Big Bang Parody (Level 4)

(THEIR TEENAGE YEARS)

Age group: Level 4

SYNOPSIS

The end of the school year is approaching in Pasadena High School. Leonard, Penny, Howard, Bernadette, Raj and Amy are in 11th grade, whereas Sheldon is in his senior year already. The play starts with the boys and girls discussing their plans for the upcoming prom.

Sheldon and Amy are dating, but he wouldn’t admit to it. Amy wants to go to prom, but Sheldon thinks it’s a stupid party. Amy is upset because she knows it’s going to be Sheldon’s last year in high school and she really wants to attend the ball with her (sort of) boyfriend.

Howard and Bernadette have just started dating (Howard had been pursuing her for months!), but they have some issues regarding Howard’s mom and their different religious backgrounds, as Howard is Jewish and Bernadette is a Catholic girl.

Penny and Leonard have been secretly dating for almost a year (they got together during the summer holidays), because Penny doesn’t want to damage her reputation. She’s a popular girl at school and she doesn’t want to be associated with the nerds. Penny is looking for a hot date to bring to prom, while Leonard feels very sad about the whole thing. How can he get back at Penny?

Raj is too shy to ask girls out and he suffers from selective mutism, so he’s getting worried that he might end up all alone for the prom. Luckily for him, the new exchange student seems to like him and she doesn’t say a word in English… What will happen in the end? Will the couples solve their problems? Will Raj find love?

CHARACTERS

Teen Sheldon: 16, tall, gangly, dark hair, pale, with a passion for physics, high IQ

Teen Leonard: 16, short, dark hair, black framed glasses, hoodies, loves physics

Teen Howard: 17, bowl haircut, skinny pants, bright colors, loves spacecrafts

Teen Raj: 17, Indian, dark-skinned, black hair, shy, loves astronomy and physics

Teen Penny: 16, pretty blonde, straight hair, slim, perky, popular, good at sports

Teen Bernadette:16, petite blonde, chic dark glasses, cross necklace, loves biology

Teen Amy:16, straight dark hair, thick glasses, old-fashioned clothes, loves science

MINOR CHARACTERS

Stuart:17, comic books fan, awkard social skills, low self-esteem, Bernadette’s date

Leslie: 16, loves physics, plays the cello, high IQ, up-front, Leonard’s prom date

Jeanie: 16, Howard’s second cousin and his mom’s choice for the prom

Ayumi: 16, female Japanese exchange student, great smile, doesn’t speak much

Troy: 17, football player, good-looking, shallow, low IQ, Penny’s prom date

OPTIONAL CHARACTERS

Mary Cooper: Sheldon’s mom, may appear in Scene 1 and is referred to in Scene 6

Mrs. Wolowitz: Howard’s mom, we can only hear her voice (screaming) in Scene 5

CHARACTER OBJECTIVES

Sheldon: In spite of his extremely high IQ he has an inability to relate emotionally with people, therefore he doesn’t understand Amy’s desire to go to prom with him. He only follows logical explanations and is unable to grasp irony or sarcasm. He suffers from a minor obsessive compulsive personality disorder, which is causing him some trouble in high school. He can’t wait to go to college and study theoretical physics.

Leonard: Despite being part of the nerds, he’s the more well-adjusted of the gang. He’s sweet but sarcastic and he plays the cello in the school orchestra. He’s been in love with Penny since freshman year, but they only got together last summer. He wants his friends to know about him and Penny and he wants her to be his date for the prom. He only asks Leslie, his fellow celloist, out of spite.  

Howard: He’s cheeky and believes that he has a way with women. However, it took him several months to finally date Bernadette. He wants to take her to prom, but he’s too afraid of his overbearing mom, who wants him to date his second-cousin Jeanie instead. Howard doesn’t really care about religion, so the fact that he’s Jewish and Bernadette’s a Catholic doesn’t bother him, if it were not for his mom.

