DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD (45-minute one-act absurdist dark comedy for 6 to 14 actors)

by Arianna Rose

[45- minute absurdist dark comedy about food addictions for 6 to 14 actors with doubling/tripling]

Casey has been struggling with food addictions and body dysmorphia her entire life. While writing down her umpteenth resolution to lose weight, a wild journey commences that has Casey in direct communication with the ‘forbidden foods’, put on trial for crimes committed, and conflicting well-being solutions thrown at her. At odds with her former and future selves, she wonders if she’ll ever forge a path to wellness. An absurdist comedy about the pain we hold ourselves in by comparing our insides to other people’s outsides.

Reading, TOAST Readers Theater Festival, Twilight Theater Company, Portland OR July 2026

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DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD (45-minute one-act absurdist dark comedy for 6 to 14 actors)

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Aly Kantor: DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD (45-minute one-act absurdist dark comedy for 6 to 14 actors) by Arianna Rose

“

Despite the kale slander, this is an entertaining and deeply relatable play! I'm sure there are MANY people who will see themselves in Casey, especially now that the world has acknowledged "food noise" is a real phenomenon and, as this play proves, food can be VERY LOUD & OBNOXIOUS! The anthropomorphized foodstuff provides ample opportunities for designers to craft something spectacular, with music and physicality galore! This piece makes a common struggle... day I say... palatable?! Fantastic!

Despite the kale slander, this is an entertaining and deeply relatable play! I'm sure there are MANY people who will see themselves in Casey, especially now that the world has acknowledged "food noise" is a real phenomenon and, as this play proves, food can be VERY LOUD & OBNOXIOUS! The anthropomorphized foodstuff provides ample opportunities for designers to craft something spectacular, with music and physicality galore! This piece makes a common struggle... day I say... palatable?! Fantastic!

”
Robert Weibezahl: DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD (45-minute one-act absurdist dark comedy for 6 to 14 actors) by Arianna Rose

“

It’s one battle after another for poor Casey, who has struggled with food issues her whole life. And the battles are HILARIOUS thanks to Arianna Rose’s one-of-a-kind penchant for anthropomorphism. As Casey travels through the looking glass into an anti-wonderland of sneaky snacks, snaky weight loss “miracles,” and boastful vegetables, you can’t help but relate. Pass the kale! (Well, maybe not the kale.) Read this kooky, riotous play and produce it NOW!

It’s one battle after another for poor Casey, who has struggled with food issues her whole life. And the battles are HILARIOUS thanks to Arianna Rose’s one-of-a-kind penchant for anthropomorphism. As Casey travels through the looking glass into an anti-wonderland of sneaky snacks, snaky weight loss “miracles,” and boastful vegetables, you can’t help but relate. Pass the kale! (Well, maybe not the kale.) Read this kooky, riotous play and produce it NOW!

”
Bruce Karp: DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD (45-minute one-act absurdist dark comedy for 6 to 14 actors) by Arianna Rose

“

For anyone who has struggled with weight issues, this play will resonate. Rose hilariously creates a world of talking foods, tempting poor Casey at every turn. You may be afraid to open your refrigerator or pantry after reading the play. Rose is an expert at bringing inanimate objects to life, and this is another wonderful example and another feather in her cap.

For anyone who has struggled with weight issues, this play will resonate. Rose hilariously creates a world of talking foods, tempting poor Casey at every turn. You may be afraid to open your refrigerator or pantry after reading the play. Rose is an expert at bringing inanimate objects to life, and this is another wonderful example and another feather in her cap.

”

Character Information

There can be doubling/tripling for all of the characters except Casey. Hand puppets can be used for the characters in Scene Two to eliminate a costume change for three of the actors in Scene 1. Other than the three Caseys (Younger Casey, Casey, Future Casey) being woman-identifying, all the other characters are for any gender.

CASEY

struggling with food addictions and disordered eating

Character Age

Any Adult Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
COOKIE

sweet, maternal or paternal, comforting

Character Age

any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
ICE CREAM

sweet at times, seductive other times

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
BIRTHDAY CAKE

Knows they are the best.

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
CHIP

Salty, blunt, dismissive

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
KALE

Tough, Self-Righteous, Hero complex

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
SUGAR

confident, enticing

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
SALT

In charge, by the book

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
OIL

very fluid and snake-like

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
ANGEL OF WELL-BEING

angelic personification of wellness, perhaps dressed like an athletic coach or annoying wellness guru, wears a headset

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
FOOD DEMON

demonic personification of gluttony and obsession

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
GLP-1

a syringe-like glistening Superstar ala Cher, Billy Porter

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
FUTURE CASEY

A healthy future version of Casey. (Doesn't have to be too far in to the future, for age considerations when casting the three Caseys).

Character Age

should seem a little bit older than the actor cast as Casey.

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
YOUNGER CASEY

typical teen, with some social anxiety.

Character Age

late teens

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman

Genre

comedy,

dark comedy,

farce

Subject Matter Keywords

disordered eating,

food come to life,

navigating wellness fads

Length

30-60 minutes

Cast Size

6—14

Age of Intended Audience

ages 14-17,

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters