Synopsis
House Of Several Stories
$10.99
Published by Samuel French Inc
2 Male 3 Female
This tragedy in two acts of nonsense, is an absurdist comedy about a dysfunctional family and their Thanksgiving "guests"
Bastian returns home for Thanksgiving with news of "joining the service"
Mother suggests he join a gym
But Bastian's news takes a backseat when his sister, Rissa, suddenly decides that she's pregnant, and though not yet showing, expects to deliver "any minute now"
Both children are then bombarded with Mother's news of an older brother that they've never known about, Thom, who has returned home for Thanksgiving from the war
Things are further complicated with the arrival of the mysterious, young Abigail, who has simply stopped by to drop something off - her newborn baby
That is, until she discovers the baby's father might be in the house
The play explores how stories help fill voids in people's lives caused by death, loss and dysfunction
Characters
MOTHER - 50s; Sue; warm but absent; never without a cocktail
BASTIAN - 30s; adopted brother; optimistically suicidal
RISSA - 30s; sister; skittish; stuck
THOM - 30s; military; a rugged angel; charming with an edge
YOUNG WOMAN/ABIGAIL - 16, mysterious and mature
"One of the few examples of purely American absurdism ... outside of Edward Albee" ~ Austin Chronicle
"An examination of dysfunction, perception and misperception, truth and/or lies, with all roads leading to life's perpetually unanswered question - What is real and true here?" ~ Austinist.com "Boulanger [...] starts with loud chaos, exaggeration and absurdity and gradually endows his characters and story with humanity and depth. " - Austin Live Theatre