A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Parker Family Circus

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 2m

Jan Buttram

"[A] take your breath away production....The Parker family has many problems, but the telling of their story does not." - Back Stage

"An often hilarious look at a dysfunctional suburban Texas clan." - NY Daily News

The Parker Family Circus

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 2m

Details

Summary
Chaos flairs up in an urban Texas household on a day when the old television stops working. Mom and Dad are too caught up in their own crises to deal with their "slow" son Tommy's behavioral problems, and Grandma simply cannot cope with his racy behavior.
History

The Parker Family Circus premiered at the Blue Heron Arts Center in New York City in February of 2002, with the Abingdon Theatre Company, under the direction of Taylor Brooks.

PEARL "MAMAW" PARKER - 72, the grandmother. She is friendly, good-natured and warm. She is a widow and grieving.
TOMMY PARKER - 20, the grandson. He has an IQ of 70 and is volatile, with the social maturity of an eight- or nine-year-old. He adores his grandmother.
POLLY PEARL PARKER - 16, the granddaughter. She is smart, pretty, and popular. She has a terrific temper.
VEST MOODY - 16, the family friend. She is cynical but friendly, from a broken home.
LOTTIE PARKER - 46, the mother. A high school guidance counselor, she is pretty, driven, and competitive.
DON PARKER - 46, the son. A talented electrician, he is the production manager at the sports/performance arena. He is good-natured and loves his family, but he's confused by life.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting Mamaw's living room in Palno, Texas. The present.

Media

REVIEWS

"[A] take your breath away production....The Parker family has many problems, but the telling of their story does not." - Back Stage

"An often hilarious look at a dysfunctional suburban Texas clan." - NY Daily News

"Takes the notion of family seriously.... Hilarious when it needs to be and poignant when it needs to be."- Chelsea News

"A powerful, at times darkly funny family drama."- CultureVulture.net

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

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Authors

Author

Jan Buttram

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