Intricacies, Death and the Oxford Comma

by Scott Sickles

[ONE-ACT COMEDY]

The Queen is dead! Long live the King!
Whoever that might be...

[ONE-ACT COMEDY]

The Queen is dead! Long live the King!
Whoever that might be...

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Intricacies, Death and the Oxford Comma

Recommended by

  • Daniel Prillaman: Intricacies, Death and the Oxford Comma

    I cannot thank or praise Scott Sickles enough. In my personal staunch defenses of the Oxford comma, I no longer need to articulate my (correct) arguments. I can now point to this masterpiece. Not only is it British humor at its finest, it is the goddamn funniest fucking play. I so want to speak on it more, but I cannot do so without spoiling the perfection of its pacing, the glorious absurdity of its build, the ridiculousness of its characters. Just read it. Then do it. This will bring down any house (wink), no matter the festival or theatre.

    I cannot thank or praise Scott Sickles enough. In my personal staunch defenses of the Oxford comma, I no longer need to articulate my (correct) arguments. I can now point to this masterpiece. Not only is it British humor at its finest, it is the goddamn funniest fucking play. I so want to speak on it more, but I cannot do so without spoiling the perfection of its pacing, the glorious absurdity of its build, the ridiculousness of its characters. Just read it. Then do it. This will bring down any house (wink), no matter the festival or theatre.

  • Christopher Plumridge: Intricacies, Death and the Oxford Comma

    This is not what Shakespeare meant by 'A Horse, A Horse, My Kingdom for a Horse!'
    This short play by Scott is hilarious and troubling for a Brit such as myself, can the monarchy really fall due to a comma? The royal household should read this play to ensure such a tiny mistake does not wreak such havoc and change history!
    And I love that the playwright suggests the wonderful, late, great Helen McCrory as a character in this piece, for I can imagine her perfectly in this role.
    Nonsense, but hilarious nonsense!

    This is not what Shakespeare meant by 'A Horse, A Horse, My Kingdom for a Horse!'
    This short play by Scott is hilarious and troubling for a Brit such as myself, can the monarchy really fall due to a comma? The royal household should read this play to ensure such a tiny mistake does not wreak such havoc and change history!
    And I love that the playwright suggests the wonderful, late, great Helen McCrory as a character in this piece, for I can imagine her perfectly in this role.
    Nonsense, but hilarious nonsense!

  • John Busser: Intricacies, Death and the Oxford Comma

    I can't think of a more appropriate person to give a royal rogering to the Monarchy than the King of "horsing around", Scott Sickles. With but a single keystroke (or in this case, the specific omission of one), Scott manages to send hundreds, if not thousands of years of tradition into a tailspin. THAT'S some clever writing. And now that Scott has skewered the Royals (using a "gimlet" of sorts. Perfect!) raise another kind of Gimlet (the drink kind) to toast this wily bastard.

    I can't think of a more appropriate person to give a royal rogering to the Monarchy than the King of "horsing around", Scott Sickles. With but a single keystroke (or in this case, the specific omission of one), Scott manages to send hundreds, if not thousands of years of tradition into a tailspin. THAT'S some clever writing. And now that Scott has skewered the Royals (using a "gimlet" of sorts. Perfect!) raise another kind of Gimlet (the drink kind) to toast this wily bastard.

View all 14 recommendations

Character Information

The characters are all very British and quite posh at that.
King Arthur and Louise, Princess Royal should have the Royal Accent, if possible.
  • HELENE
    Helene Louis-McCrory. (Pronounced “Hell-ENN Loo-EE Mick-CRORR-ee.”) Picture/channel the late great Helen McCrory. Helene is the Royal Solicitor, working for the firm Ferrars & Co., representing the interests of the Royal Family. She is in her late 40s or older, any race, and a blissfully delicious bitch. She is not a royalist.
    Character Age
    40s or older
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female/Female-presenting
  • APPLEBOTTOM
    The Rt. Hon. Sir Fairleigh Applebottom, KCVO, Private Secretary to the Monarch. An older very English Englishman. (Any race but preferably Black or South Asian.) Always dignified and attempts to manage royal temperaments with a light touch.
    Character Age
    50s or older
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any (but preferably Black or South Asian)
    Character Gender Identity
    Male/Male Identifying
  • KING ARTHUR
    Not that King Arthur. Mid-70s. The new King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and therefore white. He’s waited all his life to be King and now finally is! But for how long? (He need not have prominent ears.)
    Character Age
    Mid-70s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • LOUISE, PRINCESS ROYAL
    Early 70s, white. Down to earth but loves to needle her older brother when he gets too stuffy.
    Character Age
    Early 70s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Playwrights Thriving, Year 2023