The Ants Go Marching

by Chad Fontenot

In this absurdist, campy nightmare play, A is quitting cigarettes and must wait for the exterminator - if anyone's called them yet. The nightmare grows larger. The infestation is worse. Throughout the play, the apartment is an aesthetic manifestation in the inner mind of the character; freaking ants are freaking everywhere. An allegory on substance abuse and the hold our vices have over us as well as...

In this absurdist, campy nightmare play, A is quitting cigarettes and must wait for the exterminator - if anyone's called them yet. The nightmare grows larger. The infestation is worse. Throughout the play, the apartment is an aesthetic manifestation in the inner mind of the character; freaking ants are freaking everywhere. An allegory on substance abuse and the hold our vices have over us as well as environmentalist themes concerning respect for the littlest among us, this play is sure to confound, cringe, itch, and unnerve you.

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The Ants Go Marching

Recommended by

  • Courtenay Schembri Gray: The Ants Go Marching by Chad Fontenot
    “

    This is one of the most inventively absurd plays I have read! I feel there is a deeper message behind it. I would love to see this performed!

    This is one of the most inventively absurd plays I have read! I feel there is a deeper message behind it. I would love to see this performed!

    ”

Character Information

There are no He/Him or She/Her character pronouns - casting is flexible. Although, I feel that the play works best if those who identify as queer are cast as A and B.
  • C
    A and B's downstairs neighbor; is a pest. Can double as ANT.
  • D
    The exterminator; l̶o̶v̶e̶s̶ worships bugs.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • ANT
    The Queen of all ants. Lives within (and has, for years) the walls of our protagonist's apartment.
  • A
    The protagonist; is quitting cigarettes; hates bug
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
  • B
    A's partner; a lazy breadwinner; fascinated by bugs
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s