At the Fair

by Claudia Haas

70 minutes. It’s 1947. The State Fair has been closed for two years due to war shortages and the polio epidemic. Newly opened, young people flock to the fair unleashing all their hopes and dreams that have been bottled up the last few years. Virginia’s mourning the lost use of her legs from polio. Rosie is trying to get her con-artist brother to go legit. Carolyn has a secret she needs to tell Daniel and a...

70 minutes. It’s 1947. The State Fair has been closed for two years due to war shortages and the polio epidemic. Newly opened, young people flock to the fair unleashing all their hopes and dreams that have been bottled up the last few years. Virginia’s mourning the lost use of her legs from polio. Rosie is trying to get her con-artist brother to go legit. Carolyn has a secret she needs to tell Daniel and a mysterious stranger from “up north” is trying to connect with his lost family. And Randy – Randy just wants a home for his prize chicken that doesn’t deserve to be a chicken pot pie. In the course of the play, quests are devised, wishes float in the wind and the possibility of dreams coming true is very real.

“Hope’s funny. It sneaks back into you when you’re not listening.”

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At the Fair

Recommended by

  • Steve Duprey: At the Fair by Claudia Haas
    “

    This is a very sweet story and a wonderful opportunity for a large high school drama group to really stretch. Everyone gets their wish!

    This is a very sweet story and a wonderful opportunity for a large high school drama group to really stretch. Everyone gets their wish!

    ”
Extras welcome and desired to add to the "feel" of the state fair.
CAST OF CHARACTERS: 13 (6f, 3m, 4 m or f) *You may change pronouns, genders.
Extras (walk-ons) possible

LOCAL KIDS
1. VIRGINIA: (f) 16 years old. In a wheelchair from polio. WANTS: to dance
2. DANIEL: (m) 18 years old. Virginia's brother. A budding artist who.
WANTS: To help his sister
3. CAROLYN: (f) 18 years old. Rich and sweet, Daniel has a crush on her. And she on him. WANTS: A friendship with Daniel
4. ELIZABETH: (f) 17 years old. Carolyn's confidante ; WANTS: to keep the peace
5. MARILYN: (f) 17 yrs. old Georgia’s friend WANTS to help Georgia
6. GEORGIA: (f) 17; Upper-crust city-girl who WANTS: to preserve her world
7. BOBBY (m or f) 13; Georgia's younger brother or sister; WANTS: attention

FARM KIDS
8. JANSEN (m/f) 15 yrs. old; farm kid; WANTS an adventure
9. RANDY (m/f): 13 yrs. old; farm boy who WANTS: To protect his chicken!
10. KELLY (m/f): 15 yrs. old. WANTS: To help her brother because he needs it

FOSTER CARE KIDS
11. ROSIE (f) 17 yrs. old; a born entrepreneur; is savvy to the world and how to use it;
WANTS: to make something of herself
12. OZZIE (m) 19 yrs. old. Rosie's brother - lived in foster care until a year ago when he struck out on his own. Very capable; WANTS: to live off the grid

VISITOR FROM AN UP NORTH SMALL TOWN
13. FINN (male) 18 yrs. old. A “lost” cousin of Carolyn. Trying to make something of himself. WANTS: to connect with family

*Announcer: You can pre-record the announcer’s voice or make him/her a character.

Production History

  • Community Theater, Lakeshore Players Summer Youth Project (have since redeveloped and reworked it for today)., 2007

Awards

  • Second Place - Jackie White Memorial Children's Playwriting Contest
    Columbia Entertainment Company, MO
    Semi-Finalist
    2007