Test Ride is a comedy about several teens who have signed up to take a test ride on a new amusement park ride. When each pair arrives separately at the designated location, they find it doesn’t look anything like an amusement park. One by one, they go through a door which is actually a trans-dimensional space portal! Posing as human scientists/ride developers, two zany beings from another planet will try to gauge the teens’ range of fun. This comedy for teens is “out of this world”!
Elizabeth Rapoza first began writing plays for and with children over 30 years ago. The first thing she noticed was that there were few plays for children with rewarding roles for every actor. Liz felt that each student deserved (and frequently paid) to have the same experience, she began “Backyard Dramatics”, a youth self-scripting curriculum. In these workshops, student actors create plots and characters based on stories invented by the students. These are then carefully scripted by Ms. Rapoza and performed by the students. Liz’s plays are kid and audience tested across the country and around the globe. Her youth play, “Perstephanie Goes Underground” won the Boston Public Schools Short Play Development Award. Her adult radio comedy “The Amazing Adventures of Pajamazon” was a in winner in Mae West Fest of Seattle’s search for the Ultimate Female Protagonist. Her plays have been performed at venues such as SlamBoston and the Factory Theater Boston. In addition, Liz is a professional actor, dancer, musician/vocalist, puppeteer and costumer. She has taught college theater courses since 2003 and currently teaches at Cape Cod Community College. Contact Liz at: [email protected].
Excerpt from the play:
CAST OF CHARACTERS
LILY
JOE
SHAYNA
LUIS
CRYSTAL
JAIME
ALIEN EMPRESS/EMPEROR
ALIEN LACKEY
SET AND COSTUMES:
Set is an abandoned gymnasium or large open room. All that is required is a door that leads onto the set area, 8 chairs and sound effects of a roller coaster. Some sort of goggles are needed for the 8 test ride participants. We used novelty glasses with googly eyes. All of the characters except the aliens would wear whatever they would normally wear to hang out with their friends. The aliens should dress the way aliens would think human scientists would dress.
Scene I
(LILY and JOE enter the gym and look around)
LILY
(Loud. Sing-songy) Helloooo? Anyone here? We’re here for our free test ride.
JOE
Okay. Nobody’s here. Let’s go get something to eat.
LILY
I already ate, you missed your chance.
JOE
I wasn’t hungry then. I’m hungry now!
LILY
Too bad. So sad. We’re going on a test ride now.
JOE
(Getting frustrated) But there’s no-one here!
LILY
(Calling loudly) Hellloooo! Test rides? Darn! I wanted to check out the indoor roller coaster.
JOE
(Heading for the outside door as he counts the money from his pocket) Let’s see…I’ve got three dollars which means I can get a taco and a cheeseburger.
LILY
(Running ahead of him and blocking his path) Where do you think you’re going? Half of that money is mine!
JOE
Nuh uh. You already ate. You had a corn dog.
LILY
That only cost a dollar! Mom gave us four dollars so one more dollar is mine and I want it to buy a chocolate chip cookie!
JOE
Too bad, so sad. You missed your chance. Go take a test ride. I’m outta here. (He tries to open the door, but it won’t open). Whuh? (Tries again, grunting with the effort) Huh? (tries again, grunting even more)
LILY
(Pushing him out of the way) Oh, for Pete’s sake! What a wuss! (She pushes JOE away and tries to open the door. No luck) Oh no! We’re locked in! (looks around the room. Sees stage door) Hey, there’s a door! Maybe it’s a way out.
JOE
Nuh uh! I’m not going through that door! No way!
LILY
What? Why not?
JOE
You don’t know where that leads. It could lead into their stupid “Test Ride” or you could fall down an elevator shaft or get stuck on a broken-never-stops roller coaster. Or…
LILY
(Cutting him off) As if! Be real!
JOE
Or it could be a portal into another dimension for all you know.
LILY
That’s being real?
JOE
(Stubbornly) It could so be a portal into another dimension!
LILY
(Dismissively) Whatever.
JOE
I’ll bet you our last 3 dollars that it is too a portal into another dimension.
LILY
You can’t be serious. I thought you were hungry.
JOE
Yeah. I’m wicked hungry.
LILY
Then save the money for food and stop reading so many sci-fi comic books.
JOE
(Insulted) They’re “Graphic Novels”! Comic books are for kids.
LILY
Whatever. (Heads for the stage. JOE hesitates) Are you coming or what? Or are you…don’t make me say it….scared…(She goes through the stage door)
JOE
All right! All right! I’m coming! Don’t say it. Sheesh! (He follows her, about to go through the stage door)
LILY
(From backstage) Hey! What’s that? Cool, it’s a….noooo!!!!!!
JOE
(Looking through the door) What the…? Lily! (He goes in. Door closes behind him)
(Shayna & Luis enter the gym)
SHAYNA
Helloooo! Anybody here? We’re here for the test ride!
LUIS
I told you we should’ve gone to the other festival. This event is sooo boring.
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