Rip Van Winkle

by Lenny Hort

Washington Irving put the US on the literary map with “Rip,” the oldest American story still widely read. Lazy, good-natured, justifiably henpecked Rip passes out after drinking a ghostly brew and awakens to find his colonial world changed to the United States and his friends long gone. This adaptation asks what new wonders Rip might discover if he dozed for 250 years and woke in the 21st century. Rip often felt...

Washington Irving put the US on the literary map with “Rip,” the oldest American story still widely read. Lazy, good-natured, justifiably henpecked Rip passes out after drinking a ghostly brew and awakens to find his colonial world changed to the United States and his friends long gone. This adaptation asks what new wonders Rip might discover if he dozed for 250 years and woke in the 21st century. Rip often felt out of place in his own time. How will he find a place in ours?

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Rip Van Winkle

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  • Rachel Rubin Ladutke: Rip Van Winkle by Lenny Hort
    “

    I am a huge fan of historical works, and I have a great appreciation for American folk tales. Lenny Hort's play RIP VAN WINKLE combines these elements with an amusing modern twist. The dialogue is as believable as can be. The characters are quite well drawn. The scene at the end of the 1771 segment, where you find out what happened to all the characters, was moving and haunting, reminiscent of "Our Town." While reading this play, I got very clear mental images of the events. This would be a fun piece for anyone to perform or attend!

    I am a huge fan of historical works, and I have a great appreciation for American folk tales. Lenny Hort's play RIP VAN WINKLE combines these elements with an amusing modern twist. The dialogue is as believable as can be. The characters are quite well drawn. The scene at the end of the 1771 segment, where you find out what happened to all the characters, was moving and haunting, reminiscent of "Our Town." While reading this play, I got very clear mental images of the events. This would be a fun piece for anyone to perform or attend!

    ”
A cast of six to eight doubles and triples among the roles of Rip’s time and ours, with only Rip himself not double cast.
Characters from 1771:
RIP VAN WINKLE
KATRINA, his wife
JUDITH, his daughter
MATT, his son
SUSANNAH, enslaved Black barkeep at the King George Inn, mild Caribbean accent
NICK, Rip's friend
WOLF, Rip’s dog
GHOSTS of HENRY HUDSON and THREE CREWMEN
Characters from 2021:
KATE VAN WINKLE, a developer
JUDY TOLEDO, Kate’s daughter
MAX TOLEDO, Kate’s son
XANNA, their friend
VIC VALENCIA, Kate’s business partner
ALF, Judy and Max’s dog