Raj: He comes from a rich family in India and he’s a bright student. The problem is that he suffers from Selective Mutism, which prevents him from talking to women outside his family. He can only do so by taking meds or drinking alcohol. He often uses Howard as a communication tool, since he is extremely shy. He wants to find a date for the prom dance. Lately, he has taken a liking to the exchange student.

Penny: She’s one of the school’s most popular girls. She used to hang out with the cool kids, but thanks to Bernadette she met the nerds and she eventually became friends with all of them. She even started dating Leonard over the summer holidays, but she's still scared of what her cool friends might think if they found out. She wants to keep dating Leonard secretly, while going out with someone else (hotter and more popular) for the prom.

Bernadette: She's been friends with Penny since freshman year. Then, she met Howard and the rest of the gang and she introduced them to Penny. She didn't want to go out with Howard at first, but now that they're together she's really happy. She doesn't mind that he's Jewish and she's Catholic, even though her faith is very important to her. She'd love to be his prom date, but she asks Stuart out to get back at Howard for having chosen Jeanie.

Amy: She's the female version of Sheldon, and even though he insists that she's only a friend who happens to be a girl and not his girlfriend, they have been "dating" since sophomore year. Sheldon is about to leave school and Amy wants to be his date on this special occasion. It's always been her dream to be dressed as a princess (tiara and all) and she's determined to go to prom with or without him.

CLASS PREPARATION

For larger classes, different groups of students could perform the main roles (2 or 3 scenes each), with individual students perfoming the minor or optional roles.

SCENE BREAKDOWN

Scene 1: Sheldon's house

Living room. After school. The boys and girls sit at their usual spots on Sheldon's couch. His mother brings them milk and Oreos. They discuss everyone's plans for the upcoming prom and some problems arise between the couples.

Scene 2: School cafeteria

School cafeteria. Lunch break. The boys and girls sit at different lunch tables and reflect on what happened the previous day. Raj sees Ayumi, the exchange student, and says that he finds her attractive. Meanwhile, Penny looks at Troy, the football player, and thinks he could be a good match for her.

Scene 3: Comic book store (boys only)

Inside the comic book store. After school. The guys talk to Stuart, the owner's son, about the latest comics. Raj says he won't be able to ask Ayumi out due to his inability to speak to girls. Leonard confesses that he's asked fellow celloist Leslie to be his date. Howard fears his mom has already set him up with his second-cousin Jeanie. Sheldon declares that he won't even show up for prom.

Scene 4: Penny's house (girls only)

Penny's bedroom. After school. The girls try some outfits for the prom dance. Penny and Bernadette help Amy improve her looks. She's wearing a princess-like gown with a tiara on her head. Penny says that she's agreed to going out with Troy. Bernadette confesses that she might ask Stuart out to get back at Howard. Amy declares that she's going to prom with or without Sheldon. 

Scene 5: Howard's house

Dining room. Dinner time (later in the day). Howard's mother has invited everyone over for dinner because she had brisket leftovers. Everyone explains who they're bringing as their prom dates and there's a big argument between the three couples. Raj keeps eating while the others are fighting. We can hear Mrs. Wolowitz's voice screaming from the kitchen.

Scene 6: School prom

Prom night. School's sports hall. Raj glances at Ayumi, Amy dances by herself and Sheldon is a no-show. Howard, Bernadette, Leonard and Penny pretend to be having a great time with their mismatched dates. Suddenly, Sheldon enters the room, holds Amy's hand and takes her to the dance floor. Sheldon tells Amy that his mother convinced him that it was the right thing to do, as their "Relationship Agreement" dictates that they should keep each other company at important social events. On seeing that, all the friends decide to step up: Raj smiles at Ayumi, Howard and Bernadette gaze into each other's eyes, Leonard and Penny stare at one another and they all go to the dance floor.  The play ends with everyone in the gang dancing and having a good time.