The Cry of the Peacock

Book By: Billy W. Boone
Play #: 2369
Pages: 42 pgs
Cast: 3 m, 4 w, 10 flexible

Young Mary Blanton has suffered some kind of trauma as evidenced by her monster-filled dreams and the horrific scratches on her neck and back. Who did this to an innocent 9-year-old girl, a child who finds comfort through an imaginary pet peacock? Dr. Janice Todd is called before a review board to defend her investigation of the child abuse case. She recounts her discoveries and interviews with the Blanton family, and scenes of Mary’s recent past are brought painfully to life. Three judges, staged as omniscient, skeptical shadows, and several surreal nightmare monsters who taunt and terrify, bring Mary’s abuse into stark scrutiny. In memories and revelations, the line between fact and fiction blurs, leaving one grasping for the truth. The truth that monsters are real, living among us, hiding behind the faces of the people we know and trust. Inspired by real-life tragedy.

 

"Cry of the Peacock" Music and Sound Effects by Billy Boone. Effects include Mary's Music Box; Discord Violin; Mary's Voices in Her Head; various screams, and more. #2369T

 

APPROVED UIL OAP short list of permissible productions for the one-act play contest.

 

Winner in UIL OAP contests April 2015: 8 Honorable Mentions All-Star Cast members, 12 All-Star Cast members, 4 time recipient of Best Crew for Lighting and Sound, 1 Best Actress. Judge's responses to the play: "Best new one-act I have seen in years." "Blends the lighting and sound so intricately with the acting and costumes, that it creates an intriguing but yet terrifying experience, that brings the nightmare of child abuse to life on stage." "The scariest show I've seen on stage." "This show is so important because it sheds light on the secret sickness of our society. The dirty, evil things that no one wants to talk about." 

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Cry of the Peacock *Sound FX - $19.95

