FISH STEW AND CALF FRIES

A comic drama of the contemporary

southwest in 2 acts

Copyright © 1998, 2004 Colin P. Cobb

CHARACTERS

BOSS:        a self-possessed woman in her late 30's.

FELIPE:        a 40 year old vacquero of Mexican descent who looks and speaks like an Anglo.

COOKIE:        the camp cook, a man in his early 60's.

RANAHAN:        a young wannabe cowboy in his early 20's.

LEW:        Ranahan's cousin and confidant, same age as Ranahan.

WOODS:        the handyman/mechanic, about 45 years old.

SETTING

The X Bar X line shack high in the New Mexico mountains.   The X Bar X is a medium sized ranch (35,000 acres).   The main ranch house is located several miles down the mountain from the line shack which is used to house cowboys performing seasonal work.

TIME

Act I,           Scene i:           Afternoon, June 1

Act I,           Scene ii:           That evening

Act II,           Scene i:           Early evening, June 15

Act II,           Scene ii:           Early afternoon, September 1

SUGGESTED STAGING

Stage right is a wooden porch separated by a screen door from the line shack's main living area at stage center.   The main living area is separated by a Dutch door from the line shack's cook room at down stage left.   The cook room is off stage.   Furnishings are Spartan.   The main furniture is a wooden table with half a dozen mismatched straight-backed chairs.   A bunk bed is situated up stage center.   The cowboys who seasonally occupy the line shack sleep in a separate bunk room which is off stage left.   The bunk room is accessed at up stage left.

NOTE: A minimalist stage set could easily be accommodated.