Flannel Sheets and a John Deere Poster

Hellbent in a Northwoods Cabin

Download "Hellbent in a Northwoods Cabin" Excerpt (pdf)
https://newplayexchange.org/plays/2671972/hellbent-northwoods-cabin
Explosive Drama. 2F/2M. R.

Synopsis

It all starts innocently enough when on the afternoon of November 19th, 2021, four coworkers are thrown together in a hunting cabin in the Wisconsin Northwoods on this, the very day that Kyle Rittenhouse has been found not guilty of fatally shooting two people during the Kenosha unrest of 2020. One of the four is an interloper, a fish out of water who has no business being there. As they discover unnerving truths about each other, including how they are each uniquely connected to the events in Kenosha, hostilities are sparked, alliances form and break, and everyone is put in jeopardy. How destructive can polarizing values become on a personal level? These four coworkers are about to find out.

Cast

DANA Female. White. 40s.
MARLENE Female. White. 40s.
EUGENE Male. Black. Mid-30s – 40s.
ADAM Male. White. 30s – 40s, younger than Eugene.


Production History

October 2024 Workshopped with local actors, Tisch Mills, Wisconsin.
August 2024 Workshopped with local actors, Slinger, Wisconsin.
August 2023 Staged Excerpt Reading, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, Illinois.


Commentary from Theatregoers and Readers

This play took off like a rocket and never slowed down until the fireworks exploded in a burst that left me slack-jawed and wanting even more.
With an even hand, Ruyle gives us compelling characters, thought-provoking viewpoints, brutal conflict, and a blazing, witty humor that oils the whole machine. Really an amazing story with rich, compelling roles.
I come to the theatre to be entertained, to have fun. Or to be challenged, disturbed even. But always, I want to be surprised. Flannel Sheets and a John Deere gave me all that and more.
A terrifying glimpse into what can happen when people close their minds and lose their ability to respect each other. Breathtaking. Shocking. Brilliant. I couldn’t look away.
Ruyle starts with four fascinating characters, all Wisconsin factory workers, and throws them into a hunting cabin that becomes a cauldron. The humor bubbles as the conflict boils, and the stew is so damn good!