Our Blog / Script Spotlight: The Keeper of Pigeons - A Farce in One Act by Henry P. Gravelle
Script Spotlight: The Keeper of Pigeons - A Farce in One Act by Henry P. Gravelle
What is a Keeper of Pigeons? Court page Lovett is given the unnecessary title for managing Castle Brahm’s messenger birds in exchange for keeping his mouth shut about the forbidden romance between Lord Frigg’s daughter Portia and Horace, another lowly page in the court.
That’s right; it’s a 40-minute farce. “The Keeper of Pigeons” is a ten-character lark full of castle intrigue about secret romances, arranged marriages, and how many pigeons it takes to send a quick message to the king. With straightforward sets, props, and costumes, it might make the perfect, achievable production for a middle- or high-school drama group.
Prolific writer Henry P. Gravelle loves a good farce, describing the spirit of “The Keeper of Pigeons” as Sir Galahad meets Mel Brooks. Two of his favorite Mel Brooks farces include the films “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles.”
It’s not surprising Gravelle references the movies. In addition to writing one-act plays and numerous books, the main focus of Gravelle’s career has been on screenwriting. For three years, the Boston native wrote and directed his own films for a local, award-winning cable show called “The Playhouse Theater.” He’s written 30 short-film screenplays, as well as 14 full-length features.
One of those screenplays—a horror movie called “Bogieville”—is scheduled to release this year on streaming services worldwide. Gravel describes the month he spent in England watching the filmmakers bring his story and characters to life (and back from the dead) as a fantastic ride.
The Keeper of Pigeons - A Farce in One-Act
By Henry P. GravelleLovett, a lowly court Page discovers his friend and another lowly Page in the arms of Castle Brahm's Lord Frigg's daughter, Lady Portia he is offered the newly created position of Keeper of Pigeons for his silence. Unexpectedly, the King's rude son, Prince Gilbert, arrives demanding Lady Portia's hand in marriage. The Keeper of Pigeons acts swiftly sending messages to the King by his Pigeons informing him of the Prince's demands. The angry King then commands the Prince to leave Castle Brahm. Lovett is promoted to Squire and Horace's request for Lady Portia's hand is granted by a grateful Lord Frigg.
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The Crafty One - Comedy In One Act
By Henry P. GravelleMillie discovers Aunt Cassandra, who suffers from dementia, is also a witch who has placed a hex on her live-in boyfriend Edgar. Unfortunately, Cassandra cannot remember how to reverse it. Millie agrees to help and learns how to place a hex of her own creating unwanted results.
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Loving Jesse - Tragic Comedy in One-Act
By Henry P. GravelleA man hopes the unusual behavior of his wife is just a passing phase but begins to realize a real problem is brewing.
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Scriptmore Blog: Books for Playwrights
No matter how many plays you have written or how long you’ve been writing, we can always get better at our craft. One way to do that is to read and study great books about playwriting from the experts. We recently had a great discussion on the Scriptmore Facebook group [link to join] about the best books for playwrights. Our community members offered so many good recommendations that we decided to collect them all in one place and share them on the blog. Check out the books below to find one that’s new to you—and feel free to contact us with more recommendations if you have a favorite!
Script Spotlight: The Keeper of Pigeons - A Farce in One Act by Henry P. Gravelle
"The Keeper of Pigeons" is a 40-minute farce about court page Lovett, who manages castle pigeons to cover up a secret romance. Full of humor, intrigue, and simple production needs, it's perfect for school drama groups. Written by Henry P. Gravelle, the play combines medieval adventure with Mel Brooks-style comedy.
Script Spotlight: Richly Poisoned - A Comedy in Two Acts by Thomas Nelson
Curious about the comedic chaos in "Richly Poisoned," a hilarious farce by Thomas Nelson? This blog dives into the play’s quirky characters, absurd situations, and even offers funny tips on how actors can convincingly "play dead" on stage.