20 Summon The Dead - Chili Columbo

Scripts-Aloud

"Summon the Dead," explores generational trauma, family secrets, and the quest for healing. We follow Tina Leary, a psychic who uses a shortwave radio to communicate with the deceased. The radio, once used by her CIA spy mother, Martha, becomes the conduit for a client, Maria Columbo, to seek answers from the other side.

Maria is troubled by her past and the state of her family, including a daughter she calls a "whore" and a son a "lazy bastard". She wonders where her life "went wrong" and whether it was her fault. Through Tina’s psychic reading, Maria learns of a "dark energy" between her deceased younger sister, Emma, and their father.

The drama escalates when Tina helps Maria use the radio to confront her deceased mother, Cecilia "Chili" Columbo. Maria discovers a shocking family history involving abuse and secrets that reveal the source of her family's long-standing dysfunction. The play delves into how buried truths can impact lives for decades and the difficult journey of confronting them to find closure. The episode raises questions about accountability, motherhood, and the price of silence.

The major themes are generational trauma, family secrets, and the search for truth and healing.

Generational Trauma

The play explores how trauma, particularly abuse, is passed down through generations. Maria's own struggles with her children and husband mirror the dysfunctional family dynamic she grew up in. She believes her life "went wrong" because of a single past event, and the revelations about her father's abuse of her sister and herself show the deep-seated impact of her family's history. Maria's mother, Chili, also alludes to her own difficult past and the pressure to please men. The play suggests that the cycle of abuse and unhappiness continues until someone, like Maria, confronts the painful truth to find a "new way to think about" her own kids.

Family Secrets and the Past
A significant theme is the weight of buried family secrets. Both Tina and Maria work to uncover a past that has been hidden and ignored. Maria herself admits she "didn't want to look" and "couldn't face it" when she suspected something was wrong6. Tina's use of her psychic abilities and the radio allows the characters to confront these secrets head-on. The radio serves as a literal and metaphorical tool for connecting with the past to gain clarity on the present. The play emphasizes that understanding the past is crucial for moving forward, even if the truth is painful.

The Search for Truth and Healing

Maria's journey is a quest for truth and, ultimately, healing. She seeks answers to a central question: "When did I get screwed? Was it really my fault?"10. Her initial session with Tina reveals the "dark energy" and the possibility of abuse. The subsequent communication with her mother, Chili, confirms her suspicions, however painful the conversation is. Despite the terrible revelations, Maria expresses gratitude because now she knows the truth and can begin to "unpack it all". The play suggests that while the truth may not be easy, it is a necessary first step toward breaking free from the past and finding a path to healing.