Marsha Roberts

Marsha Roberts

Marsha Roberts lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her short plays have been performed in various US and international venues. Her first novel, “The Agent,” about an elegant con game, was published in March 2020 and is available through local bookstores and on Amazon. Her short stories and essays have appeared in several on-line e-zines and anthologies, and two were performed at the New Short Fiction Series...
Marsha Roberts lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her short plays have been performed in various US and international venues. Her first novel, “The Agent,” about an elegant con game, was published in March 2020 and is available through local bookstores and on Amazon. Her short stories and essays have appeared in several on-line e-zines and anthologies, and two were performed at the New Short Fiction Series in Los Angeles. Her first novel, “The Agent,” about an elegant con game, was published in March 2020. Marsha is on the Board of Playwrights' center SF, an alumna of PlayGround SF’s Writers’ Company, and a member of The Dramatists Guild and Left Coast Writers. http://www.marsha-roberts.com

Plays

  • Speaking the Language by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: social justice, top 1% + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: social justice, top 1%, income inequality, haves and have nots, attorney
    Olivia Blackwell was a high-powered attorney until about a year ago, when she was fired. At about the same time, she also lost all her financial assets in a Madoff-type scam. Now she’s living in a tenement building and secretly working as a housekeeper while she tries to find another job as an attorney. She leads a double life; nobody in her family or professional circle knows about her living conditions. All...
    Olivia Blackwell was a high-powered attorney until about a year ago, when she was fired. At about the same time, she also lost all her financial assets in a Madoff-type scam. Now she’s living in a tenement building and secretly working as a housekeeper while she tries to find another job as an attorney. She leads a double life; nobody in her family or professional circle knows about her living conditions. All the while, she despises the people and circumstances associated with life among the bottom 1%.

