PipeDreams
stories from the building of the Trans-Alaska pipeline
Fairbanks Drama Association
devised written directed
“Pipedreams” provides a rare opportunity for Anchorage patrons to see the work of Riccio, one of the most captivating actors and directors in Alaska. It also will be a great chance to relive the pipeline buzz.
Anchorage Daily News
Riccio has put together a talented ensemble of performers to take on the task of telling some incredible stories. Its’ easy to picture some of the older performers working on the pipeline because they actually did—thus they aren’t acting as much as they are simply reminiscing.
"Pipedreams is a play that Alaskans in all parts of the state should see.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
from PipeDreams
WHITE HAT We’re getting a lot of flap about personal use of company aircraft lately. But they’re not going to catch me, I covered my tacks with the right paperwork. Last month I took one of the camp secretaries, a cute red head in purchasing, on a mid-day date in a chopper. The pilot set us down on this high, pretty peak, the prettiest in Brooks Range peak he could find. It was so clear you could see for hundreds of miles in every direction. The broad spread out a blanket and we had a picnic on the top of the world! It was great, a basket with Champagne, French cheese and bread, Maine lobster and chocolate muse for desert. Just last week I took another secretary on a corporate jet returning empty from Fairbanks to Anchorage. I told her I was taking her out to dinner and a movie. I picked her up and took her to the airport to show her this “really cool corporate jet.” You should have seen her face when I told the pilot to take off for Anchorage! From the opposite side
SLIM enters with a wrench and is detected by WHITE HAT.
SLIM I finished my job so what do you want me to do now?
WHITE HAT I don’t know, just make yourself look busy. SLIM So sometimes I would just roam around because there was nothing to do.
WHITE HAT Keep your self busy, Slim.
SLIM So I grab a wrench and roam in a way that made it look like I was doing something. Several men and women enter walking in a out, around, with tools, shovels, brooms, lumber, pipe, whatever, in hand, trying to look busy.
TEX HOWELL Go up one building and down the other. FLASH Visit with people and go to another building.
SLIM Do that for 12 to 16 hours, sometimes for days.
TEX HOWELL Up one building down and out the other.
WHITE HAT Just make it look like you are doing something. SLIM So I grab a wrench and roam in a way that made it look like I was doing something. It was that kind of place.
TEX HOWELL Go up one building and down the other. Sometimes you waited for days in a bus for equipment.
FLASH Visit with people and go to another building. Wait for somebody to make a decision.
SLIM Do that for 12 to 16 hours, sometimes for days. Until somebody would bump their head in the morning and come up with an idea.
HOWELL Up one building down and out the other. WHITE HAT Just make it look like you are doing something.
SLIM (to audience) You do whatever the boss tells you don’t question even though you know different and its wrong. It was like a military operation.
PipeDreams script pdf