Night Crew

This play is packed with fun characters! It’s bedtime for little Megan, but the imaginary characters who visit children in the night are all vying for their rights to do their jobs. Sandman wants to help her fall asleep, but so do the Three Sheep. The Tooth Fairy demands that others have a flexible schedule, while the Closet Monster just wants to be left alone to read. Students of all ages will love performing this delightful play.

This play includes discussion questions, and director’s notes about casting, costumes, and simple set design.

Debra A. Cole is a celebrated humanities teacher, youth theatre director, and children’s playwright with degrees in journalism, art history, and elementary education. She understands the needs of young performers and their directors and creates pieces that encourage engaging discussion, creative thought, and quirky playfulness. Her goal is that young performers discover the power and delight that theatre brings to actors and audiences alike.

Visit her website:
www.debraacole-playwright.com

Excerpt from the play:

CHARACTERS

FATHER TIME— (M) keeper of the schedule, organized, fatherly
SANDMAN— (M) hippie-like, chill, smooth
TOOTH FAIRY— (F) sweet, joyful, and kind – southern accent
CLOSET MONSTER— (M/F) shy, quiet, and careful
MONSTER UNDER THE BED— (M/F) loud, rude, and aggressive
SHEEP 1— (M/F) protective of counting
SHEEP 2— (M/F) protective of counting
SHEEP 3— (M/F) protective of counting
SANTA CLAUS— (M) logical and jolly
EASTER BUNNY— (M/F) hyper, caffeinated, and a quick talker

(The action takes place in modern times in a board room.)

(Lights come up around a large boardroom table. At the center of the table is Father Time standing in front of a large wall calendar with large red X’s and hand-written notes. Sitting around the table are all the other colorful characters. Everyone but Father Time and Closet Monster are talking all at the same time. There is complete chaos around the table. Father Time tries to settle the room.)

FATHER TIME
(forcefully, but controlled) Listen, everybody. We must calm down in order to solve this.

(The room settles but tempers are still high.)

MONSTER UNDER THE BED
(angrily) Solve this? This happens every month!

SHEEP 1
Every night, HE (pointing at Sandman) is there before we (pointing at sheep) have a chance to be counted!

SANDMAN
Me, dude? I’m just me doin’ me, man.

SHEEP 2
(mimicking Sandman) “You doin’ you” is crampin’ our style, man.”

(The room turns into chaos once again – all but Closet Monster and Father Time.)

FATHER TIME
We can ALL share Megan if we just work together. (the room settles down once again) Good. Being a member of Megan’s night crew, we each have a job to do. I get that. While kids enjoy variety, a good night’s sleep is essential. As Father Time, it is my responsibility to make sure Megan doesn’t experience all of us at once.

TOOTH FAIRY
That happened last week, and trust me, it is pretty embarrassing to head to the pillow to look for Megan’s beautiful tooth and find Monster Under the Bed here giving her a nightmare.

MONSTER UNDER THE BED
HOLD ON, Tooth Fairy. Monsters Under the Bed DON’T GIVE BAD DREAMS.

TOOTH FAIRY
Oh yeah? Just try to convince me that you give GOOD DREAMS. JUST LOOK AT YOU!

SHEEP 3
I love dreams… especially the good ones. Megan can count on us for good sleep AND good dreams.

SHEEP 1
One…

SHEEP 2
Two…

SHEEP 3
Three. (falls asleep)

SANDMAN
(rolls eyes) Such a silly way to go to sleep… counting sheep… Man, all Megan needs is “The Sandman,” a little magic sand from my magic pouch, (reaches in a psychedelic fabric pouch and pulls out glitter to throw in the air) and Megan is sleeping soundly.

FATHER TIME
Megan’s nights are important to all of us. During the night, she rests, recharges, and stores the energy she needs to start each day again. Each of us plays a vital part in how that night goes. (pauses) Why do I feel that we are missing someone at this meeting? (thinks) Oh well, it will come to me. (looks at Closet Monster) Closet Monster, you’ve been awful quiet. Surely you agree that scheduling our visits will help us all do our jobs efficiently.

CLOSET MONSTER
(quietly) I just want to lurk without being distracted. I don’t think that is too much to ask.