Martha's (b)Rainstorm: A Boston Fairy Tale

by John J King

Once upon a time, in 2072, rising temps and sea levels threaten to turn Boston into New England's own Venice. But some things in Boston never change: the population doubles in September, the Yankees suck, and nobody speaks to one another—they yell. City Communications Director Martha Morgan needs to chart a course that keeps Bostonians above water, but a Single-Minded Mayor, Arrogant Architect, and a history of...

Once upon a time, in 2072, rising temps and sea levels threaten to turn Boston into New England's own Venice. But some things in Boston never change: the population doubles in September, the Yankees suck, and nobody speaks to one another—they yell. City Communications Director Martha Morgan needs to chart a course that keeps Bostonians above water, but a Single-Minded Mayor, Arrogant Architect, and a history of segregation stand in her way. And on top of all that, a talking turtle is begging Martha to save its last egg...and its entire species. If Martha hopes save all of Boston's citizens, both human and otherwise, she better hope a rising tide lifts all votes.

Commissioned by and Developed with Fresh Ink Theatre, 2017-18 as part of the Boston Public Library's Playwright in Residence Program.

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Martha's (b)Rainstorm: A Boston Fairy Tale

Character Information

The casting should represent the wide diversity of a major city like Boston, imagined into the future of 2072 (read: fewer white people in the ratio).

The play can be performed with 10 (or more!) in the cast.
Casting Breakdown, looks something like:
CHELONIA Woman, age and race flexible. Always Plays Chelonia
MARTHA African-American Woman, 30’s. Always Plays Martha
CASSANDRA Woman, 30’s. Also plays Pigeon
YZOBEL Latinx Woman, early 20’s. Also plays Bee
RUDY White male, 60’s or older. Also plays ETHAN and RAT
ARGUS Male, 40’s. Also plays Anchor, Lobster
GEE Male, 30’s. Also plays Announcer, Bird
ZARA Middle Eastern/North African woman, 20’s. Also plays Amal, Weatherperson, Alexa, Bunny
MAYOR Vietnamese man, 30’s. Also plays Duc, Chuong, Announcer,
Turkey, Butterfly
HECATE Latinx Woman, 30’s. Also plays Starbuck, Raquela, Announcer, Anchor
  • CHELONIA MYDAS
    A 300+ year old turtle, witch, and matriarch.
    300
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native 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
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • MARTHA LEE MORGAN
    BoMa’s Director of Emergency Communications, translating climate science and design plans into pictures and text for the public. Martha studies jiujitsu on the side – Watch out! Black woman, 30’s.
    30s
    Black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • RUDY WALSH
    80 yrs old. Rudy runs a corner store in Dorchester, and walks with a cane.
    60 - 80
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • DR. CASSANDRA BYRNES
    Cass is a marine biologist who runs graduate labs and writes about climate disasters: for kids!
    30s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • HECATE
    Cassandra’s Cat. Or maybe Cassandra is her human.
    20 - 50
    Latinx
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • YZOBEL ("YZZY")
    A 6 year old student who wants to be a whale when she grows up.
    Child
    Black and/or Latinx
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • DAMIAN ARGUS
    Dutch-born lead architect for BoMa Climate Resiliency Project. 40’s male.
    40s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • “GEE” PUISSANT
    Gee is a Freedom Trail guide who does drag on the weekend as a one-man drag band called Doll Severe’s Midnight Ride.
    20s - 30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • ZARA
    Argus’ assistant; the brains in the room. Arabic woman, 20’s
    20's - 30's
    Middle Eastern or African descent.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • MAYOR WU
    BoMa’s Mayor.
    30s - 40s
    Vietnamese
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop, Fresh Ink Theatre, 2018
  • Reading, Fresh Ink Theatre, 2018
  • Commission, Fresh Ink Theatre, 2017

Awards

  • Fellowship in Dramatic Writing
    Massachusetts Cultural Council
    Winner
    2019