Every Creeping Thing by David Beardsley

It is late in the Cretaceous Period (very late). At an important meeting of a high-level task force, three dinosaurs, a cockroach, and a rat consider what to do about the impending asteroid strike. Is the threat of extinction enough to get these “leaders” to work together and get something done?
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Every Creeping Thing

Recommended by

  • Kenneth N. Kurtz:
    16 Apr. 2022
    “ Every Creeping Thing is such good fun with beautifully layered (or should I say stratified?) humor. Ten minutes of pre-disaster delight. Thank you Mr, Beardsley ”
  • Scott Sickles:
    16 Apr. 2022
    “ Relentlessly hilarious, gorgeously observed, and eternally timely, the climate change satire delivers its message without being eclipsed by it.

    I saw the Zoom presentation for Theater Resources Unlimited’s TRUspeak benefit. The characters are terrific, the exchanges are riddled with great dinosaur (and roach) humor, and things only get funnier as that meteor gets closer.

    There are layers and layers to discuss but enjoy it for the great comedy it is first.

    WHILE YOU CAN!!! ”
  • Alexander Perez:
    15 Mar. 2021
    “ A creative look at the day history devised it's rhyming scheme. Expertly paced. Rife with clever parallels, knowing smirks, and heart. ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

Actors should be satirically or comically suggestive of the species they represent. Have fun with this.

  • Rex
    Any age,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    A self-focused brute of a T-Rex who refuses to accept the truth.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Pteranadon
    Any age,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Bony and birdlike, maybe a little jumpy/twitchy.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Cockroach
    Any age,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Smug, annoying, and very hard to kill. The ultimate survivor and knows it.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Triceratops
    Any age,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Lumbering and slow. Not in The three-character version.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Rat
    Any age,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Small, quick, twitchy. Senses an impending disaster and is freaked out about it.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Playwrights Round Table and Valencia College 5-Minute Play Festival (Orlando, FL)
    ,
    2019
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Bonita Center for the Arts, Funny Shorts Live (Bonita, FL)
    ,
    2019