Sandcastles by Lauren Davenport

When the Great Atlantic hurricane of 1944 passed over Cape May, New Jersey, it took more than the roof of Julie’s home. Ruby, a war journalist recently fired from her job in Philadelphia, comes down to help an old… friend. And Frankie loses his emotional mooring when a chance meeting with Erik elicits something other than hate.
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Sandcastles

Recommended by

  • Mike Solomonson:
    26 Dec. 2021
    “ Using a hurricane that devastated New Jersey’s coast in 1944, Davenport creates war-weary characters that we care about. Their striving for a secure permanence, however, seems as elusive as the play’s title. Like many of the best historical dramas, we realize the playwright isn’t so much exploring the past as she is our present, or, as one character states: the “two Americas.” By the end, we recognize these characters, like ourselves, are products of a cultural schizophrenia who are forced to decide which America they will defend and who are the enemies to be destroyed. An enthusiastic recommendation! ”

Character Information

  • Julie
    30,
    Female
    A war widow. The only thing she has left of her late husband Jimmy, is the house they bought and fixed up before Mother Nature came along and wrecked it.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ruby
    30,
    Female
    A war journalist whose self-confidence is a guiding light, even through the dangers of war. Her sense of invincibility inevitably starts to show some cracks. She’s Frankie’s wife of convenience and an old/new again flame of Julie.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Frankie
    35,
    Male
    A domestic journalist based out of Philadelphia whose job is on the line for his liberal ideals. He’s Ruby’s husband of convenience.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Erik
    30,
    White
    ,
    Male
    A White German Nazi prisoner of war.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Gerald
    40,
    Male
    An Army prison guard who isn’t one to mix his job with his extracurriculars - unless it’s the right person.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Jimmy
    30,
    Male
    A US Navy soldier & Julie’s late husband. He’s a lockbox for secrets, including his own that Julie never had the key to.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Bay Area Playwrights Festival
,
Playwright's Foundation
,
2021