Under the Family Bus

Synopsis: It’s Covid quarantine time in January, 2021, and the Pierce family—a mother and three adult children—has weekly online video chats. Mother Diane joyfully announces her vaccination and the planning of her in-person 70th birthday party—and the expectation that all three children will be there…vaccinated. Oldest son Blair throw’s water on the plans by announcing that he’s “not getting chipped.” Craziness ensues when a virus on Blair’s computer starts feeding porn into the family chat. Week by week, more family secrets…and viruses…are exposed in ways that bounce between comedy and tender drama, climaxing with an in-person gathering that reveals even bigger shocks.

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Themes: COVID, HIV, Cancer, quarantine, pandemic, family, sibling rivalry, pornography, addiction, politics.

Cast size: Four adults—female age 69, male age 50, male age 48, female age 45.

Production considerations: Two act, 2~ hour run. Act 1 takes place on Zoom, with the characters in their separate residences. This act will require technical elements: the audience must be able to see the real-time video feed of the “Zoom.” Act 2 takes place in the great room of the matriarch’s condo.

Reactions to UNDER THE FAMILY BUS

“Huskinson gives us an edgy but optimistic story about family and a history of deadly viruses in this interesting play. It's timely and full of hope that maybe people on different ends of ideological spectrums may be able to come together still when it matters.” Lanie Vansant, playwright.

“The dialogue is fantastic! This writer has a real knack for comedic timing and these characters are hilarious and nuanced and human. I can totally picture this making an audience crack up.” Reading committee member, Epiphanies New Works Festival 2022.