Treading Water
Written By: Scott Douglas
Synopsis: A one-person play for two people. A playwright approaching his middle age sets out to produce an autobiographical one-person show, a la Spalding Gray, but very quickly realizes that his life offers little in the way of "events." As he describes it, he realizes that his life is characterized by "not really going anyway, just staying in one spot, treading water." Desperate not to bore the audience with his boring life, he starts telling stories about his larger-than-life grandfather. Unfortunately this causes the character of his grandfather (a young man full of drive, charm, wise sayings and witty anecdotes) to appear onstage, starting a contest between playwright and grandfather and over whose one-person show this is. As their competing stories lead them into dark places (the playwright's depression, the grandfather's Alzheimer's, Spalding Gray's suicide) they find a poignant and human connection.
History: 2009 - Produced at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Availability: Contact playwright.
Running Time (mins): 46-75
Cast: 2M
Genres: Drama
Plays by Scott Douglas
- Between the Lines
- Bittu Cheliko
- Christmas Karl, A
- David's Rule
- Dog Eat Dog World
- Elixir
- Fair Trade, A
- Glory Bound
- Good Spirit Last Supper, The
- Harrowing, The
- Just 'Cause
- Legend of Saint Andrew: A Miracle Play
- Lycanthropes of the Latter Twentieth Century
- Maybe One?: A Theatrical History of the United Church
- Not Without Shadows
- Prairie Nativity, A
- Security Blanket
- Stone Soup!: The Musical
- Strange Angels
- Tables Turned and the Stone Gets Rolled Away: An Easter Play
- Touring Test, The
- Treading Water
- Undiscover'd Country
- Water Sisters, The
- Work