THE HUMMELOPE AND THE TARTAN TOAD by Jeff Irvin
Sunday, May 22nd at 6:30pm
Austin Playwrights Studio
5555 N. Lamar, Bldg. K, Ste. 125*
A site developer plans to build a subdivision in a pristine watershed, when rare toads, which may or may not be endangered, are seen on the property. A TV reporter, a university professor, a biologist/environmental activist, and a city bureaucrat in the Site Development Permitting office get involved, each generally in more ways than one. Will the toads be saved? The characters are over-the-top melodramatic, and the intent is comedy, with some softball satire and subliminal eco-education. There are multiple happy endings, and, beware, a lot of verse (the subtitle of Jeff Irvin’s previous published work “The Sword in the Styrofoam” was “from Bawd to Verse'”).
Jeff Irvin is the author of The Sword in the Styrofoam, a series of three melodramas published by IE Clark that have been performed all over the US (and even once in Australia). Long time members of ScriptWorks may recall that a previous version of “Hummelope”, then called “The Travis Toad”, was read at ScriptWorks in 2001, when the readings were upstairs at the State Theater. The play, which has never been staged, was originally written in the late 80’s when rapid urbanization was an issue locally. A recent reread made it seem still relevant… so here comes another reading.
*Austin Playwrights Studio (aka Warren’s place) is in the office park behind Half-Price Books on North Lamar, 5555 N. Lamar, Bldg. K, Ste. 125. The best place to enter is from the back side of the Half Price Books complex. Go south on Guadalupe from Koening and take the 4th driveway on your right. There’ll be a building with a red awning on your left that says 5426 on it. Continue on and look for Bldg. K on the right. The door to the space says Suites K 123-126, so you won’t see the actual suite number from the parking lot. If you have trouble, call Christi at 512-589-4055.