Productions

BYNUM ISD 1 Performance(s)
BYNUM, TX 4/26/2024
HUBBARD ISD 1 Performance(s)
HUBBARD, TX 4/13/2024
BYNUM ISD 1 Performance(s)
BYNUM, TX 3/23/2024
CY-FAIR HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 7 Performance(s)
CYPRESS, TX 3/20/2024
NORTH COUNTRY UNION HIGH SCHOO 1 Performance(s)
NEWPORT, VT 3/16/2024
CUMBY ISD 1 Performance(s)
CUMBY, TX 3/9/2024
HARLAN THEATRE (HARLAN HIGH SCHOOL) 4 Performance(s)
SAN ANTONIO, TX 3/7/2024
HUBBARD ISD 2 Performance(s)
HUBBARD, TX 2/28/2024
ROMA HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 1 Performance(s)
ROMA, TX 2/10/2024
CHURCH HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 1/19/2024
MOREHEAD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
EDEN, NC 12/1/2023
SUGAR LAND MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
KATY, TX 10/19/2023
EAST NOBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KENDALLVILLE, IN 5/22/2023
NAVARRO MS 2 Performance(s)
HOUSTON, TX 5/19/2023
FORREST DENBOW 1 Performance(s)
ARLINGTON, TX 5/12/2023
WEBSTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
UPPERGLADE, WV 3/31/2023
DENVER CITY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
DENVER CITY, TX 3/8/2023
PSJA EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SAN JUAN, TX 3/4/2023
SANFORD-FRITCH HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
FRITCH, TX 2/21/2023
ROUND ROCK ISD 3 Performance(s)
ROUND ROCK, TX 2/11/2023
CARTER RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
FORT WORTH, TX 2/10/2023
FAIRVIEW JR HIGH/CTRL DIST 2 Performance(s)
ALVIN, TX 11/12/2022
PERSHING MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HOUSTON, TX 11/5/2022
HOUSTON ISD- UIL ACADEMIC DEPT 2 Performance(s)
HOUSTON, TX 11/5/2022
BATESVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
BATESVILLE, AR 10/21/2022
ANDERSON-SHARO CISD 5 Performance(s)
ANDERSON, TX 3/18/2022
LA VERNIA HIGH SCHOOL 5 Performance(s)
LA VERNIA, TX 3/5/2022
ABERNATHY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ABERNATHY, TX 3/1/2022
CROSBYTON CISD 3 Performance(s)
CROSBYTON, TX 3/1/2022
HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL 6 Performance(s)
HAWKINS, TX 3/1/2022
DE LEON HIGH SCHOOL 6 Performance(s)
DE LEON, TX 2/27/2022
GEORGE-LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
GEORGE, IA 1/22/2022
NORTH SARGENT SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
GWINNER, ND 11/21/2021
BAYARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
BAYARD, NE 11/19/2021
TORRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
TORRINGTON, WY 11/18/2021
KAFFIE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 11/18/2021
GLENROCK HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
GLENROCK, WY 11/17/2021
KAFFIE MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 11/12/2021
TIOGA MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TIOGA, TX 11/9/2021
STANTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 7 Performance(s)
STANTON, NE 11/5/2021
NORTH SARGENT SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
GWINNER, ND 10/27/2021
WEATHERFORD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WEATHERFORD, TX 10/15/2021
WEATHERFORD ISD 1 Performance(s)
WEATHERFORD, TX 10/14/2021
ROCK HILL THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
PROSPER, TX 3/3/2021
WELLMAN-UNION 3 Performance(s)
WELLMAN, TX 2/19/2021
WELLMAN-UNION 1 Performance(s)
WELLMAN, TX 2/5/2021
PICKENS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
JASPER, GA 1/15/2021
HALLSVILLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HALLSVILLE, TX 1/14/2021
CRAWFORD SCHOOLS ONE ACT PLAY 1 Performance(s)
CRAWFORD, NE 11/24/2020
SPARTAN THEATRE COMPANY 2 Performance(s)
DOUGLASVILLE, GA 11/20/2020
WILKES PLAYMAKER 1 Performance(s)
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC 3/27/2020
OCEAN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 3 Performance(s)
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 1/10/2020
PINSON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PINSON, AL 12/7/2019
BRACKEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
BROOKSVILLE, KY 11/3/2019
PINSON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PINSON, AL 11/2/2019
STRASBURG HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
STRASBURG, VA 10/28/2019
LOCUST GROVE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LOCUST GROVE, GA 10/18/2019
CANTERBURY SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FORT MYERS, FL 10/16/2019
DICKINSON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DICKINSON, ND 5/2/2019
BLUM HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
WACO, TX 3/7/2019
1 Performance(s)
MERTZON, TX 3/6/2019
LITCHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LITCHFIELD, MN 1/24/2019
IOWA VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
MARENGO, IA 1/19/2019
CARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CARRINGTON, ND 11/19/2018
NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MAPLE, WI 11/2/2018
TIFTAREA ACADEMY INC. 1 Performance(s)
CHULA, GA 11/1/2018
CARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CARRINGTON, ND 11/1/2018
CASTLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CASTLEWOOD, VA 10/20/2018
MIAMI CORAL PARK SENIOR HIGH 2 Performance(s)
MIAMI, FL 5/30/2018
ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ROBINSON, TX 3/29/2018
ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ROBINSON, TX 3/19/2018
WILSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WEST LAWN, PA 3/16/2018
COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
COLUMBUS, TX 3/15/2018
MITCHELL HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MITCHELL, NE 12/15/2017
NIWOT HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NIWOT, CO 5/2/2017
WHITLEY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WILLIAMSBURG, KY 4/13/2017
SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC HIGHSCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SPRINGFIELD, MN 1/27/2017
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
JEFFERSON, TX 12/4/2016
SOUTHERN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
OXFORD, NE 11/7/2016
GREENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
GREENWOOD, WI 10/22/2016
SKYVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
NAMPA, ID 5/22/2016
EUREKA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
EUREKA SPRINGS, AR 4/29/2016
CHS THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
BISMARCK, ND 4/3/2016
WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WINGER, MN 3/15/2016
MAGNET ACAD FOR CULTURAL AR 4 Performance(s)
OPELOUSAS, LA 3/10/2016
MAGNET ACAD FOR CULTURAL AR 1 Performance(s)
OPELOUSAS, LA 2/26/2016
SFISD 3 Performance(s)
FRITCH, TX 2/15/2016
HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HANCOCK, MN 1/30/2016
FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FISHER, MN 1/29/2016
FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FISHER, MN 1/20/2016
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
REIDSVILLE, NC 1/8/2016
NORFOLK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
NORFOLK, NE 11/18/2015
TORRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
TORRINGTON, WY 11/12/2015
FLASHER PUBLIC SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FLASHER, ND 11/11/2015
AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
DAVID CITY, NE 11/11/2015
CARLSBAD SCH WAREHOUSE 2 Performance(s)
CARLSBAD, NM 10/27/2015
SHIRLEY A HALL MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WEATHERFORD, TX 2/27/2015
SABINE ISD 8 Performance(s)
GLADEWATER, TX 2/20/2015
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HOOVER, AL 2/4/2015

