If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise

Book By: Pat Cook
Play #: 8390
Pages: 68 pgs
Cast: 4 m, 5 w

This zany comedy, in the spirit of Kaufman and Hart, centers on Doc, an eccentric old man whose house caters to all sorts of characters. Now a retired judge, he spends his days “enjoying life.” When he’s not flying around the countryside in his balloon or fishing in a nearby dry riverbed, he works on his books of nonsense. This prompts his daughter, Charlotte, to decide he’s lost his marbles. So, conspiring with a sly lawyer, she plans to not only become his guardian but also sell his house and property. Throw in a psychologist on her first case, love sick teenagers, an irate school bus driver and an occasional artist or two and it’s a madhouse! Will Doc be committed or not? Of course he offers his own defense. “You ought to try tilting at a windmill every so often,” he philosophizes. “It’s great exercise and a nice breeze goes with it.” When he shows up at his sanity hearing dressed as a magician, his daughter and her lawyer think they have it all sewed up. However, Doc has a few surprise rabbits to pull out of the hat. This tour de force is appropriate for schools, churches, dinner theaters and all audiences. Can Doc pull it off? As Leo says, “There is method to his madness.” And Doc shows one and all what a little nonsense can do “If the Good Lord’s Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise.”

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Productions

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BETHLEHEM, PA 1/10/2025
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
YAKIMA, WA 11/7/2024
PATH 2 Performance(s)
NORWALK, OH 4/26/2024
THEATRE GUILD OF BUCHANAN COUNTY 4 Performance(s)
OAKWOOD, VA 2/29/2024
MILLS MASQUERS 5 Performance(s)
MALVERN, IA 5/5/2023
LAKE REGION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BAXTER, MN 4/28/2023
TRINITY OAKS 1 Performance(s)
SALISBURY, NC 3/20/2023
SOFA-THEATER 9 Performance(s)
HINDELBANK, SWITZERLAND 1/20/2023
OWENSVILLE REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL 2 Performance(s)
OWENSVILLE, MO 8/12/2022
MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 5 Performance(s)
BENTON, KY 3/31/2022
LONGHORN VILLAGE 1 Performance(s)
AUSTIN, TX 4/28/2021
ENGLISH CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
GHENT, KY 9/5/2020
AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS 1 Performance(s)
REYNOLDSBURG, OH 6/6/2020
KANATA BAPTIST CHURCH 3 Performance(s)
KANATA, ON 4/2/2020
TROY COMMUNITY THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
GILLETT, PA 3/27/2020
CORN BIBLE ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
CORN, OK 3/5/2020
OLD REYNO FWB CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
CORNING, AR 12/8/2019
CAST 7 Performance(s)
DOUGLASVILLE, GA 10/20/2019
BUENA VISTA PENTECOSTAL 6 Performance(s)
BUENA VISTA, VA 10/4/2019
KNOX COMMUNITY THEATER, ACT I INC. 4 Performance(s)
KNOX, PA 7/18/2019
JACKSON-MILTON HIGH 1 Performance(s)
NORTH JACKSON, OH 5/10/2019
DELTA RV SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
DELTA, MO 4/15/2019
HI PRODUCTIONS 1 Performance(s)
GLADSTONE, MB 3/20/2019
HI PRODUCTIONS 2 Performance(s)
GLADSTONE, MB 3/20/2019
MATER ECCLESIAE ADULT DRAMA 3 Performance(s)
BLACKWOOD, NJ 2/15/2019
DECATUR ASSEMBLY OF GOD 3 Performance(s)
PEA RIDGE, AR 11/30/2018
RHODES GROVE CAMP CONFERENCE 3 Performance(s)
CHAMBERSBURG, PA 11/23/2018
3 C PLAYERS 3 Performance(s)
CARSTAIRS, AB 11/22/2018
516 PLAYERS 2 Performance(s)
COLUMBUS, GA 11/10/2018
SPRINGTOWN HS SPRINGTOWN ISD 2 Performance(s)
SPRINGTOWN, TX 11/1/2018
KENDRA TARNELL 1 Performance(s)
CUTLER BAY, FL 9/15/2018
ALLIANCE ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL 3 Performance(s)
QUITO, NA 4/12/2018
ONEIDA BAPTIST INSTITUTE 4 Performance(s)
ONEIDA, KY 4/4/2018
EAGAN THEATER COMPANY 4 Performance(s)
EAGAN, MN 3/23/2018
DECLO HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
DECLO, ID 3/15/2018
REBELS BLUFF TROUPE 3 Performance(s)
MOUNT VERNON , MO 2/9/2018
STAINED GLASS THEATRE OF MID M 6 Performance(s)
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 1/25/2018
TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
SAN ANTONIO, TX 12/1/2017
FUQUA SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FARMVILLE, VA 10/22/2017
CAREY SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CAREY, ID 4/28/2017
BREEZY HILL HOMESCHOOL ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC 4/21/2017
OLD FORT PLAYERS 5 Performance(s)
FORT MADISON, IA 2/17/2017
ST JOHN-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ST JOHN, WA 11/17/2016
INCHARACTER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY 2 Performance(s)
MARIANNA, FL 4/8/2016
OLDS KOINONIA SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
AIRDRIE, AB 12/9/2015
PROMISE PLAYERS 9 Performance(s)
LAMPETER, PA 11/6/2015
CC STOPLIGHT PLAYERS 3 Performance(s)
