Rich Helms

Rich Helms is a retired software developer with over 40 years of experience in computer Research and Development (R&D). Rich studied play writing at George Brown College, Toronto Metropolitan University and recently completed the Humber College Creative Writing Post Graduate Year in writing Audio Drama.

My school project was a 6 part Audio Drama called After. "A murdered young man discovers that a dead hooker can help him make sense of the afterlife, especially when he realizes his killer has followed him into death."

Recently Rich adapted After into a 4 character 10 minute stage play. (After - 10 min play).

Audio Drama is interesting in that all you have is dialogue, music and sound. The made adapting After to a short play with a minimum of set and characters possible.

Rich Helms is a retired software developer with over 40 years of experience in computer Research and Development (R&D). Rich studied play writing at George Brown College, Toronto Metropolitan University and recently completed the Humber College Creative Writing Post Graduate Year in writing Audio Drama.

My school project was a 6 part Audio Drama called After. "A murdered young man discovers that a dead hooker can help him make sense of the afterlife, especially when he realizes his killer has followed him into death."

Recently Rich adapted After into a 4 character 10 minute stage play. (After - 10 min play).

Audio Drama is interesting in that all you have is dialogue, music and sound. The made adapting After to a short play with a minimum of set and characters possible.

Scripts

On The Edge

by Rich Helms

Synopsis

As Adam teeters on the edge of life, he encounters a mysterious presence.

On the Edge is a 3-character, 10-minute play. Since “On The Edge” began as an audio drama, the staging remains simple and ideal for a reading. The main character, Adam, is centre stage while the other two are either off stage or back, out of Adam’s field-of-view.

This play was inspired by a near-death hospital stay.

As Adam teeters on the edge of life, he encounters a mysterious presence.

On the Edge is a 3-character, 10-minute play. Since “On The Edge” began as an audio drama, the staging remains simple and ideal for a reading. The main character, Adam, is centre stage while the other two are either off stage or back, out of Adam’s field-of-view.

This play was inspired by a near-death hospital stay.

Accidents Arranged

by Rich Helms

Synopsis

Aboard an 1858 Mississippi River paddle steamer, two con artists, one of their bitter targets and a hitman weave an intriguing story of love and murder.

Aboard an 1858 Mississippi River paddle steamer, two con artists, one of their bitter targets and a hitman weave an intriguing story of love and murder.

Dear Angie

by Rich Helms

Synopsis

Like Dear Abby, diner owner Angie dishes out advice and food to her patrons based on their needs and wants, not a menu — that is, until she meets a guest she can’t read.

Angie's Diner doesn't need menus. Angie uses her intuition to dish out food and advice to her patrons — until she meets a guest she can't read.

Like Dear Abby, diner owner Angie dishes out advice and food to her patrons based on their needs and wants, not a menu — that is, until she meets a guest she can’t read.

Angie's Diner doesn't need menus. Angie uses her intuition to dish out food and advice to her patrons — until she meets a guest she can't read.

After (10 min play)

by Rich Helms

Synopsis

10 minute play (one arc from full After audio drama.) Written for a simple stage and four characters.

Have you given much thought … to what happens … when you die? If you have a notion of heading up … or down ... well, have I got a surprise for you!
On this day, Todd is feeling on top of the world. He breezed through school; his computer programming career … is on the fast track; and he’s ready to propose to...

10 minute play (one arc from full After audio drama.) Written for a simple stage and four characters.

Have you given much thought … to what happens … when you die? If you have a notion of heading up … or down ... well, have I got a surprise for you!
On this day, Todd is feeling on top of the world. He breezed through school; his computer programming career … is on the fast track; and he’s ready to propose to the love of his life.
[Gunshot]
But now, he finds himself on the bank floor. Todd waves his hands in front of people’s faces … screams at them … and nothing.

After (6 Episode Audio Drama)

by Rich Helms

Synopsis

Audio Drama Serial
A murdered young man discovers that a dead hooker can help him make sense of the afterlife, especially when he realizes his killer has followed him into death.

After is an audio drama in which the arrogant protagonist, Todd (murder victim), and criminal antagonist, Dave (murderer), die in the first scene. Todd enlists the help of a dead hooker to connect with his alive girlfriend, Jessie...

Audio Drama Serial
A murdered young man discovers that a dead hooker can help him make sense of the afterlife, especially when he realizes his killer has followed him into death.

After is an audio drama in which the arrogant protagonist, Todd (murder victim), and criminal antagonist, Dave (murderer), die in the first scene. Todd enlists the help of a dead hooker to connect with his alive girlfriend, Jessie, while he copes with his new existence, where Dave still threatens him. These characters find themselves in a triangle of adventure as Todd desperately tries to make amends to Jessie for his arrogance.

Format: 10 to 15-minute episodes.

Episodes:
1. Dying Is Just The Beginning
2. Fate Can Be A Bitch
3. A Matter Of Death And Relife
4. The Funeral
5. The Reunion
6. Todd's Role In Death

The Mouse on the Moon

by Rich Helms

Synopsis

Premise

In July 1969, two spacecraft lifted off to take men to the Sea of Tranquility - one from the most powerful nation on earth, the United States, the other from the smallest, the Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

The US Saturn V rocket stood 363 feet tall, weighed 3,100 tons and was powered by liquid hydrogen.

The Grand Fenwick rocket was a US surplus Little Joe II, 55 feet tall, 50 tons and powered by an atomic...

Premise

In July 1969, two spacecraft lifted off to take men to the Sea of Tranquility - one from the most powerful nation on earth, the United States, the other from the smallest, the Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

The US Saturn V rocket stood 363 feet tall, weighed 3,100 tons and was powered by liquid hydrogen.

The Grand Fenwick rocket was a US surplus Little Joe II, 55 feet tall, 50 tons and powered by an atomic motor fueled by Pinot Grand Fenwick ‘Fifty-eight’ wine.

Who got there first?

Neil Armstrong walked on the moon on July 20, 1969. Suppose Grand Fenwick was there also? Through a detailed timeline of the Apollo 11 events, in this play, Grand Fenwick activities are intertwined while preserving historical facts. The plot uses seldom-known incidents about the Apollo flight.

An interesting piece of history is that the Apollo 11 countdown went as planned. It started on July 10, 1969, with a launch on July 16 and a landing on July 20. The target time for Fenwick to fly to the moon was 10 days, so Kokintz realizes if he launches on the same day the Apollo countdown starts, they will both reach the moon at the same time.

The play uses accurate but not well-known incidents of the Apollo 11 flight to support the story. Historical tie-ins are explained at: https://richhelms.ca/themouseonthemoon/history/

The only pure science fiction aspect of the story is the wine being used as an atomic fuel.

Staging and Audience Involvement

With the lack of technology, the setting and costumes lend themselves to a Steampunk set and costumes. Navigation is by a brass sextant and the propellant is a radioactive vintage wine.

All play music is in the public domain.
https://richhelms.ca/themouseonthemoon/

This play allows for a lot of leeway when it comes to costuming, casting and the set. It’s interactive, fun and suitable for all ages – perfect for community/high school theatre.