Promise, magic and soda pop
Synopsis: Promise, Magic and Soda Pop is a one-act play, depicting a former Vaudeville performer and magician nearing the end of his life and his granddaughter, who attempts to infuse hope into his situation, even while her very own life appears to be falling apart. The play is an exploration of the types of promises a person makes during a lifetime: promises before God, promises to another and promises to oneself. The play sparks a moment of reflection on the part of the viewer about what it is to make a promise and then keep or break that promise. Through Vaudeville antics and card tricks, the story draws a connection between magic and promise, as both are dependent upon a believer; and concludes that without a believer, magic is just and illusion, and promises are just empty words.
An excerpt from the play:
CRISSY (pleading)
Grandpa (choked up) Won't you please try? (beat) For me?
HERB (pause, then slowly)
My right side is gone. My throat is being eaten away. No more subtractions. I can't beat it this time.
CRISSY (hopeful)
Yes you can. You can do magic — pull a rabbit out of a hat, a coin from behind your ear — You made me feel I could do anything I could hope for. (beat) You can ride a bicycle backwards.
HERB (pause)
I can't ride the bicycle backwards anymore, Crissy.
SILENCE.
HERB
(pause) You will be there for Grandma.
CRISSY
(first shakes her head, pauses, then nods)
I will be there for Grandma.
SILENCE.
CRISSY looks deeply into HERB'S eyes.
Copyright. M.C. Runge, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Read the story "Playwrights Project: Crafting the Words Behind the Drama"