Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Rarely done comedy?

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Capra_Fan
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Topic: Rarely done comedy?
Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:31pm

So it is time for me to pick out our Thespian Society's next play...and as always It is a chore. Basically, I refuse to do anything that is not funny especially in these hard times and the more surprising the better. Quirky, Witty, Heart Warming, LOL funny, Light hearted and Contemporary are the main things I am looking for. Any ideas? I had thought about a mystery for a while because it is an easy pleaser but it has to be something people haven't heard of (ie don't know the mystery going into it) and not one set in England. Also plays that are in a rural or non-city setting work best because our community is a rural one and the venue is an old redwood hall originally built as a church in the 1800s.

Anyway any suggestions are appreciated but I realize I am highly picky!

Thanks,

Gloria

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pdavis69
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Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:34pm

The Foreigner by Larry Shue.

Set in a resort-style fishing lodge in rural Georgia, the comedy revolves around two of its guests, Englishman Charlie Baker and Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur. Charlie is so pathologically shy that he is unable to speak. As way of explanation, Froggy claims his companion is the native of an exotic country who does not understand a word of English. Before long, Charlie finds himself privy to assorted secrets and scandals freely discussed in front of him by the other visitors. These include spoiled but introspective heiress and Southern belle Catherine Simms and the man to whom she is somewhat reluctantly engaged,and impregnated by, the Reverend David Lee, a seemingly humble preacher with a dark underside. Her younger brother, Ellard, a chubby and somewhat "slow" boy (often thought of as a young Forrest Gump) is a simpleton who tries to teach Charlie how to speak English. Owen Musser, the racist county property inspector, plans to oust property owner Betty Meeks and convert the lodge into a meeting place for the Ku Klux Klan.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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Capra_Fan
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Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:58pm

Hmm that does sound interesting...I will look into that.

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edh915
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Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:58pm

How about "Escanaba in da Moonlight"? - Always seems to get great audience reaction.

If you're close to the holidays, there's a sweet show called "FrUiTCaKeS" by Julian Wiles. Although there's no reason you can't do it at any time of the year.

Them's my two thoughts.

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donzolidis
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Posted: 3/21/11 at 5:29pm

The Foreigner is a very funny show, to my mind, not as funny as The Nerd, but definitely hilarious. (Not exactly rarely done, though.)

Another not-exactly-rarely-done show that would work very well for you is Almost, Maine by John Cariani. It's a series of two person scenes in rural Maine that are quirky, funny, and sure to induce awwwws in the audience.

And I've written lots of plays that get done in high schools all the time. If you're looking for a murder mystery I can send you a copy of my newest play, The Bold, The Young, and The Murdered (just accepted for publication) - it's a murder mystery on the set of a soap opera where the cast attempts to continue to filming the episode. If you're interested in reading the script, email me and I can send you a copy for free.

Good luck!

Don

www.donzolidis.com

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Martin
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Posted: 3/22/11 at 5:53am

My new murder mystery, The Man in Seat 24 or (The Uninvited Guest), has a cast of 15- 8 females and 7 males- and is published by Brooklyn Publishers.
Synopsis: An irate, rude, and combative theatre patron (in your audience!) hijacks the cast, the crew, and his fellow theatre-goers and winds up stone cold dead at center stage. The Man in Seat 24 Or (The Uninvited Guest) is a murder mystery, a play-within-a-play, where a harried and frazzled theatre director investigates a murder--during a night of theatre gone wrong--and realizes that there is more to this evening’s performance than meets the eye.
Note: There is an optional audience participation section in Act 2 and five imbedded actors in the actual audience.
Good luck in your search,
Martin

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pdavis69
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Posted: 3/23/11 at 8:37am

I will definately second Escanaba in da Moonlight by Jeff Daniels. With Escanaba, you have to have a cast that clicks perfectly together. One player who is "off" can doom the show. However if you can get five guys who click just right....heaven.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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jenkins
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Posted: 3/24/11 at 1:05pm

Noises Off is hysterical - if you can handle the set.

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sguti39
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Posted: 3/30/11 at 10:29pm

Check out Chapter Two it is a lesser known Neil Simon play with only 4 characters, but if you have good actors it is a funny show.

S.G.

