Voices of BTM XXV: L.W. Lucas Hasten
Tell us a little about your play.
Two squirrels discuss the loss of a tremendous stash of pine cones they had stored in the ceiling of a house that was removed during a home renovation; in a fit of anger and desperation, one reveals a terrible secret.
What made you want to tell this story?
Upon purchasing a new home in Connecticut, we discovered the ceiling of one of the ground-floor bedrooms was caving in due to the weight of hundreds of pine cones that had been stored above it. Contractors removed and disposed of all but one huge bagful which was left on our backyard deck, clearly visible through our living room windows. Squirrels began sitting on the deck rail where they would look back and forth from the bag to me and I could almost hear them cursing. This play is their imagined conversation.
What interests you about the ten-minute format?
Many life-changing events happen in less than ten minutes; one minute, you’re one person, and the next, you’re someone else. A ten-minute play forces the writer to get to the point quickly and come to some kind of immediate resolution; it moves as quickly as real life does.
Who (or what) inspires you as a writer?
Inspiration is a gift that falls into my lap when I allow myself to be amused by everyday life. There is always something important to say but the trick is to tuck it into something more fun than a lecture.
What are you most looking forward to on May 7?
The greatest gift is watching your characters come to life on stage. Once the play is in the hands of the director and the actors, it becomes something far beyond the capabilities of the writer; you put it out to the community and watch it rise above you.
What’s next for you as a playwright (or producer, actor, student, teacher, etc.)? Shameless plugs, please!
I’m working on a collection of short plays with animal characters because writing for non-humans immediately injects whimsy and humor into a piece. As a composer and lyricist, I’m also writing and submitting ten-minute musicals to contests and festivals. I’m currently developing a full-length musical about teenagers in Purgatory, which I expect to be as fun as it is terrifying.
Join us for Boston Theater Marathon XXV—Sunday, May 7, from 12-10 p.m.! Learn more and purchase tickets