John and Norma

2m, 1w
1m 70-85, 1m 30-65; 1w 70-85

Gil, a homeless man, has helped John home with his groceries. There, he is introduced to Norma, John's companion. As (unseen) ice cream and chocolate sauce are prepared for their guest, John and Norma reveal that they were once a JFK look-alike and a Marilyn Monroe impersonator. Is she a delusional impersonator, or the real thing?

When Gil learns about Norma's monthly bank transfers, his acceptance of a monetary tip from John transforms into a murderous scheme to take over John's position, aided by his childhood expertise at imitating Vaughn Meader's "First Family" records and by Norma's bad eyesight. As the ten-minute play concludes, his plan succeeds.

The setting of John and Norma is a patio, and the only props are a couple of filled grocery bags and a foldable grocery cart, so the play is easily staged. Offstage sounds of a smoke alarm and the cart hitting a body can readily be accomplished from offstage rather than through a sound system. In contrast to the straightforward staging requirements, the need for two actors to take on the vocal qualities of Marilyn Monroe and of JFK (and for another to resemble an aged JFK) make for acting challenges all around.