays and stage plays. It’s a hoot and this month, they read my new play “House of Many Rooms.” This play is a small cast, one set dramedy about a young math with multiple personalities.
New Play Strong Points
Thanks to some wonderful cold readings by Charlotte’s talented actors, the overwhelming comment from this sophisticated group was that they were “Entranced!” Other positive comments included:
- Fun script
- Skillful and cleaver dialog
- Good clues and foreshadowing
- Nice “family” relationships between characters
- Sympathetic POV character (Dr. Branson)
“House of Many Rooms” Areas to Improve
Of course, the whole point of “workshopping” a play is to find and correct weak areas. The audience had the same primary concern I had–the character introductions dragged a little in Act I, especially the monologues by Cookie, the motherly personality. This was a valid point, and one I was concerned about myself. Of course, I didn’t spot that Cookie was the worst offender so thanks for that everyone! Having only read Act I, the audience also wondered how, even IF, I would be able to tie it all together in Act II. Since I wrote the whole thing, I know the story will come together beautifully in the second half.
Genre
I also specifically asked the group what genre they would put this story in. My thought was that “House of Many Rooms” was a psychological drama or a mystery with some funny bits. However, the actors took my material and got a lot more laughs from it than I imagined. Everyone else said it was a definitely a dramedy. Okay. I’d rather promote a dramedy than a tragedy any day.
Future Productions
So, what’s next for “House of Many Rooms”? A few easy corrections and a hopefully a full, concert style reading at a local college or a full production at a local playhouse. For more information, go to: MyNewPlay.com. You can also contact Rodney Robbins via e-mail.