The January People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The January People’s Choice Award goes to Summer Broyhill for her play, THIRTEENTH NIGHT, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on January 20th live at Broadwater Second Stage and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Summer!

Courtesy of Summer, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

Thirteenth Night
by
Summer Broyhill

Cast of Characters:

Viola: recently married to Duke Orsino. While dressed as a boy, she attempted to woo
Olivia on the duke’s behalf. The scene was hot.
Olivia: She fell in love with Sebastian’s twin, Viola, while Viola was in drag. Then she
married Sebastian.

A kitchen inside DUKE ORSINO’s house in Illyria.

VIOLA
(As she is entering, calling behind her) I’m gonna see if I can scrounge up some crudites.
Orsino, try to behave? Do NOT pull out the karaoke machine!

(VIOLA’s energy clearly shifts from performative host to new wife alone with her overwhelm
and…is that regret? She takes a breath and tries to shake it off. She looks through cabinets
high and low trying to find something edible. She is crouched down behind a cabinet door
when OLIVIA quietly enters. VIOLA rises and jumps back, which scares OLIVIA too)

OLIVIA
Whoa, Viola! I’m unarmed./I didn’t mean to scare you.

VIOLA
/I didn’t hear you come in.
(they talk over each other then laugh with awkward politeness)
Jinx.

OLIVIA
Hard to get used to calling you that. Viola.

VIOLA
Hard to get used to hearing it again.

OLIVIA
Do you miss being Caesario?

VIOLA
(Just naming this for the first time) Yeah. Sometimes I felt like Caesario swallowed Viola up from the inside. But in a good way. Like, he was in me all along and once he was out….I could breathe deeper, take up more space.

OLIVIA
Caesario suits you. It sounds like power. And music. Operatic emotion.

VIOLA
And swagger. I felt like I had swagger.

OLIVIA
You definitely did.
(they smile at each other for a moment with easy intimacy)
Do.
(VIOLA shies away first, and OLIVIA gathers herself in response)
They’re, uh, they’re no-mercy wrestling. Sebastian and Orsino.

VIOLA
Wow. I’ve been gone all of a minute.

OLIVIA
You probably should’ve left karaoke on the table. I’m a little worried about Sebastian.

VIOLA
Oh, he’s a lot stronger than he looks. And Orsino’s schnockered. I think it’ll probably play
out like Brazilian jiu-jitsu guy vs. Andre the Giant. So. Pity Orsino. I do.

OLIVIA
Pity is a form of love. I think.

VIOLA
Love is love. Pity is Pity.

OLIVIA
Yeah. So I didn’t feel very, um, needed? In there. I just thought maybe you could use some
help.

VIOLA
Ha. Uh, no. There’s not much to help with. Very bro-ey in here. Lots of alcohol, no mixers.
Until recently he only let men in the house and the kitchen….reflects that. Music may be
the food of love, but actual FOOD is the food of.

OLIVIA
Bodies.
(Another bit of electricity passes between them)

VIOLA
Yeah.

OLIVIA
Mmm.

END OF SAMPLE

Join us for the next round of Monday Night PlayGround on February 10th! For more info, click here!