THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
A SUPERHERO NOIR OF THE FUTURE
BY VINCENT S. HANNAM
Los Angeles, 1948. The top negotiator for the underworld moonlights as a masked vigilante while solving the mystery behind his partner’s murder. Clues are unraveled and loyalties tested when an evil android arrives from the future, determined to destroy our hero and all of humanity.
5-9 actors; flexible casting; one act
Science Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Superhero, Action
SELECT REVIEWS
“Sci-fi, superhero, film noir – Hannam mixes a lot of great ingredients
and surprises into this script.” – Samantha Marchant, NPX
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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| ARMANDO FONTAINE/ THE MIDNIGHT PHANTOM: | An underworld negotiator moonlighting as a masked vigilante. Sincere, moody, vulnerable. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. 30s. |
| CAIN HUNTER: | An android from the future, bent on human destruction. Scheming, merciless, evil. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. 30s. |
| DOROTHY: | An android seeking protection from HUNTER. Sweet, intelligent, doesn’t understand humor. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. Teenager. |
| SAMANTHA (SAM) O’DAY: | A reporter and ARMANDO’s informant. Serious, sassy, likes jazz. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. 20s-40s. |
| NICK ESPOSITO/ EL NIÑO: | A two-bit mobster. Brash, arrogant, inflated sense of self. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. 20s-40s. |
| ALICIA BAINBRIDGE: | ARMANDO’s secretary and HUNTER’s informant. Cunning, flirtatious. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. 20s-40s. |
| LIEUTENANT DIXON: | Chief of the police force. Loud, bombastic, sweaty. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. 30s-60s. |
| MAX SWANSON: | ARMANDO’s junior partner. Impulsive, determined, out to prove himself. Any gender. Any race/ethnicity. Teens-20s. |
| RADIO ANNOUNCER/ RADIO VOICE: | Prerecorded or not. Double cast with NICK. |
Notes:
Character genders are flexible. Please change character pronouns accordingly.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
- Professional/Streaming, Rogue Theatre Festival, New York City, 2022
- High School, Gateway High School, 2008
