Colossal+Island+Script

Background of This Play

In November of 1927, John Manely Jones along with his co-pilot, Alan Tramp, was flying an cargo plane from Seattle, Washington to Juno, Alaska for Boeing Company. The plane suddenly was struck by thunder during the storm. Props: Two seats on the stage. (Both actors make a sound of a plane’s engine, and then suddenly, lean forward and backwards to simulate mechanical problems with the plane)

John: What was that noise? (Tries to look back to his co-pilot) Alan: Uh,..... I think there's smoke coming out of the engine. John: Oh, no! The engine is on fire! (Holds right hand close to his mouth to simulate a radio receiver) John: Mayday, Mayday, anyone out there? Our plane's about to crash. We're located about Longitude140 degree West, Latitude 46 degress North. If anyone gets this.... (As John is giving the location of the plane, alan stands up from his seat and puts his right hand close to his eyes while pretending to look down. He makes the sign of cross, and then jumps off his seat. Afterwards, he stands a little distance away from the two chairs and waits for John to jump.) Jonn: Alan, let's jump out before this plane explodes! (Turns head back to look for Alan) John: Alan? Alan? Alaaaan! (Screams..) (John stands up from his seat and then jump) (Once on the ground, he puts his hands close his eyes pretending to look Alan, he rushed over to him) John: (Pokes accusing finger at Alan) Hey, why didn't you wait for me? Alan: Well, the plane was about to explode, so I jumped! Anyway, where are we? (Gives John a piece of paper) John: (Takes the map and looks at it) I don't know, I have never seen this island on any map before. Alan: Do you think anyone lives on this island? John: I don't know. Maybe we should check. (Both John and Aaln put their hands on their heads) Alan: It's still raining! (Points to the audience) John: Hey! There's a small cave over there, let’s wait there until the rain stops. (Both John and Alan run to another part of the stage where they squat down and craw under a table or desk) ( John pretends to stick his head out and look up to the sky. While sticking out his hand to feel if there’s still rain. Both John and Alan get out from under the desk. They stand up and pretend to march until they rest. Both hold up their hands to their eyes as if viewing the scenery) John & Alan: Wow! Beautiful! (Both sit down on the ground to rest) John: Hey, if nobody lives here, maybe we should name it before others do. What do you think is a good name? Alan: What about “Big Island”? John: No, forget it. There's already Big Island in Hawaii. Alan: How about “Huge Island”? John: Nah! How about “ Colossal Island”? Yeah, that it! Simple and quite descriptive. Sure! We’ll call it Colossal Island then.. Alan: Let's explore some more and see how colossal this island really is. (John looks up to the sky and points to a plane passing by. Both, John and Alan scream) Alan&John: Hey! Over here!! Help!! (Both wave their arms and run out of the stage) (Both actors now cup their hands close to their mouths and scream) John &Alan: And this is how Colossal Island got its name!!