A socially awkward college senior finds a kindred spirit while taking the questionable advice of a tenured professor. A newly minted resident playwright sweats her latest production while her devoted husband tries to keep her sane. A frazzled new mother and her last remaining single friend envy each other’s lives. A mismatched pair of medieval monks try to find peace or a good conversation, depending on who you ask. This ensemble comedy follows the interwoven tales of family, friends and lovers trying to survive the absurdities and indignities of academia, art and adulthood through banter and baked goods. After all, in this unpredictable world, we all need someone to share cake with, even when we want to shove it in their face.
(9 Actors – 5 women, 4 men)
CYNTHIA NEWTON, a playwright, late 20s
TOM, her husband, late 20s
LOIS, Cynthia’s mother and an English Professor, late 50s
RON, Cynthia’s father, late 50s
IZZY, a college student
GABE, a college student
JAKE, a college student
JENNIE, Director of PR at the University, 30s
JULIE, a mother and a Theatre Professor, 30s
JAN, an Interviewer (Voice over only), 20s
BROTHER TIMOTHY, a monk (played by same actor as RON)
BROTHER PHILIP, a monk (played by same actor as GABE)
CAKE was first Produced by Theatre Unleashed in the fall of 2015 at the Belfry Stage in North Hollywood, under the direction of Lisa K. Wyatt.
Script available by request (use contact form below) or at The New Play Exchange
“WOW!…delightful…offering audiences the enjoyable challenge of fitting together puzzle pieces that together add up to 95 minutes of fun (with a dash of drama thrown in for good measure)…a play and production that showcase…Soroka’s gift for creating interesting, complex, surprising characters…”
Tracy Collins and Brad Griffith. Graphic by Jenn Scuderi Crafts.
“…you’ll be surprised, charmed and hysterically moved by this very crafty and clever play.”
Theresa Stroll. Graphic by Jenn Scuderi Crafts.
Kiré Horton. Graphic by Jenn Scuderi Crafts.
“… Soroka’s 21 swift scenes (averaging four minutes) push one another along, plotwise. But — making the ride worthwhile — they’re also linked thematically, in a quiet progression that has us, at the end, pondering the value of empathy. CAKE moves fast, with no wasted moments, like a TV chef. And it’s consistently amusing. But what emerges from the oven is no sugary confection — it’s a nourishing reflection on how we learn to treat one another.”
Lee Pollero. Graphic by Jenn Scuderi Crafts.
“…CAKE finds its form with its incredibly dynamic and relatable characters. Showcasing men and women at various stages of life – college, parenthood, career, and beyond – the play focuses on our ability to be fulfilled, to accomplish our goals, to find companionship, and to simply be understood. Greater than these aforementioned destinations, though, is the play’s focus on our journey to reach those milestones and the connections that we make in order to cope, survive, and, hopefully, not strangle each other in the process. From two college students lost in their goal-oriented paths to a new mother and her career-minded best friend noting that the grass is always greener, the audience is treated to a slice-of-life examination of what makes them tick, how they get by each passing day, and what makes it all worth it. Admirably, with complex and intelligent female characters layered throughout CAKE …a production that isn’t afraid to put women at the forefront.”