Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine From a Hydrant

by Jessie Salsbury

**To perform or request please press Inquire About Rights** (10 Minute Play) A State Fire Marshal interviews a Young Girl who is the only survivor of a farmhouse fire that has presumably killed the rest of her family. However, there are no bodies, little clues, and misleading evidence. The State Fire Marshal works to unwind the Young Girl's haunting and poetic past narratives of her entire life on the farm...

**To perform or request please press Inquire About Rights** (10 Minute Play) A State Fire Marshal interviews a Young Girl who is the only survivor of a farmhouse fire that has presumably killed the rest of her family. However, there are no bodies, little clues, and misleading evidence. The State Fire Marshal works to unwind the Young Girl's haunting and poetic past narratives of her entire life on the farm, while drawing her into the present to solve the origin of the house fire on Route 84.

(Acceptable alternative short title: Route 84 House Fire)

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Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine From a Hydrant

Recommended by

  • Mathew Green: Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine From a Hydrant by Jessie Salsbury
    “

    Just stunning. From the language to the pace to the resolution, stunning. This is a haunting, visceral play that does an unimaginable amount of work in just 10 minutes.

    Just stunning. From the language to the pace to the resolution, stunning. This is a haunting, visceral play that does an unimaginable amount of work in just 10 minutes.

    ”
  • Neil Radtke: Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine From a Hydrant by Jessie Salsbury
    “

    Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine from a Hydrant by Jessie Salsbury draws you in from the early moments. The writing gives actors a lot to work with, especially in how the language tightens and breaks down over time. There’s a real sense of build in the scene that performers could lean into and shape together. This feels like a piece that would be powerful to live inside onstage.

    Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine from a Hydrant by Jessie Salsbury draws you in from the early moments. The writing gives actors a lot to work with, especially in how the language tightens and breaks down over time. There’s a real sense of build in the scene that performers could lean into and shape together. This feels like a piece that would be powerful to live inside onstage.

    ”
  • John Bavoso: Route 84 House Fire: Three Miles from Train Tracks, Nine From a Hydrant by Jessie Salsbury
    “

    An eerie piece that builds in mystery and dread, Route 84 is a masterclass in distillation and economy of language. Salsbury wastes no time getting us into the story, and she trusts her audience to get on board or be left behind. Easy to produce and perfect for this time of year, this play would be a chilling addition to any horror play festival!

    An eerie piece that builds in mystery and dread, Route 84 is a masterclass in distillation and economy of language. Salsbury wastes no time getting us into the story, and she trusts her audience to get on board or be left behind. Easy to produce and perfect for this time of year, this play would be a chilling addition to any horror play festival!

    ”
View all 14 recommendations

Character Information

CHARACTERS (2)
TEENAGE GIRL (Caucasian/White) - reads somewhere between 15-20
STATE FIRE MARSHAL (FEMALE) (Caucasian/White) - reads somewhere between 40-50
  • Teenage Girl
    15-25
    White
    Cis or trans female or genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • State Fire Marshal
    40-60
    White
    Cis or trans female or genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, Midwest Dramatist Center Conference, 2017

Production History

  • Community Theater, Kansas City Horror Play Festival - SqueezeBox Theatre and Erica Baker Production (Under Short title 'Route 84 House Fire'), 2018
  • University, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, 2018
  • Community Theater, Barn Players 6x10 (under short title 'Route 84 House Fire'), 2017
  • Community Theater, Out Loud! Highlights from the Midwest Dramatists Conference - Phoenix KC Theatre as part of J.O.B.’s educational program, 2017

Awards

  • WildClaw Theatre Deathscribe 11 (Radio Play version)
    WildClaw Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2018