Morning After the Mêlée by Scott Sickles

[SHORT NEURODIVERGENT DEMONOLOGY COMEDY FANTASY]

Last night, Sir Miguel and Sir Cristobal finally defeated the despair dragon Astaroth! It didn't quite take. MORNING AFTER THE MELEE is a comedy about friendship, forgiveness, and uniting to overcome mental and emotional illness.

NOTE: While not explicitly stated, these are neurodivergent characters. Sir Cristobal suffers from...
[SHORT NEURODIVERGENT DEMONOLOGY COMEDY FANTASY]

Last night, Sir Miguel and Sir Cristobal finally defeated the despair dragon Astaroth! It didn't quite take. MORNING AFTER THE MELEE is a comedy about friendship, forgiveness, and uniting to overcome mental and emotional illness.

NOTE: While not explicitly stated, these are neurodivergent characters. Sir Cristobal suffers from Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), a condition highly common in people with ADHD. Astaroth is the manifestation of that condition. Meantime, Sir Miguel demonstrates a staunch analytical nature and modest social hyposensitivity associated with high-functioning autism, that, in these circumstances, is an asset.

RSD manifests as sudden and extreme emotional pain in response to rejection, real or perceived. It pervades individuals and relationships with irrationality, agony, and despair. It is indeed a monster.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Morning After the Mêlée

Recommended by

  • Ian Donley:
    12 Jun. 2024
    “ This is such an original and beautifully written take on what it's like to live with neurodivergence. Its a timely reminder that everyone has different demons they fight (literally in this case) and all it takes is someone who is patient with us to defeat them. ”
  • Sam Heyman:
    12 Mar. 2022
    “ You can take a wild scroll and pick the first Scott Sickles play your mouse lands on, and you're basically guaranteed to find a winner.

    Morning After the Melee showcases this playwright's trademark knack for insight, humor and heart all while handling a premise that could, in another writer's hands, prove unwieldy. I loved Miguel and Cristobal's dynamic, and the way that their neurodivergent experience enables them to support each other, even when their shared foe is whisper-growing sour somethings in their ear. ”
  • Ross Tedford Kendall:
    20 Aug. 2021
    “ The symbolism is heavy without being heavy-handed in this fine ten minute piece by Sickles. The playwright humanizes the characters with real conditions that are only now being recognized, and places them in a backdrop that is high adventure and purely theatrical. ”
View all 7 recommendations

SIR CRISTOBAL - portly, middle aged knight

SIR MIGUEL - young knight, broad of shoulder, blue of eye, bitchy of tone

ASTAROTH - Offstage voices. Despair demon who speaks simultaneously in soft staccato whispers and low guttural growls. (Can be a sound effect but preferably done live with a couple actors good at making creepy sounds. Also, if you can figure out how to do this onstage, go for it!)

Awards

Finalist
,
Theatre Roulette
,
Madlab
,
2022