A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Back County Crimes

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  6w, 4m

Book and Lyrics by Lanie Robertson
Music by Mel Marvin

A strangely beautiful play with music, Back County Crimes presents life – and, in this case, violent death – in a small town, tied together by a running commentary from the town's sole physician of many years.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary
Newly re-issued title! Similar in structure to Spoon River Anthology and Our Town, Back County Crimes presents life – and, in this case, violent death – in a small town, tied together by a running commentary by the town's sole physician of many years. The author has a savvy sense of black comedy, utilized by weaving a series of sordid tales of backwoods murder and adultery. Each vignette is either compelling or caustically comic. It is a strangely beautiful play, with music, by a writer of great ability.
History

Back County Crimes premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on October 22, 1977. Directed by Harold DeFelice, the production featured Gregory T. Daniel as Doc Autry.

(In Order of Appearance)

Act I

DOCTOR DANIEL WEBSTER AUTRY – A man in his early sixties. He is a gentle, soft-spoken, wise old man. He dresses in a suit and string tie, probably smokes a pipe.
REVEREND COURTNEY – Slightly younger than DOC AUTRY and the obverse of him. REV. COURTNEY is rigid, angular, hidden behind the veneer of his church rhetoric. His manner of speaking is calm to the point of being chilling. He too dresses in a suit and string tie, possibly he always wears a hat. Part of his psychological dress is his large Bible, his shield.
HONEY TURNER – She is young, possibly a Black woman. She is pretty but naturally so, not “gussied up” in anyway.
BUCKY TURNER – Strong, young and crude.
LAWYER – Dresses in a suit, smart but “plays to the jury” of the small town.
BIRD CARLTON – Middle aged, heavy set, and extremely neat. Her backbone is as rigid as a ruler and as straight. She seems soft spoken and kind, probably quite as nice as RICHARD PRITCHARD’s mother.
RICHARD PRITCHARD – A good-looking Mama’s boy, nervous and afraid and alone.
LOU JANE FERGUSSON – A young “mess” of a woman. She is neater than her in-laws but only barely.
OL’ MAN FERGUSSON – A disgrace to the human race, he is filthy and likes it.
TOM FERGUSSON – Only a younger OL’ MAN FERGUSSON.
MRS. SCOTT – Tall and thin, she could be any age, the age of the mother who has lost her children.
SAM SCOTT – Same age as his wife, but his age is emphasized by drink, not grief.
CARTER SCOTT – Thin like his Mama, he is handsome and quite young.
CARRIE WAKEFIELD – Angelic in her prettiness, just a child.
SISSY WAKEFIELD – CARRIE’s mother is work weary, a frightened woman, afraid of things she hasn’t even begun to comprehend.
EUGENE WAKEFIELD – A farmer who has been finally beaten by hard work, bad luck and an evil fate.
CHRISTOPHER BOYD CADWELL – In his late teens or early twenties, he is neat and would be handsome if it were not for the terror that lies deep in his eyes.
JOY JEAN MAHORNEY – A very plain young thing.
SHERIFF BONNER – Slightly older than JOY JEAN and probably so exasperated with her because he just might like her more than he can admit.
JUDGE and MRS. MAHORNEY – Senile and deaf beyond belief.
MRS. JAMES PALLARD SIMPSON – Quiet, dignified elderly lady.
MISS DELILAH MAYBERRY – Strong-willed, strong-featured, and strong character. Younger than MRS. SIMPSON.
MRS. TEMPLETON DOUGHERTY DRAUGHN – Much younger than MRS. SIMPSON, she is somewhat “flashy” but expensively dressed. She is the second MRS. DRAUGHN.

Act II

JAMES MADISON CARLTON – In his thirties, neat, educated, soft spoken, precise in his dress and his manners.
SUZANNE CARLTON – Somewhat plain, slightly younger than her husband and a class or two beneath him.
FRED and MAUDE DOBBIN – Late twenties or early thirties, they are plainly dressed, quiet people who are somewhat frightened by the spoken word.
JUDSON PHILLIPS – Same age as FRED and MAUDE, JUDSON is a neat and careful man. He wears a tie, possibly a suit, always gentle of voice and manner.
THE STRANGER – Somewhat hidden in a large hat and dirty outer coat. Seems friendly.
CELIA PARKER – Middle aged, tall and thin, neat as a pin.
JESSE PARKER – Rugged, earth-like and sullen, slightly older than CELIA.
CALEB WILLIAMS – Younger than the PARKERS, good looking and of rugged build.
MISS PEARL AVERY – Young and pretty, fancy in her dress.
HENRY LANGDON – In his late teens or early twenties, skinny and ugly. A “good ol’ country boy” type.
TIMMY COURTNEY – HENRY’s age, but more nervous and very introverted. Soft of voice and manner. Handsome.

Appendix

CRISSY MAE CADWELL – Probably in her twenties. She is obese or thinks herself to be.

Casting note: Though there are 34 characters, the play can be presented with as few as 11 actors (6 women and 5 men).

Cast counts shown with doubling, there is a total of 34 characters.

  • Time Period 1970s
  • Setting The town of Duty, population 434.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Play with Music
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A rousing affirmation of life with all its mystery and variety.” – Memphis Press Scimitar

“I am impressed by Robertson's poetic sweep of his rural Southern American dialogue and by the intrinsic truthfulness of his characterization.” – Philadelphia Daily News

“A rousing affirmation of life with all its mystery and variety... Robertson has drawn a gallery of incisive and keenly sympathetic character portraits.” – Memphis Press Scimitar

“This collection of crimes committed by the citizens of Duty is a chilling walk into the human heart, where pain slips into madness. Think Our Town, but darker.” – Battle Creek Enquirer

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Lanie Robertson

Lanie Robertson’s first plays The Insanity of Mary Girard and Back County Crimes are frequently performed by schools and community theatres. His play about Billie Holiday, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, was produced on Broadway and in London’s West End with Audra McDonal ...

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