Love in Idleness

by Walt McGough

A gaggle of young, star-crossed lovers are running from the Big City to the Old Forest, but the fairies that live there have their own problems. Identities are confused, magical nectars are deployed, and everyone tries to get a handle on what they truly, deeply want, with mixed results. And then the LARPers show up and complicate things even further. A loving, gender-blind and family-friendly riff on A Midsummer...

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Love in Idleness

Recommended by

Jennifer Kokai: Love in Idleness by Walt McGough

“

This is a hilarious update of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This absolutely has to be on your radar if you are a high school or university that wants students to encounter an old story in new ways. The casting and staging is so flexible it is perfect. Or if you grew up in the 90s and were a part of the "teen Shakespeare movie" zeitgeist, this will spark nostalgia for when pop culture was using Shakespeare but had actually read the plays (I'm looking at you T.Swift who clearly hasn't actually read Hamlet).

This is a hilarious update of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This absolutely has to be on your radar if you are a high school or university that wants students to encounter an old story in new ways. The casting and staging is so flexible it is perfect. Or if you grew up in the 90s and were a part of the "teen Shakespeare movie" zeitgeist, this will spark nostalgia for when pop culture was using Shakespeare but had actually read the plays (I'm looking at you T.Swift who clearly hasn't actually read Hamlet).

”

Character Information

This play is set in a fantasy world. As such, none of the roles are written with a specific
race, gender, or level of physical ability in mind. Any pronouns or specific physical
moments should be considered placeholders, and adjusted to fit.

That said: this fantasy play is performed in the real world. Please be mindful of how
your production's assemblage of artists is subverting, commenting on, or reinforcing
historic power structures, on-stage and off. Dream big.

Puck

a manager.

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Mer

a young lover.

Character Age

teens-20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
Sandy

a young lover.

Character Age

teens-20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
Mel

a young lover.

Character Age

teens-20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
Demi

a young lover.

Character Age

teens-20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
Seus/Eron

royalty.

Character Age

40s-70s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Hip/Nia

royalty.

Character Age

40s-70s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Nic

a roleplayer.

Character Age

Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Peaceblossom/Quince

associates.

Character Age

Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Mustardseed/Flute

associates.

Character Age

Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Cobweb/Snug

associates.

Character Age

Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+

Genre

adaptation,

comedy,

fantasy,

farce,

romantic comedy,

young audiences

Subject Matter Keywords

Farce,

adaptation,

LARPing

Length

60-90 minutes

Cast Size

11—15

Age of Intended Audience

ages 6-13,

ages 14-17,

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers LGBTQ Characters

Supporting Materials

Script Sample

Love in Idleness Sample.pdf