Earth To Ellen ~ 2 Acts ~ Cast: 5 (2W, 3M)
Synopsis
Ellen Parker, a staunch southern Republican, arrives at her Florida retirement home after having picked up her NY liberal, writer son (Scott) and LA “liberated” daughter (Nancy) from the airport for their annual Christmas visit. Scott and Nancy are amazed that their mother has not mellowed since the recent passing of their father. Quite the opposite, her life has never been busier especially as she heads the Palm Coast Retirement Village Ladies Republican Auxiliary.
The usual banter occurs relative to Scott’s left leaning writing as Ellen feels as though it is communistic. Nancy is the target of Ellen’s barbs as she still has not produced any grandchildren that Ellen can brag about to her fellow retirement village residents. Little does Ellen know that Nancy and her husband had divorced six months ago.
Unexpectedly, Nancy’s boyfriend John surprises Nancy by showing up to spend Christmas with her. Still unable to tell her mother of her divorce, John is introduced as Scott’s gay lover. Of course, Scott must now come out inform his mother that he is in fact gay.
To further the charade, Scott and John go to a gay leather bar for drinks.
While they are out, Scott’s partner, Carlos, arrives to spend Christmas with Scott.
Nancy is forced to tell Ellen that she and her husband are divorced and Carlos is her boyfriend. At one point Scott laments to Nancy “What a mess.” Nancy responds: “A mess? No. My brother is sleeping with my boyfriend. My brother’s gay boyfriend will be fertilizing my eggs. And our mother is at church right now thanking God that she finally has a perfect family. Now, that’s a mess?”
After Ellen goes all out preparing Christmas dinner of Kentucky Fried Chicken, she serves a trifle which nearly kills John.
At the end of the play, all is back to normal: Carlos is with Scott racing Nancy and John to the airport while Ellen talks to her statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and President Ronald Reagan’s wall portrait.
Theaters: Request a copy of this script.