    “Speaking the Language” is about the day that forces her to change the way she looks at people, her current circumstances and at her purpose in life.
  • Imprint by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: PTSD, trauma + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: PTSD, trauma, anxiety, epigenetic trauma, anxiety disorder, Slovenia, imprisonment, Effects of trauma, effects of war, a funeral
    Katja has a severe anxiety disorder. And it isn’t all in her head. Katja doesn’t just worry. She foresees terrifying things happening before her eyes. But Katja’s never experienced a major trauma, as far as she knows; so why is she like this? An offhand remark by a near stranger sets in motion Katja’s discovery of epigenetic trauma and a shocking, long-held secret that explains her condition.
  • Candy Thief by Marsha Roberts
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: all female cast, mother and daughter + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: all female cast, mother and daughter, dementia, uplifting, Seniors
    Maggie has come to take her mother, who has mid-stage dementia, to the grocery store. Her mother resists Maggie’s various efforts to try to help her and creates a scene at the store. The two ultimately connect over stolen chocolates and shared hopes for finding love.
  • Pandumbic by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    4–5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: Politics, anti extreme conservative + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, parody/spoof, political, satire
    Keyword: Politics, anti extreme conservative, virus, Center for Disease control, comedy, pandemic
    A particularly destructive virus is attacking large portions of the US. The virus does not affect people physically, but it does seem to alter its victims’ ability to reason and think clearly. The CDC interviews three victims of the disease and its analysis pins down the source to two specific markers.
  • Unplugged by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce
    ·
    Keyword: future, Future of Technology and Humanity + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, farce
    Keyword: future, Future of Technology and Humanity, cocktail party, technology, future of humanity
    It’s “a few” years from now and all us humans are connected to “the system” via apps that tell us what to say and do. We’ve forgotten what it’s like to feel emotions; our conversations consist of exchanging facts. That is, until the “system” crashes.
  • Doctor Visit by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3–4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce
    ·
    Keyword: pandemic, doctor visit + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, farce
    Keyword: pandemic, doctor visit, technological advances, medical technology, working from home, doctor
    It’s the great pandemic of 2020 and everything is being done virtually, including routine physicals. Luckily, technology has come up with some creative, albeit somewhat unusual, medical devices to collect basic medical information on patients.
  • The Doctor Will See You Now by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3–4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce
    ·
    Keyword: zoom, Post-pandemic + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, farce
    Keyword: zoom, Post-pandemic, future society, doctor, doctor visit, annual physical
    This play is a Zoom (or other multi-screen video-conferencing app) version of "Doctor Visit." Post pandemic everything is happening virtually, including annual physicals. You can see your doctor and their nurse via Zoom and Skype. Luckily, technology has come up with some creative, albeit somewhat unusual, medical devices to collect basic medical information on patients.
  • Number 57 by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: dating, single women + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: dating, single women, single men, dating apps, perfect mate, feel-good, romantic comedy, Match.com
    Fiona is a woman of the world: brash, professional, and presents a good image. She’s on the hunt for a mate with the same characteristics. Her 57th date through the online app she’s been using is Malcolm. He’s sweet, genuine and not concerned about status or image. He also seems to have a sixth sense of understanding and compassion. He’s exactly the opposite of what Fiona wants. Or is he?
  • Ring of Truth by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: fortune teller, romance + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: fortune teller, romance, breakup, county fair, psychic, love
    At the county fair, Charlene’s boyfriend, Dwayne, gives her very unusual ring. It turns out to foreshadow what the fortune teller sees in the cards about their relationship.
  • Logan Comes of Age by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, satire
    ·
    Keyword: comedy, helicopter parents + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, satire
    Keyword: comedy, helicopter parents, spoiled children, adult children living with parents
    When does a helicopter Mom's job end? Maybe not for a long, long time. It’s finally time for Mom to send Logan out on his own. After all he’s 50 now. But getting him a job at that age isn’t so easy, unless another helicopter Mom owes you.
  • Equal Opportunity by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: sexual discrimination, gender bias + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, parody/spoof, satire
    Keyword: sexual discrimination, gender bias, women in corporate America, Job Interview
    The shoe is on the other foot in this comedy about sexual discrimination in corporate America. A male and female candidate sit across from a female interviewer, interviewing for the same job at the same time. Even though the male is clearly more qualified than the female, the interviewer dismisses his credentials and instead focuses on his appearance and jumps to conclusions about his work history and work...
    The shoe is on the other foot in this comedy about sexual discrimination in corporate America. A male and female candidate sit across from a female interviewer, interviewing for the same job at the same time. Even though the male is clearly more qualified than the female, the interviewer dismisses his credentials and instead focuses on his appearance and jumps to conclusions about his work history and work ethic based on his gender. The male candidate becomes increasingly frustrated by the interviewer’s obvious bias, only to be labeled as “strident” and “sharp elbowed.”
  • Seats 32A and B by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: elderly, breast cancer + 2 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: elderly, breast cancer, magical realism, airplane