Behind The Scenes

PLAYWRIGHT BILLY W. BOONE TALKS ABOUT HIS PLAY

THE CRY OF THE PEACOCK

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A: Abuse hits home for me. I grew up seeing the affects abuse had on a family member and have often thought about what causes someone to hurt another person, especially a child. What kind of monsters must live in our world, hiding under the skin of the ones we love, for such harm to be done to innocent children? I first addressed the subject of child abuse in play entitled 'Unraveled" in 2009. I was able to partner with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to use the play as a platform to bring child abuse awareness to the panhandle of Texas. The play even garnered a write up in the Amarillo Globe Newspaper. After writing and producing the play, I felt a cathartic release and thought that I was finished with the subject, but it was not to be. In 2011, as I was working as a theatre teacher, our small town was rocked by the loss of a pre-kindergarten student due to physical abuse. That night all the memories of abuse came flooding back: the anger, the rage, and the bitterness. All I could do was hold my daughter tight and tell her I loved her. As the details regarding what had transpired came to light, it was evident that so many people could have intervened and prevented this boy's death, but did not. Good people, honest people, well-meaning people, turned a blind eye. The thought that one phone call could have kept this child alive has haunted me since. Then, one night in the fall of 2012, I dreamed I was watching a premiere of my own play. In my dream, the play was about a little girl haunted and attacked by demons. This dream, this play, was so vivid and real, that when I woke up I got out my computer and wrote the final scene of this play. When I finished typing, I had this very vivid, rather terrifying final scene, however, that was all that was there for many months. Then in the spring 2014, I had another dream. This time, it was the first scene set between the teacher and Mary. As with the previous dream, it was real and vivid. As I did months before, I woke up and furiously typed the scene. Once I had the beginning and the end, the body of the play was born out of the anger and frustration I had in me toward my childhood and the father of the murdered child. Much of the play was born out of this tragedy. The anger and frustration I felt was poured into this piece, because I have seen that monsters are real. They hide behind the faces of the people who should love and care for us. Yes, I know that monsters are very real, very real indeed.

 

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

A: From Dr. Todd - Scene 10, pg. 36 "Life is more than what can be counted and measured, quantified and qualified. We think that we are so advanced, so smart, no riddle that we cannot solve with science. Truth? There is one truth I now know. The truth is that once upon a time, a beautiful little girl drew me a picture of her best friend, and I took that away from her. I did what those boys never could, I killed Charlie. Not with stones, but with science. I killed him where he truly lived... in her heart. And I will live with that shame for the rest of my life."

 

 

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

A: This play was first approved for the 2014-2015 TX HS UIL OAP contest, receiving special approval for a bed with casters as a set piece.

 

If you are considering performing this play, please include your local CPS hotline information in the program. If we are to err, it should always be to err on the side of protecting the child, not the adult.