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Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Author	Message
Capra_Fan Walk-On Joined: 3/19/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Rarely done comedy? Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:31pm
	So it is time for me to pick out our Thespian Society's next play...and as always It is a chore. Basically, I refuse to do anything that is not funny especially in these hard times and the more surprising the better. Quirky, Witty, Heart Warming, LOL funny, Light hearted and Contemporary are the main things I am looking for. Any ideas? I had thought about a mystery for a while because it is an easy pleaser but it has to be something people haven't heard of (ie don't know the mystery going into it) and not one set in England. Also plays that are in a rural or non-city setting work best because our community is a rural one and the venue is an old redwood hall originally built as a church in the 1800s. Anyway any suggestions are appreciated but I realize I am highly picky! Thanks, Gloria
	~

	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:34pm
	The Foreigner by Larry Shue. Set in a resort-style fishing lodge in rural Georgia, the comedy revolves around two of its guests, Englishman Charlie Baker and Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur. Charlie is so pathologically shy that he is unable to speak. As way of explanation, Froggy claims his companion is the native of an exotic country who does not understand a word of English. Before long, Charlie finds himself privy to assorted secrets and scandals freely discussed in front of him by the other visitors. These include spoiled but introspective heiress and Southern belle Catherine Simms and the man to whom she is somewhat reluctantly engaged,and impregnated by, the Reverend David Lee, a seemingly humble preacher with a dark underside. Her younger brother, Ellard, a chubby and somewhat "slow" boy (often thought of as a young Forrest Gump) is a simpleton who tries to teach Charlie how to speak English. Owen Musser, the racist county property inspector, plans to oust property owner Betty Meeks and convert the lodge into a meeting place for the Ku Klux Klan.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

Capra_Fan Walk-On Joined: 3/19/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:58pm
	Hmm that does sound interesting...I will look into that.
	~
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edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:58pm
	How about "Escanaba in da Moonlight"? - Always seems to get great audience reaction. If you're close to the holidays, there's a sweet show called "FrUiTCaKeS" by Julian Wiles. Although there's no reason you can't do it at any time of the year. Them's my two thoughts.
	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 3/21/11 at 5:29pm
	The Foreigner is a very funny show, to my mind, not as funny as The Nerd, but definitely hilarious. (Not exactly rarely done, though.) Another not-exactly-rarely-done show that would work very well for you is Almost, Maine by John Cariani. It's a series of two person scenes in rural Maine that are quirky, funny, and sure to induce awwwws in the audience. And I've written lots of plays that get done in high schools all the time. If you're looking for a murder mystery I can send you a copy of my newest play, The Bold, The Young, and The Murdered (just accepted for publication) - it's a murder mystery on the set of a soap opera where the cast attempts to continue to filming the episode. If you're interested in reading the script, email me and I can send you a copy for free. Good luck! Don
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

Martin Player Joined: 4/02/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 3/22/11 at 5:53am
	My new murder mystery, The Man in Seat 24 or (The Uninvited Guest), has a cast of 15- 8 females and 7 males- and is published by Brooklyn Publishers. Synopsis: An irate, rude, and combative theatre patron (in your audience!) hijacks the cast, the crew, and his fellow theatre-goers and winds up stone cold dead at center stage. The Man in Seat 24 Or (The Uninvited Guest) is a murder mystery, a play-within-a-play, where a harried and frazzled theatre director investigates a murder--during a night of theatre gone wrong--and realizes that there is more to this evening’s performance than meets the eye. Note: There is an optional audience participation section in Act 2 and five imbedded actors in the actual audience. Good luck in your search, Martin
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 3/23/11 at 8:37am
	I will definately second Escanaba in da Moonlight by Jeff Daniels. With Escanaba, you have to have a cast that clicks perfectly together. One player who is "off" can doom the show. However if you can get five guys who click just right....heaven.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

jenkins Player Joined: 1/31/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Posted: 3/24/11 at 1:05pm
	Noises Off is hysterical - if you can handle the set.
	IP Logged

sguti39 Player Joined: 8/02/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Posted: 3/30/11 at 10:29pm
	Check out Chapter Two it is a lesser known Neil Simon play with only 4 characters, but if you have good actors it is a funny show.
	S.G.
	IP Logged