HALLELUJAH WHIPLASH!

by Marlan Warren

Set in Chicago at the height of the Women’s Movement in the late 70s, HALLELUJAH WHIPLASH! focuses on students in a women’s self-defense class who are inspired by their Feminist Superhero-Apparent teacher who calls herself "Hallelujah Whiplash." As they learn to defend themselves against violence and intimidation, they band together to help a student’s neighbor who is a battered wife (aka “Victim of Domestic...

Set in Chicago at the height of the Women’s Movement in the late 70s, HALLELUJAH WHIPLASH! focuses on students in a women’s self-defense class who are inspired by their Feminist Superhero-Apparent teacher who calls herself "Hallelujah Whiplash." As they learn to defend themselves against violence and intimidation, they band together to help a student’s neighbor who is a battered wife (aka “Victim of Domestic Violence”).

Primary Subplot involves the budding teenage romance between a self-defense student's "Good Girl" daughter (Gwen) and "Bad Boy" (Freddy) who grew up together. Freddy's mother is violently abused by his father.

Secondary Subplot examines harassment of women in the workplace via two self-defense students (Tina and Estelle) who work in an office.

Co-written with Lawrence Czoka (Music Composer and Co-Author)
Staged as a Reading at Marquis Public Theatre.

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HALLELUJAH WHIPLASH!

Character Information

All characters sing and move well (no dancing). One teenage girl. One teenage boy. Women can be any age over 18. One man is heard but not seen, so his voice could be any man connected with the show (e.g. crew member.) or recorded.
  • HALLELUJAH WHIPLASH
    Larger Than Life Feminist Self-Defense Trainer with a John Wayne Cowboy Drawl and a Billy Graham penchant for preaching.

    20s-50s
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • JO
    Self-Defense Student. Working Class Widow who lives with her teenage daughter. Spunky.
    20s-50s
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • GWEN
    Self-Defense Student. Jo's daughter. Popular in school. Strong. Confident.
    16-17
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • HILDA
    Timid battered wife, a Chicago transplant from the Deep South. Jo and Gwen's neighbor.
    30s-50s
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • FREDDY
    Hilda’s teenage son. His sensitive nature is overladen with toughness, temper, and charm.
    16-17
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • TINA
    Self-Defense Student. College educated temporary secretary.
    20s-30s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • ESTELLE
    Self-Defense Student. Works with Tina in an office. Quick sense of humor.
    African American/Black or White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Workshop, Marquis Public Theatre, 1981

Production History

  • Workshop, Marquis Public Theatre, 1981