Cast of Characters

UPS Man/Woman Brown papered box to deliver; all business;

Perdida Middle-aged homeless woman who lives in the shadows; well kept, despite living on street (e.g. long hair is dirty but set up nicely, and long skirts make her seem like a former librarian); a bag lady without bags; she pushes around an old baby stroller;

Calacas 12 skeletons in masks/makeup:

5 Actor/Speakers: Pneumonia, Apathy, Cancer, Depression, and Murder; Pneumonia and Apathy should double as singers too;

4 Singers: O.D., Heart Attack, with Pneumonia and Apathy;

5 Dancers: Madness, War, Jealousy, Cigarette, and Drowning;

The Gods:

Zeus Greek masculine figure, with thunderbolt, good pecs

Yahweh Hebrew and Christian image of kind old guy

Ms. Hamid Appears for Allah, who can't appear in person, professional

Saraswati Hindu goddess with four arms, spiritual

Quetzalcoatl Aztec wise old man

Yemaja Yoruba mother goddess, an orisha, magical

Everypersons:

Every Bro African-American, 40s, dad, office job, but still hip

Every Dude White surfer or skateboarder, 20s, down cat

Every Woman Preferably older, in 60s, the elder

Community Chorus: Contemporary allegorical characters from service organizations

Prudence From Peace and Joy Care Center here in Carson

Faith From Gang Alternative Program in Wilmington

Hope From Compton YWCA

Charity From Sage House Adult Care Center in San Pedro

Beauty Palos Verdes teen queen, on the runway

Knowledge CSUDH professor, male or female, cap and gown

Greediness Real Estate agent from Lawndale

Five Wits A five headed puppet from San Pedro, representing wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation, and memory;

Strength Redondo Beach weight lifter (a puppet)

Goods Stylish white rapper with lots of Bling from Lomita (puppet)

Fellowship Black woman from Gardena, warm and understanding

Kindred A Latino family from Carson (mother, son, two girls, grandfather)

Discretion Lawyer from Torrance

Three Devils:

Mick The boss; Heath Ledger's Joker type;

Bel She's hot; a gritty Patti Smith type;

Mr. Scratch The enforcer; older, but not a gentleman;

Caitlin Jones A sinner in the audience, a good screamer.

Good Deeds Suffering woman who saves Everyperson.

Place: South Bay of L.A.

Time: Hard to say: Today, and yesterday

There is no intermission.

Musical Numbers

Act I:

Dance of Death Calacas

The One True God The Gods and Calacas

Dem Bones The Gods and Calacas

Hard to be Good EveryBro, EveryWoman, EveryDude (to: Fumble Fingers' "Hide from your Heart")

Act II:

The Pilgrims' Song Calacas (to: "Anni Novi Novitas")

A Reckoning Straight EveryP with Beauty, Knowledge, Greediness

Such Voyages EveryP with Strength, Five Wits, Goods

On Me You Can Rely EveryP with Kindred, Fellowship, Discretion

Act III:

Hellmouth Is Waiting Calacas and Devils

Perdida EveryP, Good Deeds, and Perdida

The Promised Land Good Deeds (to: Fumble Fingers' "The Promised Land.")

Happy Trails EveryP and Good Deeds with Calacas

Dance of Death Reprise Calacas, Gods, UPS, Audience

Note on Language:

The play attempts a contemporary adaptation of a medieval classic by mixing Middle English and modern idioms into a contortion humorously referred to as "Thanglish." The Middle English serves to identify the world of the hereafter (UPS, Good Deeds, The Gods, and the Calacas), and requires only some added emphasis in resonance and diction in order to lend a lift in formality. Everypeople, Act II allegoricals, and Community members speak in the contemporary style of EveryDay.