TIPTON, IA 6/26/2015
TRINITY PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
HILDRETH, NE 8/10/2014
LIVING WATERS FOURSQUARE CHURC 1 Performance(s)
SAVANNAH, TN 7/13/2013
LIVING WATERS FOURSQUARE CHURC 1 Performance(s)
SAVANNAH, TN 7/12/2013
NORCROSS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 4 Performance(s)
NORCOSS, GA 5/15/2013
COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
LOGANVILLE, GA 5/2/2013
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SANTA ANA, CA 1/31/2013
OLDS KOINONIA SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
AIRDRIE, AB 12/1/2012
SYDENHAM ST. UNITED CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
BRANTFORD, ON 11/3/2012
PNC YOUTH DRAMA 1 Performance(s)
FORT MILL, SC 9/15/2012
ANAHEIM COMMUNITY THEATER 8 Performance(s)
ANAHEIM, CA 7/20/2012
APOSTLE CHRISTIAN THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
SO CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 7/20/2012
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
UNION STAR, MO 6/2/2012
NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
LOMPOC, CA 5/15/2012
THEATRE GROUP 2 Performance(s)
WOODBRIDGE, VA 5/4/2012
THE PEOPLES CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
TULLAHOMA, TN 4/27/2012
GRANDVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GRANDVIEW, MO 4/20/2012
THEATRE GROUP 3 Performance(s)
MORSE, SK 4/9/2012
BURR OAK SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BURR OAK, MI 3/23/2012
THE PEOPLES CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
TULLAHOMA, TN 3/23/2012
VAGABOND PLAYERS 6 Performance(s)
PHENIX CITY, AL 2/15/2012
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
PINEVILLE, KY 12/17/2011
HUSTISFORD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HUSTISFORD, WI 12/3/2011
HIXSON FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
HIXSON, TN 11/17/2011
NAUMBURG MENNONITE CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
CASTORLAND, NY 11/11/2011
ELYRIA CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 2 Performance(s)
ELYRIA, OH 11/11/2011
ARKANSAS BAPTIST HS 2 Performance(s)
LITTLE ROCK, AR 10/22/2011
OAKLAND BAY JUNIOR HIGH 1 Performance(s)
SHELTON, WA 10/15/2011
BARRON SPOTLIGHTERS, INC. 6 Performance(s)
BARRON, WI 10/13/2011
ALDERSGATE UNITED METH. CHURCH 4 Performance(s)
SAVANNAH, GA 9/8/2011
FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 Performance(s)
BRADENTON, FL 8/1/2011
OAKLAND BAY JUNIOR HIGH 1 Performance(s)
SHELTON, WA 5/15/2011
LAKE REGION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BAXTER, MN 4/29/2011
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
KINGSLAND, GA 4/28/2011
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
KINGSLAND, GA 4/28/2011
RED MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN CENTER 2 Performance(s)
MESA, AZ 4/15/2011
CORALWOOD ADVENTIST ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
EDMONTON, AB 4/14/2011
KELLY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
BENTON, MO 3/31/2011
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
MORSE, SK 3/26/2011
MURREE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MURREE, PK 3/17/2011
OAKLAND CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 5 Performance(s)
GETTYSBURG, OH 3/4/2011
BIG HORN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SHERIDAN, WY 12/4/2010
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
ALBANY, GA 11/11/2010
NORTH ROME CHRISTIAN 1 Performance(s)
ULSTER, PA 11/4/2010
UGBC 1 Performance(s)
MONTGOMERY, TX 3/19/2010

Behind The Scenes

Playwright Pat Cook Talks About

“IF THE GOOD LORD’S WILLING AND THE CREEK DON’T RISE”

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A: I have always been a HUGE fan of George S. Kaufman and had just reread "You Can't Take It With You" for the umpteenth time. Then I thought about writing my own 'Kaufmanesque' type character and Doc was born.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

A: Always a tough question. Probably the first scene where we have the no-nonsense psychologist trying to make sense of the seemingly random chaos all around her. This is the type of scene I love to write.

 

Q: WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?

A: Not really. I know beside Kaufman's plays I have always loved "A Thousand Clowns" and, I suppose, Doc may owe some of his eccentricity to Murray Burns.

 

Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?

A: I wanted to show that you can have a little fun, even these days. We are bombarded by news and newscasters. Not just on TV or radio but also at airports, in barbershops, wherever there's a television on it's ALWAYS on the news. Obviously I can't speak for others but it drives me crazy!

 

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

A: As always I hope the show is fun not only for the audience but also for the casts and crews who put it on.