The Squirrel Plays ~ Three Movements on a Theme
Hugh Stubbins and Amy Reitsma with Part of the Main Productions
photo by Lily Taylor
Infestation
(originally The Play About the Squirrel)
Cast: 1 woman, 1 man, 1 (or 2) any gender
Tom and Sarah don’t want squirrels. They’re not like, “Maybe someday.” They really don’t want squirrels. Squirrels don’t suit their lifestyle and it’s in the pre-nup, but when they discover a squirrel trapped in the attic of their new home they have very different responses to this unplanned...situation. A look at unplanned pregnancy and abortion through metaphor, Infestation is a one-act play with one Man, one Wife, and an “Exterminator.”
Compensation
Cast: 4 women, 1 man
The extermination bill for their unplanned squirrel is outrageous. Tom doesn’t want to pay it. Sarah wants to forget it ever happened. Instead of respecting Sarah’s wishes, Tom tries to convince the neighborhood association that they should subsidize the cost of local exterminations leading to unpleasant debate, airing of dirty laundry, strained relations with the neighbors, and ultimately a rift in their marriage. A reflection on the use of public funds for abortion, Compensation is a one-act companion piece to Infestation.
Eradication
Cast: 4 women, 1 man, 1 any gender
Already strained relations with the neighbors get worse when the Alderman goes on a shooting spree killing several—mostly black—squirrels in the neighbor’s yard. Then animal control manages to kill a couple more. Tom and Sarah find their relationship mending as they band together to oppose the neighborhood bigotry, and join the new movement to reduce gun violence and eliminate abuses perpetrated by animal control. An exploration of how guilt and good intentions can lead liberal whites down a very patronizing and unhelpful path, Eradication is a companion piece to Infestation and Compensation.
The Squirrel Plays can be downloaded on New Play Exchange.
The Squirrel Plays premiered together as one piece at Mirror Stage in Seattle in Spring of 2023.
Infestation and Compensation were presented at The Wandsworth Fringe Festival in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2018.
The Play About the Squirrel premiered in 2007 in Chicago’s RhinoFest.