Pineapple and Other Options
Synopsis
On a stormy day, a woman recovering from breast cancer calls a crisis hotline. As a new volunteer tries to keep her talking, Helen slips into a dream encounter with Elizabeth “Betsy” English Pennington, whose own history of capture, cultural displacement, education, and survival becomes an unexpected argument for staying alive and continuing the work.
Characters
Recovering from breast cancer; depressed, cynical, and wickedly smart.
Retired social worker and new crisis-line volunteer.
Crisis-line supervisor; may be performed live, offstage, or recorded.
Historical figure who appears in Helen’s dream.
Staging & Technical Requirements
Flexible contemporary and dream spaces. Helen’s studio apartment and AJ’s hotline station form the practical base. A life-sized Venus de Milo image or sculpture and a tall ladder are important visual elements. Lighting, sound, projections, and dream imagery support transitions. Jan may be live or recorded, allowing a 3- or 4-performer production.