Plays By Vanda - Playwright

Screaming in the Wilderness

(4 females, 2 males, 2-4 primitives of either gender)

This play calls for six main actors: 4 women and 2 men (or 5 women and 1 man depending on casting preferences). Some roles involve gender bending. This play could also be performed with an all female cast, but never with an all male cast. Multi-ethnic, multi-racial casting in ALL roles is strongly encouraged.

Nadine Dwyer—An attractive New York TV journalist at a small cable television station.

Arch Duke Harrison Fuller—The Archduke of Golgotha Cathedral Complex. The Arch Duke is to be played by a woman.

Alternate characters
Mrs. Jane Allen Berryman—the Arch Duke’s very efficient secretary and Father Allen’s older sister.

The Elusive Woman

Jane-as-Childself—speaks with a thick West Virginian accent

Walter Cronkite

Mordecai Bandy—a dignified elderly man who speaks with an Eastern European accent.
Played by a woman.

Alternate characters

Woman in Flower Print Dress—whenever she speaks, she is expressive, melodramatic and somewhat affected.

Sub Regent Gerald Dillaway—The Arch Duke’s assistant. He speaks with a New York accent.
He is played by a man.

Alternate characters

Sally Downes—a middle aged working class mother

Mike—a workman

Father James Allen (aka James, Jim, Jimmy)—A priest in his early to mid thirties who looks younger. He is played by a man.

Alternate characters

Dr. Stone

Frank—one of Golgotha ’s security guards

Jimmy-as-Childself—speaks with a thick West Virginian accent

The Crippled Man

Mama (Mary Allen)—the very young mother of Jane and Jimmy. As seen in flashbacks she ranges in age from about 18 to 23 years old, but looks younger.

Alternate characters

Ricky Day

The Blind Woman

Joey—a workman

Reverend Dodson

Cindy Woo—a Cable TV journalist

The Primitives (2 or more). They also play photographers and church attendants.

These can be any gender combination.

Synopsis

Screaming in the Wilderness is a comic drama about a woman looking for God. A young priest (from a fictitious religion) comes forward who might lead her to exactly what she’s looking for, but her life experiences make her suspicious of him. She uses her TV news journalist position to spy on him and discredit him. At the same time, the Church led by Arch Duke Harrison Fuller (played by a woman) and Sub Regent Gerald Dillaway (played by a man) plot to use the young priest to build up church revenues.

Honors and Awards

Edward Albee Fellowship
Honorable Mention Stage 3 Contest
Nominated for Cherry Lane Alternative Mentorship Program
Finalist Jerome Foundation Grant @ Playwrights' Center, MN

Production History

Screaming in the Wilderness was originally produced at Emerging Artists Theatre Company, Paul Adams, Artistic Director, in New York City , in May, 2003. It was directed by Steven McElroy. The cast was as follows:

Cynthia Brown
Gerald Downey
Tom Dusenbury
Aimee Howard
Danielle Quisenbury
Barbara J. Spence

Previously, Screaming in the Wilderness received a workshop production by Emerging Artists Theatre Company. It was directed by Rasa Allan Kazlas. The cast was as follows:

Christine Carroll
Donna Del Bueno
Gerald Downey
Tom Dusenbury
Shannon Hope Lee
Tess Parker

Poster Design - Brett Douglas

Reviews

“... a gifted playwright whose work falls well outside of conventional expectations.”
- Edward Albee

“Screaming in the Wilderness is a big, ambitious and important work.”
- Off-Off Broadway Review

“Vanda has real talent in creating intriguing characters and giving them interesting and tantalizing things to say.”
- nytheatre.com

“Though you don’t see it coming, hidden behind the attacks on organized religion is praise for the essentials of belief. In the end, that sentiment pushes Screaming in the Wilderness beyond being just another polemic.”
- New York Press

Download The Play

Click HERE to download a sample of Screaming in the Wilderness. To receive the full version, email me by filling out the form below. I will send you a reply, usually within 24 hours, with the full version attached in PDF format.

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