On Staying Indoors by Haley Nelson

The sky has turned orange, and it's probably the end of the world, but a married couple sits comfortably on their front porch talking about the weather, carrying on as usual. MR. has a mysterious box his wife can't touch. MRS. is reading the subtext of the newspaper. It's all a little unsettling. What is bravery, and how do we express love, in the face of (probable) doom?

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The sky has turned orange, and it's probably the end of the world, but a married couple sits comfortably on their front porch talking about the weather, carrying on as usual. MR. has a mysterious box his wife can't touch. MRS. is reading the subtext of the newspaper. It's all a little unsettling. What is bravery, and how do we express love, in the face of (probable) doom?

Run time approximately twenty minutes.
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On Staying Indoors

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    24 Jul. 2020
    “ A fantastic piece on married life in the midst of an apocalypse. The memories and small gestures that overpower anything else. Lovely! ”
  • Shaun Leisher:
    23 Mar. 2019
    “ I am amazed at how much intensity and emotion is packed into such a short piece. The stage directions are very effective at creating a tone of nostalgia for the past and dread of the future. Well the characters don’t seem to be filled with dread but it is there all the same. We need art like this that reminds us of our humanity even as we move closer and closer to catastrophe. ”
  • Rachel Bublitz:
    7 Sep. 2018
    “ Nelson has created such a deep and rich world with such succinct language. The relationship between Mr and Mrs is lovely and so well developed, and magnified by the plays back drop of the end of the world. I love the images in this play, the orange, the dust, the rocking chairs... I would jump to see it produced! All around great work. ”
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Character Information

Mr. and Mrs. can be played by actors of any age over about 20, but should be relatively close in age. Nostalgia strikes us all, and “a long time” is relative. Focus on capturing the spirit during casting rather than any sort of specific age.

  • Mrs.
    Any,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Warm and generous with a little bit of an edge. Deeply in love with her husband.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Mr.
    Any,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Wears his heart close to his chest. Working hard to find the right words to say. Deeply in love with his wife.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Southern Methodist University Student Theatre
    ,
    2015

Production History

  • High School
    ,
    Commonwealth School
    ,
    2021
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Quarantined Players (Radio Plays)
    ,
    2020
  • Fringe
    ,
    Sundown Collaborative Theatre
    ,
    2018
  • Fringe
    ,
    House Party Theatre
    ,
    2015