THE GHOST OF KETCHUM - full-length - Ernest Hemingway's characters come back to haunt him.

by Tom Erb

FULL LENGTH (4M/4F)
"The Ghost of Ketchum" explores the life and legacy of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. The play follows Rex Taylor, a writer working on a book about Hemingway's character development and how he created some of the most memorable protagonists in literature. Rex is invited by Sarah Matthews, an old college girlfriend and the curator of Hemingway's...

FULL LENGTH (4M/4F)
"The Ghost of Ketchum" explores the life and legacy of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. The play follows Rex Taylor, a writer working on a book about Hemingway's character development and how he created some of the most memorable protagonists in literature. Rex is invited by Sarah Matthews, an old college girlfriend and the curator of Hemingway's house in Key West, to stay at the house and help with his research. However, Rex soon discovers that Sarah is not who she claims to be. She is Catherine Barkley, one of Hemingway's fictional characters from "A Farewell to Arms," who has come to life and fallen in love with Hemingway. She believes that Rex is Hemingway reincarnated and wants to rekindle their romance. Meanwhile, Rex is haunted by the ghost of Hemingway, who speaks to him through his voice-over and reveals his secrets, fears, and regrets. Rex also faces the wrath of Nick Adams and Krebs, two other characters from Hemingway's stories, who have also come to life and seek revenge on Hemingway for creating them and abandoning them. The play is a dark and twisted tribute to Hemingway's genius and madness and a commentary on the relationship between writers and their creations, readers and their expectations, and fiction and reality.

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THE GHOST OF KETCHUM - full-length - Ernest Hemingway's characters come back to haunt him.

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  • Lynn Millar: THE GHOST OF KETCHUM - full-length - Ernest Hemingway's characters come back to haunt him. by Tom Erb
    “

    Tom Erb's imagination takes off in The Ghost of Ketchum. I couldn't resist delving into a story of Hemingway and his characters coming to "life" and challenging each other. As a play this would be dynamic to see on stage with good thinking options in the story to help carry one's interest. Bravo!

    Tom Erb's imagination takes off in The Ghost of Ketchum. I couldn't resist delving into a story of Hemingway and his characters coming to "life" and challenging each other. As a play this would be dynamic to see on stage with good thinking options in the story to help carry one's interest. Bravo!

    ”
REX TAYLOR: A writer in his thirties working on a book about Hemingway's character development. Sarah invites him to stay at Hemingway's house in Key West. He is curious and ambitious but also insecure and conflicted. He has a complicated relationship with Hemingway, whom he admires and criticizes.
SARAH MATTHEWS: A woman in her thirties who is the curator of Hemingway's house in Key West.
CATHERINE BARKLEY: (Played by SARAH.) One of Hemingway's fictional characters from "A Farewell to Arms"
has come to life and fallen in love with Hemingway. She believes that REX is Hemingway reincarnated and wants to rekindle their romance. She is passionate and loyal but also obsessive and delusional.
MARIA: (Played by SARAH.) Another one of Hemingway's fictional characters from "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
ERNEST HEMINGWAY: (Speaks to REX through his voice-over.)The ghost of the famous writer. He reveals his
secrets, fears, and regrets, as well as his opinions and advice. He is arrogant and proud but also vulnerable and lonely. He has a complex relationship with REX, whom he mentors and mocks.
NICK ADAMS: Another one of Hemingway's fictional characters from his stories. He has come to life and seeks revenge on Hemingway for creating and abandoning him. He is brave and strong but also bitter and angry. He has a hostile relationship with Rex, whom he sees as rivals and enemies.
KREBS: Another one of Hemingway's fictional characters from his stories. He has come to life and seeks revenge on Hemingway for creating and abandoning him. He is weak and broken but also lost and desperate. He has a resentful relationship with REX, whom he sees as a fraud and a failure.
MARY HEMINGWAY: Hemingway's fourth and last wife. In a flashback scene in Cuba, she confronts Hemingway for cheating on her with Sarah/Catherine. She is young and beautiful but also hurt and betrayed