Mason Wright's Last Night in Town (a series of avoidable events, in two acts)

by Josh Drimmer

--Grand Prize Winner, 2023 Risk Theater Modern Theatre Competition

Fresh from five years...away...over a little bit of ATM robbery, Mason Wright has reasonable goals (or so he believes): make a mint playing poker, and get his estranged wife Maya back. But is he as good a card player as he thinks? Was Maya trying to tell him something by never visiting or writing? Will his charm run out before his old friends...

--Grand Prize Winner, 2023 Risk Theater Modern Theatre Competition

Fresh from five years...away...over a little bit of ATM robbery, Mason Wright has reasonable goals (or so he believes): make a mint playing poker, and get his estranged wife Maya back. But is he as good a card player as he thinks? Was Maya trying to tell him something by never visiting or writing? Will his charm run out before his old friends remember the way things usually go with Mason?

There will be damages from Mason's many avoidable mistakes; his daughter, Lex, already has her scars. But whether Mason's going down this time all depends on when he gets out of town.

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Mason Wright's Last Night in Town (a series of avoidable events, in two acts)

Recommended by

  • Faith de Savigné: Mason Wright's Last Night in Town (a series of avoidable events, in two acts) by Josh Drimmer
    “

    Mason Wright’s Last Night in Town follows him as he returns from a “state-sponsored vacation” aiming to take up where he left off in his poker gambling pursuits. All he has done in prison is try to play a better hand while the people in his life have moved on realizing he is trouble for them. In his time out, he escalates his bad behavior as his cliché views of gambling persist. His wife, daughter and friends change for the better without him. He hits bottom knowing he’s no longer wanted.

    Mason Wright’s Last Night in Town follows him as he returns from a “state-sponsored vacation” aiming to take up where he left off in his poker gambling pursuits. All he has done in prison is try to play a better hand while the people in his life have moved on realizing he is trouble for them. In his time out, he escalates his bad behavior as his cliché views of gambling persist. His wife, daughter and friends change for the better without him. He hits bottom knowing he’s no longer wanted.

    ”
  • Christopher Carter Sanderson: Mason Wright's Last Night in Town (a series of avoidable events, in two acts) by Josh Drimmer
    “

    Complicated, intense, poignant, simple, affecting, harsh, insightful, and so not unlike poker... a tale of a twilight that wants to flame again like noon, when burning is maybe the real problem... something like a more conscious Midnight Cowboy, though also viscerally more optimistic in its ending... is it an ending? Mason Wright's Last Night in Town (a series of avoidable events, in two acts) is a crowning work of undeniable literary and dramatic genius from a dedicated, subtle, and assured storyteller: Josh Drimmer. Not to be missed.

    Complicated, intense, poignant, simple, affecting, harsh, insightful, and so not unlike poker... a tale of a twilight that wants to flame again like noon, when burning is maybe the real problem... something like a more conscious Midnight Cowboy, though also viscerally more optimistic in its ending... is it an ending? Mason Wright's Last Night in Town (a series of avoidable events, in two acts) is a crowning work of undeniable literary and dramatic genius from a dedicated, subtle, and assured storyteller: Josh Drimmer. Not to be missed.

    ”

Character Information

Doubling is recommended (4M, 2W); more cast can be brought in, but there's benefits to this particular bit of overlapping. Selina can be played by whichever member of the cast has the best meow.
  • Jevaughn Clarke / Brandon
    Jevaughn: 56, bartender at The Northerly, Jamaican accent thicker when angry
    Brandon: 40s, mostly laid-back, played poker with Mason before Mason went away
    56 / 40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Stephen Williams / The Dealer / Male TV Cop
    Stephen Williams: 36, an old poker friend of Mason’s, struggling with life direction
    The Dealer, 30s, poker dealer in a nice-ish underground club
    Male TV Cop (voice-only)
    36 / 30s / 30s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Lex (Alexandra) Milano / Valentina Lyashenko / Female TV Cop
    Lex:, 23, Maya and Mason’s daughter, rightfully angry
    Valentina: 17, bright, rents a room in Stephen’s place
    Female TV Cop (voice-only)
    23 / 17 / 20s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Benny (Benicio) Bahamonde / James "The Owl" Jacobson / Pablo / Mac
    Benny (Benicio) Bahamonde: 40, Maya’s boyfriend, nice enough guy
    James “The Owl” Jacobson: late-50s, physical manifestation of a poke r book
    Pablo, 30s: poker player, self-serious
    Mac, 60s, homeless, strange enough to seem wise
    40 / Late-50s / 30s / 60s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Mason Wright
    A large man and a large presence , fun to be around, trouble to stay around, Michigan accent
    49
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Maya Milano / Lily / Selina
    Maya: 44, Mason’s estranged wife, has a wounded left arm from a car crash, got sober
    Lily: 30s, a poker player, deadly calm
    Selina: 19, Stephen’s cat, old, tired, needy (voice -only)
    44 / 30s / 19
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian 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
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop, Risk Theater, 2023

Awards

  • Risk Theater Modern Tragedy Competition
    Risk Theater
    Winner
    2023