Description

This adaptation illustrates the traditional folktale of Old Dry Frye, the late preacher man with the ravenous appetite who comes back to haunt his flock! This is commedia American-style with energetic humor, physical gags, bumbling brothers, a cluck-talking chicken and a series of uproarious adventures taken on by 13 vibrant characters that can be played by as few as one woman and two men. Little Old Lady and Little Old Feller settle down for some tasty fried chicken when they hear the ghostly voice of Old Dry Frye comin’ across the wind. As Little Old Lady sets off for the creek to wash another plate, we are taken back in time to an earlier day when Old Dry Frye used to come regularly to Sunday dinner. Folks always set an extra plate because everybody knows about Old Dry Frye and his voracious appetite. As Old Dry Frye visits his flockealways at dinner timeethe families of Troublesome Creek try unsuccessfully to hide their food from him. One day, the preacher man chokes on a chicken bone and keels overekerplop! The whole community then passes the remains of Old Dry Frye off like a hot potato, trying to shed the body, lest one of them gets stuck with the blame for his passing. Physical humor, call and response, and delightful dialect move this play from soup pot to apple crumble, with a laugh a minute. Production notes are available in the script containing details on setting, costumes, casting and props. Great roles for versatile actors. Flexible staging. Suitable for touring. Costumes: American Southern rural, realistic or fantasy. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.