EVERYDAY EDNA MAE (full length) by Robin Rice

An often-humorous look at a life that could have been squashed but instead rises strong and confident. Young Edna Mae yearns to be a visual artist, but a nagging body obsession deflects her focus. Middle-aged Edna Mae finds life in a stodgy town and marriage to an unsympathetic husband have blocked her creativity. She has struggled to maintain her artistic edge, but colors have literally drained from her life...
An often-humorous look at a life that could have been squashed but instead rises strong and confident. Young Edna Mae yearns to be a visual artist, but a nagging body obsession deflects her focus. Middle-aged Edna Mae finds life in a stodgy town and marriage to an unsympathetic husband have blocked her creativity. She has struggled to maintain her artistic edge, but colors have literally drained from her life to the point where all she sees is sepia. At a Starbucks in San Diego, Edna Mae decides to not return to her midwest, apple-pie home, but rather seize the day. In this 90-minute story, we finally see elderly Edna Mae -- almost homeless, but happy as a clam doing what she loves with self-confidence enough to share with a young, homeless girl - the granddaughter she never met. (Also available in an Italian translation.)
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EVERYDAY EDNA MAE (full length)

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    3 May. 2019
    “ Oh how I loved this. What should one be, all the pressures to conform to the expectations of the perfect cookie-cutter woman. But when we can get rid of that critic and follow our bliss magic happens! Take a walk over that rainbow and life is beautiful. She finds herself and then her granddaughter with whom she can offer guidance from lessons learned. A truly beautiful and touching piece! ”

Character Information

EDNA MAE MULLINS COOPER - At ages 25, 45 and 65. From rural Ohio. Average size. Wants to make art but feels obligated to do what people want her to do until...
PATTY - At ages 25 and 45. Edna Mae's imaginary friend. Slender, put-together, self-satisfied, obsessed with appearance. Too cool for school, but wounded by rejection. Wants Edna Mae to hook a man.
MRS. FLAG - 60. Rural Ohio. Conventional. Proper. My way or the highway, but very sweet.
SALLY STUDEBAKER - Mrs. Flag's daughter. (Mrs. Flag and Sally may be played by the same actor if desired.) Rural Ohio. Edna Mae's real best friend. Blonde. Chipper. Sweet. Loyal.
KOKO - 18. Edna Mae's granddaughter. Homeless. Lonely. From rural Ohio. Art school dropout.
(NOTE: If desired, Mrs. Flag may be played by a male actor. More actors may be added in non-speaking roles like Starbucks barristas to change set pieces.)

  • Sally Studebaker
    40., Array,
    Female
    40. Edna Mae's real best friend. Mrs. Flag's daughter. Blonde. Chipper. Loyal. Sweet. (Actor may play Sally and Mrs. Flag as well - or not, as desired.)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Patty
    At ages 25 and 45.,
    Any (but probably white)
    ,
    Female
    At ages 25 and 45. She is Edna Mae's imaginary best friend who won't lay off and go away. Very slender, put-together, self-satisfied. Obsessed with appearance. Too cool for school, but wounded by rejection. Hooking a man is everything.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Mrs. Flag
    60s.,
    Any (but probably white)
    ,
    Presents Female
    60s. Sally's mother. Lifelong resident of a small Ohio town. Conventional. Proper. My way or the highway, but very sweet. (possibly played by same actor as Sally - or possibly played by a male actor)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Koko
    18,
    Any
    ,
    Presents Female
    18. Edna Mae's granddaughter. Homeless. Lonely. From rural Ohio. Art school dropout. Wants to be a landscape designer.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Edna Mae Mullins Cooper
    Ages 25, 45, 65,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    At ages 25, 45, and 65. From small-town, Ohio. Average appearance - not too anything. Feels obligated to do what the conservative people in her life think she should do, but wants desperately to make art.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 40s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Manhattan Oracles
    ,
    2014
  • Workshop
    ,
    Emerging Artists Theatre, NYC
    ,
    2014

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Articulate Theatre Company
    ,
    2017
  • Workshop
    ,
    Planet Connections Theatre Festivity.
    ,
    2017
  • Workshop
    ,
    FRIGID New York Festival of a production by Bricken + Birch
    ,
    2015

Awards

Selection
,
Outstanding Playwriting of a New Play
,
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
,
2017
Selection
,
Outstanding Acting (2 nominations)
,
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
,
2017