# Plot Armor

## Metadata

- Slug: plot-armor
- Type: Full-length Play
- Genre: Comedy
- Acts: 2 acts
- Duration: 90–120 minutes
- Cast:
  - Medium (7-14)
  - Large (15+)
- Cast Summary: 3m, 4f, 3 any, 4-15+ ensemble any gender
- Movement Requirements: Minimal
- Technical Requirements: Highly flexible
- Performing Groups:
  - Community Theatre
  - College/University
  - High School/Secondary
- Primary Image: https://content.uproartheatrics.com/viwt8s3ussd89lzrboed5h8chfrs

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## Authors

- By Don Zolidis (author slug: don-zolidis)

## Licensing

“Plot Armor” by Don Zolidis is available for licensing exclusively through Uproar Theatrics for community, college/university, and high school productions.

To request a license: https://www.uproartheatrics.com/shows/plot-armor/license

## Overview

The starship *Venture* might be cursed. On every away mission a random crew member seems to die, even as its charismatic captain, logical science officer, and Scottish engineer emerge unscathed. Can the non-senior crew members band together to live through the increasingly ridiculous threats, or will they need to stage a mutiny in order to survive?

Don Zolidis' hilarious parody sends up the conventions and beloved characters of our favorite long-running space TV show, culminating in an epic showdown between the higher ranking crew and the expendables. The gloriously low-tech production style makes the jokes sing even more, because sock puppet aliens are funnier than non-sock puppet aliens. Beneath all that mayhem, the play has a few bigger questions up its sleeve about power, free will, and whether the universe is quite what it seems.

*Don Zolidis has given his permission for licensees to cut lines and/or scenes as necessary to meet festival or competition's time requirements without seeking prior approval from Uproar. Lines must still be performed sequentially as written, and words may not be changed or substituted without prior written approval.*

## Cast

### A note on casting

For the smallest cast: This play can be done with a cast of 14 – The 10 principal actors, and four additional actors who can be assigned roles as follows:

Actor 1:  Alien 1 – Alien 2 – Computer - Todd - The Evil Idol – Apian 2 - Jamila
Actor 2: Swenson – Gamman 1+4, Loofan 1 – The Scotsman
Actor 3: Valencia – Gamman 2+5, Loofan 2 
Actor 4: Mooney – Gamman 3+6, Loofan 3 

For a larger cast: Additional aliens may be added. Additional crew members may appear in the mess hall scenes. Please don’t split up the roles of the Gammans into 6 actors though.

| Name | Description |
| ---- | ---- |
| THE SENIOR OFFICERS: | CAPTAIN ALPHONSE KRILL: The dashing, handsome Captain of the Starship Venture. He’s a little hotheaded, a little out of control, and incredibly lucky. Checks his hair a lot. Has probably had an affair with an alien female on every planet the Venture has visited. (he/him)

FIRST OFFICER JEDIAH: Cold, analytical. A Vegan, (from the planet Vega, but also chooses not to eat animal products, so that’s a nice coincidence). Has strange alien ways, but looks very similar to a human with perhaps some pointy eyebrows or ears. (she/her)

THE SCOTSMAN: Head of Engineering. Has a thick Scottish brogue. Highly emotional. Wears a kilt. (he/him) 

ZZ’VK’ZZ: Chief Science Officer. Zz’vk’zz is an artificial being created by a collective of super-intelligent bugs working together. Full of neuroses as well as bugs. (we/us, they/them) (pronounced Zi-Vuk-Ziz, but everyone has a hard time with it). Zz’vk’zz wears a full face mask of some kind. 

TRACY LATTIMORE: Head of Medical/Ship’s Counselor. A Tetrazoid, which looks totally human except maybe some head bumps. Able to sense emotions. Has a Live, Laugh, Love sign in the infirmary. Probably evil. (she/her) 
 |
| THE CREW: | 

TONI: Human. Works in procurement. Still isn’t all that sure what that is. Just trying to make to make it through the day. Trying to keep a low profile. (he/him) 

SI’ENNA: An Apian, which is basically a space bee. She looks human except for little antennae. Pretty cynical. (she/her)

WEEMS: Hates everything. Works in maintenance. Talks trash in private and sucks up in public. Would be pretty happy if the whole ship exploded. (any gender)

BENTLEY: Human. On his last job. An exobiologist. Has seen everything. An expert at blending into the background at the right time. (any gender) 

QUOVIS: A Centarian. (Which is basically a human except blue.) Her first day. Probably the most positive creature you’ve ever met. Just waiting for her chance to go on an away mission. (she/her). An exo-archaeologist.
 |
| OTHER CHARACTERS: | 
THE TECH PERSON – generally controls the planets and spaceship models. The Tech Person should also provide some sound effects for things. 

SWENSON
VALENCIA
MOONEY 
ALIEN 1-2
COMPUTER (off-stage voice)
GAMMANS 1-6 (sock puppets) 
TODD (sock puppet) 
EVIL IDOL
LOOFANS 1-3 
APIAN 2
JAMILA, Captain of the Starship Badger
 |

## Materials

### Available for additional fee:

| Name | Description |
| ---- | ----------- |
| 60-Minute Talkback with the Creator | A 60-minute Zoom/Google Meet with the show's creator. Licensees and guests can ask questions, share experiences, and hear about the artistic journey of the show and creative team. This can be scheduled before or after the performances. If we are unable to make scheduling work, the cost will be refunded. |
| Video Recording License | License to create an archival recording of the show that may be distributed to the cast and crew. This does not allow publicly posting the performance. |