Chapter Seven Christmas
What would you do if you lost your job, lost your home, and were on the verge of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy… yet everyone in your family was already planning to spend Christmas with you? If you’re Melvin Maldaput, you call upon your real estate buddy to lend you a million-dollar home for the holidays. Melvin and his wife Miranda end up telling a string of lies to keep the ruse going. The last thing Melvin wants is his parents or in-laws to discover that he is a failure. Melvin’s rich hillbilly neighbors, Prudy and Pruitt, even pretend to be his servants. But keeping a home perfect with visitors who scrape the fine china, clog the toilet, and bring a crazy cat is nearly impossible, and as the sibling rivalry heats up, the truth could be revealed. With the help Prudy and Pruitt, Melvin and Miranda learn the true meaning of Christmas. A debt needed to be paid, and two thousand years ago God sent his only Son to this world to pay the debt -- a debt that has been paid in full. About an hour.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT ANDREW FRODAHL TALKS ABOUT HIS PLAY
CHAPTER SEVEN CHRISTMAS
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: My wife and I many years ago went thru a very tough time financially very similar to Melvin and Miranda.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: When Melvin realizes someone cut the tree down in the front yard of the Cushing Mansion. Because at that point everything starts to really unravel and the truth must come out.
Q: WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: Mostly my imagination. However, Spoofy was a real cat. She was my grandmothers cat, and it did go berserk one Easter Sunday during lunch. All who lived through the ordeal agree, Spoofy was possessed!
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: No matter how much or how little money you might have, we all have a debt we couldn't pay. Thankfully Jesus paid it all.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
A: If anyone wants to know why Quinn owes Melvin a big favor, feel free to email me at: afrodahl@gmail.com.