Readers Theater: Night of the Living Nombies: "The unread are among us"

Night of the Living Nombies

 Here is a possible preface for the play:

Preface

In our modern, technology-driven world, it's becoming increasingly common for people to get distracted by their phones and devices. We see it everywhere - friends zoning out during conversations, parents ignoring their children's requests, couples unable to pry their eyes away from tiny screens. This phenomenon of technology addiction and its tendency to disconnect us from real human interaction served as the inspiration for "Night of the Living Nombies." 

The play explores what might happen if this issue is left unchecked. If people continue to prioritize phones over true engagement, could we essentially turn into lifeless zombies - or "nombies" - unable to meaningfully connect with each other? As the children in the play discover, their once loving parents have deteriorated into mumbling, phone-fixated shells of their former selves.  

While humorous in tone, the play also rings with a deeper message about the importance of being present and the dangers of excessive technology use. If we aren't careful, we too could fall victim to the nombie trance. By highlighting this relatable issue, the play encourages us to reflect on our own habits and find balance with technology before it's too late. Just as the children devise a clever solution to "cure" their parents, we too have the power to pull ourselves back from the brink of disconnection. There are always opportunities to put down our devices, engage with our loved ones, and retain our humanity.

Characters:
Josh - 12 year old boy
Zack - Josh's friend, 12 year old boy
Emma - Josh's sister, 10 year old girl
Lucy - Emma's friend, 11 year old girl
Dad - Josh and Emma's father
Mom - Josh and Emma's mother
Mr. Wilson - The kids' teacher




Scene 1 - Josh's House

[Josh and Zack are playing video games in the living room. Emma and Lucy are coloring at the table. Mom and Dad shuffle into the room staring at their phones and mumbling]

Josh: Hey Mom, can you make us a snack?

[No response, parents continue staring at phones]

Zack: Yo Dad, wanna play winners?

[Still no response]

Emma: Mom, Lucy's staying for dinner, is that cool?

[Parents mumble incoherently, not looking up from phones]

Lucy: Why are your parents acting so weird? It's like they're zombies or something.

Josh: I know, all they do lately is stare at their phones. They're like nombies!

Zack: Nombies?

Josh: Yeah, like zombie zombies, but with phones!

Emma: Nombies! I like it. We've gotta figure out what's going on with them.

Scene 2 - The Next Day at School

[The kids enter Mr. Wilson's classroom]

Mr. Wilson: Good morning class, please take out your homework from last night.

[Josh raises his hand]

Mr. Wilson: Yes Josh?

Josh: Mr. Wilson, have you noticed all the parents acting weird lately?

Zack: Yeah they just stare at their phones all day like zombies!

Mr. Wilson: Now that you mention it, I have seen a lot of parents distracted by their phones...

Lucy: We think they might be turning into nombies!

Mr. Wilson: Nombies? What's that?

Emma: It's like a zombie but for phones! All they do is mumble and stare at their screens.

Mr. Wilson: Hmm, you may be on to something here. I think we need to investigate this further! Let's table the homework for now and talk about these "nombies."

Scene 3 - Back at Josh's House

[Parents are once again staring at phones. Kids enter]

Lucy: Your parents are still nombified!

Josh: We've gotta snap them out of it!

[Josh grabs Dad's phone but he won't let go]

Dad: Grrr! No! Mine!

Emma: Mom, can you drive us to the park?

[No response]

Zack: Man, they're too far gone. What are we gonna do?

Mr. Wilson: [entering] I think I may have a solution! I did some research and found a frequency that should reverse the nombie trance.

[Mr. Wilson plays a shrill tone on a device. Parents shake their heads looking disoriented]

Mom: Kids? What's going on? I feel like I just woke up from a dream.

Dad: Me too, like I was in a fog or something.

Mr. Wilson: Your kids helped me discover that your phones were turning you into nombies! We used a special frequency to snap you out of it.

Mom: Oh my, we have been distracted by our devices haven't we? Thank you kids for saving us! Now let's put these phones away and spend some real quality time together!

[Kids cheer. Parents join them and they all celebrate by turning off their phones and eating dinner together.]

The End

Night of the Living Nombies

Characters:

Josh - 12 year old boy

Zack - Josh's friend, 12 year old boy

Emma - Josh's sister, 10 year old girl

Lucy - Emma's friend, 11 year old girl

Mom - Josh and Emma's mother

Dad - Josh and Emma's father

Mr. Taylor - The kids' teacher

 

Scene 1 - Josh's House

 

[Josh and Zack are playing video games. Emma and Lucy are whispering at the table]

 

Emma: Have you noticed how weird Mom and Dad have been acting?

 

Lucy: Yeah all they do is stare at their phones and mumble. It's like they're turning into zombies!

 

[Parents shamble into the room, faces glued to phone screens]

 

Josh: Mom, can you make us a snack?

 

[No response]

 

Zack: Yo Dad, wanna play winners?

 

[Dad lets out an inhuman groan, eyes locked on phone]

 

Lucy: They didn't even notice us. It's like we're invisible!

 

Josh: You're right. Something evil is happening to them. We've got to figure this out.

 

Scene 2 - The Next Day at School

 

[The kids enter Mr. Taylor's classroom]

 

Mr. Taylor: Sit down class and take out your devices. Today's lesson will be online.

 

[Josh raises his hand]

 

Mr. Taylor: Yes Josh? Make it quick.

 

Josh: Mr. Taylor, have you noticed changes with the parents? It's like they're turning into zombies!

 

Mr. Taylor: Nonsense! Now log on and start learning. The future is virtual.

 

[Mr. Taylor's eyes glow red. The kids gasp.]

 

Zack: He's one of them! The phones are turning everyone into nombies!

 

Mr. Taylor: Nombies will rule this world! You cannot stop progress. Now pay attention to your screens. Your education depends on it!

 

[Kids look around in horror as classmates succumb to the phones' hypnotic screens.]

 

Scene 3 - Josh's House

 

[Parents grunt and stumble around, consumed by phones. Kids sneak in.]

 

Emma: Mom and Dad are completely nombified! What do we do?

 

Josh: We have to resist the phones! It's the only way!

 

[Josh smashes family phones. For a moment the parents blink, looking normal.]

 

Dad: Kids? What happened? I feel like I was in a trance...

 

[Then Dad's eyes glow red again. He lurches towards the kids as eerie music plays.]

 

Lucy: Look out! Your dad's still a nombie!

 

[Kids scream and run offstage. Sinister nombie groans fade.]

 

FIN