Save a Yeti, Ask Me How!

 

Can a young yeti and a young human conspire to find even a tiny way to combat the too-hot planet so everyone can get back to chilling out…in an ice cream truck?

Synopsis: Abo is a young yeti who is too hot and wants to go back home where life is more chill!

Abo has traveled (by tunnel!!) with their parents from their home in YetMalaya to Sasquatchia, on the other side of the world, for the 30-year convention of the SoFoSnoMoSwaFo, which includes yeti, sasquatch, swamp creatures, etc. The focus of the conference is whether or not the SoFoSnoMoSwaFo should finally make contact with the H.H. (the horrible humans) who are doing things to cause the yeti's glacier homeland to melt, and causing heat that affects every part of all SoFoSnoMoSwaFo beings' existence.

While the adults debate things, Abo wanders off and meets (gasp) a young human...inside an ice cream truck. What could go wrong? What could go right?

Intended Audience: TYA / elementary schooler age (6-12), appeals to the entire family.

Of Note: The play includes substantial audience engagement through call/response, characters chatting with viewers while entering scenes via the house, and learning the tribal chant.

Development History:

  • TYA-age audience in-person reading, January 2024, JCC, La Jolla, California. Talkback was exceptionally upbeat with kids noting they’d never seen anything else like it.

  • Actor scene readings and feedback through NY P.A.G.E.S. online, mid-late 2023.

Cast of 5. One F, four any gender. (Can be played with 6 if Mopa/Mom not doubled).

Abo, a young yeti (AH-boe)
Mopa (Bomzer Yeti), Abo’s parent
Doddy (Blizzy Yeti), Abo’s parent
Saucey, an adult sasquatch
Scout, a young human
Mom (Elsa Yukon) Scout’s mom. Played by same actor as Mopa.
Announcer/Drummer/Voice/Cop, offstage voices; can be pre-recorded or voiced by any cast member.

SETTINGS: A forest clearing, with a podium and some décor indicating a convention, and later made to reflect winter through lighting or décor.

Driveway of a house near the forest, with an ice cream truck, which needs to be created to open and reveal its interior.

Production considerations: 45~ minute run