    A kindly, spry, older woman sits next to a nervous and troubled younger woman on a plane flight. As the play unfolds, it becomes clear that the older woman knows quite a bit about the her seatmate’s life and her current plight. Through a lens of magical realism, the older woman shares insights with her seatmate that set the younger woman’s mind at ease and give her a new perspective on her life.
  • The North Wing by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    4–5
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: Seniors, mother and daughter + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: Seniors, mother and daughter, magical realism, retirement home, dementia
    Lucille lives in an assisted living facility. Sadly, her days of excitement and adventure are behind her. Only one of her two daughters bothers to visit her regularly. But it seems there’s a wonder drug being tried out on the residents of the North Wing that sends them back to the dance floor and makes them frisky in the bedroom again. Will it work on Lucille?
  • Post Partum by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: new parents, new baby + 2 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: new parents, new baby, stay at home parent, new Moms
    Martin and Jenny are first-time parents. Jenny has had it with being a stay-at-home Mom and wants to go back to work full time. She wants Martin to stay home with the baby, but that's the last thing Martin wants to do. It would ruin his career prospects and squelch the hot affairs he has going at the office. Jenny corners Martin into switching roles with her, and then proceeds to show him exactly what...
    Martin and Jenny are first-time parents. Jenny has had it with being a stay-at-home Mom and wants to go back to work full time. She wants Martin to stay home with the baby, but that's the last thing Martin wants to do. It would ruin his career prospects and squelch the hot affairs he has going at the office. Jenny corners Martin into switching roles with her, and then proceeds to show him exactly what's involved in being a stay-at-home parent.
  • Miracle on Memory Lane by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: Seniors, senior living + 7 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: Seniors, senior living, retirement home, hip hop, christmas, holiday, hamilton, comedy, dementia
    Mrs. McCandy lives in the Memory Care Unit of an assisted living facility. Compared with her exciting, glamorous past, she considers the Christmas caroling sing-along at the facility to be boring and refuses to participate. As her caregiver, Gregory’s job depends on convincing her to engage in the social activity. Through his creativity and compassion, not to mention hip hop talent, he finally hits upon the solution.
  • Not My Type/Typecast by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: LGBTQ, racial profiling + 1 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: LGBTQ, racial profiling, sex after sixty
    Stereotypes are turned on their heads in this comedy, featuring a spry 70-something-year old woman who goes shopping for sexy lingerie; her young, black, hip-hop-artist-looking, billionaire investment banker fiancée; and the two saleswomen who, after waiting on the couple, decide their own somewhat stale relationship could use a dose of romance.
  • Time's Up by Marsha Roberts
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce
    ·
    Keyword: sexism, metoo + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, farce
    Keyword: sexism, metoo, Gloria Steinem, dogs, comedy, Farce
    Three females (one with four legs) find themselves harassed by three males (also one with four legs). The females are rescued by none other than Gloria Steinem, who comes out of retirement to help them. Gloria is accompanied by her trusty poodle, Hillary, who sets the four-legged male straight.
  • Jupiter by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: fat, Obesity + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: fat, Obesity, social outcasts, young love, planet, magical realism, poetry, romantic comedy, feel-good
    Can a guy from another planet find love here on earth? A poetic, obese young man feels cast out of “normal” society because of his size. He feels like a visitor from another planet, and sees life through an unusual, poetic lens— believing he has a direct line of communication to God and the stars, among other things. His crush rejects and ridicules him, but through his poetry he finds a girl who falls for his true self.
  • The Fortune Teller by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: psychic, fortune teller + 1 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: psychic, fortune teller, career change
    Caroline has a high-level, well paying job; but she hates it. She wants to quit, but the company’s got her in golden handcuffs: if she stays for two more years, she’ll get a huge bonus. She doesn’t know what to do. At her colleague’s recommendation, she visits Vera, a psychic. Vera turns out to be quite different than Caroline imagined—not your grandmother’s psychic. Vera consults the cards and sees that...
    Caroline has a high-level, well paying job; but she hates it. She wants to quit, but the company’s got her in golden handcuffs: if she stays for two more years, she’ll get a huge bonus. She doesn’t know what to do. At her colleague’s recommendation, she visits Vera, a psychic. Vera turns out to be quite different than Caroline imagined—not your grandmother’s psychic. Vera consults the cards and sees that Caroline will indeed get her bonus even if she quits now. Caroline is skeptical, but Vera assures her that she’s always right. And it turns out there’s a very good reason for that.
  • Party Planner by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce
    ·
    Keyword: christmas, Christmas party + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, farce
    Keyword: christmas, Christmas party, party planning, holiday
    Kevin’s boss, C.J., has put him in charge of the Christmas, I mean “holiday fluid,” party — since, you know, men are such good party planners. C.J. has some very specific, over-the-top requirements for the party. Kevin gets her back by planning some over-the-top party features himself.
  • The Rent by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: Covid-19, zoom + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: Covid-19, zoom, financial crisis, poverty, sheltering in place
    In the midst of the time of COVID, a temporary mortarium on rents is about to be extended—or not. One family’s future depends on the moratorium being lifted while another’s depends on it being extended.
  • Sin of Omission by Marsha Roberts
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce
    ·
    Keyword: zoom, Covid-19 + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, farce
    Keyword: zoom, Covid-19, bank robbery, female lead, modern comedy of manners
    “Sin of Omission” (specifically written for Zoom) – A bank teller insists that her unmasked customer be more ethical and respectful while robbing the bank.