Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: I'm back, and I'm looking for a farce

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StaceySue
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Topic: I'm back, and I'm looking for a farce
Posted: 4/13/12 at 11:27pm

I'm a high school director, and I have been thinking about shows for next fall. I would like to do a farce suitable for high school, so no f-bombs, please. You guys always put me on the path that ultimately leads to my show, so I thought I would ask again.

I am open to other ideas, too. I don't think I'm ready for a musical this year. Funny and heartwarming would also work.

I'd like to keep the cast at 10 or fewer, but I could be persuaded to do a little larger with the right play.

We've done Faith County, A Bad Year for Tomatoes, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon--one act, Christmas one-acts by Don Zolidis, and Almost, Maine. We did Almost, Maine last year, and it was well-liked by the audience. The kids enjoyed the mood of the play, if that makes sense.

I just thought I would ask for some input. Thanks, you guys teach me so much!

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edh915
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Posted: 4/14/12 at 12:44pm

Super old fashioned farce (early 1900's):
"Charley's Aunt" (7m, 4w), by Brandon Thomas - Samuel French
College chums want to spend an afternoon with their girlfriends, but they need a chaperon. They persuade another guy to pretend to be his "Aunt" from Brazil "where the nuts come from". Needless to say, complications arise.

Old fashioned farce (1940's):
"See How They Run" (6m, 3w), by Philip King - Samuel French
"Galloping in and out of the four doors of an English Vicarage are an American actor and actress, a cockney maid who has seen too many American movies, an old maid who "touches alcohol for the first time in her life", and four men in clergyman's suits - one of whom (which one!?!!) is an escaped prisoner."

Modern farce:
"Love, Sex, and the IRS" (5m, 3w), by William Van Zandt & Jane Milmore - Samuel French
Two guys, Jon and Leslie, are roommates. Jon does the bookkeeping. In order to save money, he has filed their income tax as "Married, Filing Jointly" with Leslie listed as Jon's wife. The IRS comes to inspect the happy "couple" (Leslie donning a "not-very-flattering" wig and dress) on the same afternoon that a mother, a fiancee, an ex-girlfriend, a nosy landlord and a suspicious clergyman all show up - each pursuing their own agenda.

Edited by edh915 - 4/14/12 at 12:47pm

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edh915
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Posted: 4/14/12 at 12:55pm

One more thought:
"Boeing, Boeing" (1960's):
Handsome playboy has three or four girlfriends - all flight attendants on different airlines. He's got their flight schedules memorized so there's no overlap in their "off" time. Then the airlines transition to jetliners instead of old fashioned prop planes, the schedules begin to overlap, and (as the TV Guide listing might say) "hilarity ensues."

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edh915
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Posted: 4/14/12 at 7:01pm

Funny and Heartwarming:
"Somewhere In Between" by Craig Pospisil - Dramatists Play Service

Written for 3m, 3w with plenty of doubling.
I did it with 6m, 4w and a little doubling.

Romance in the big city in ten scenes, with two people maybe finding their other half. Flexible set. Several episodes leading to the happy ending. Stuck in the Elevator with a manic nut. Coffee room talk about how to find a date. Picking up a girl in the bookstore. Riding the subway in NYC. Meeting at a party. The first date. The homeless guy at the bus stop in the rain. Misunderstandings and complications. Resolution. --- Great set pieces for "characters". Sharp and funny. Similar in mood and texture to "Almost, Maine".

Edited by edh915 - 4/14/12 at 7:03pm

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Dramagurl214
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Posted: 4/14/12 at 11:21pm

Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa by Michal Jacot (Eldridge), it's about these three grand kids that live with their grandpa. Their grandpa is always telling their neighbors the three are trying to kill him for their in inheritance. (62 dollars and a postercard collection). At the b-day party grandpa falls face flat into the cake and the three realize it looks like murder, so they go through all this trouble to keep a nosy detective away from their apartment. my theatre's considering it right now along with

the Fruitcake by Dwayne. Yancy(Brooklyn/Heuer Publishing). That one was about a nutty family. That's how I perfectly describe that one. The cast for both are at max is 9

Edited by Dramagurl214 - 4/14/12 at 11:23pm

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donzolidis
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Posted: 4/14/12 at 11:36pm

A new play of mine, "The Bold, The Young, and the Murdered" might fit your program. Here's the blurb:

"The long-running soap opera The Bold and the Young is in its last days: its hunky hero has self-esteem issues, its villainous old man is more interested in soup, and its heroines are slightly psychopathic. The executive producer gives the squabbling cast an ultimatum: Complete one episode overnight or the show dies. But when the director ends up murdered, and other cast members start dropping like flies, it seems like his threat might actually come true. Can these misfits discover the murderer before the show is literally killed off?"

Cast of 13 - you can read it here online:

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2304

If you're possibly interested in something I didn't write (sounds crazy, I know) I'd check out:

The Nerd, by Larry Shue

The Foreigner, by Larry Shue

Noises Off (quintessential hilarious play)

and maybe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (not a farce, but very funny nonetheless)

www.donzolidis.com

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KeeKeeDee
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Posted: 4/15/12 at 12:01am

I really like Ken Ludwig (check spelling) and Lend Me a Tenor
OrMoonOverBuffalo

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StaceySue
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Posted: 4/15/12 at 12:40pm

Wow, thanks everyone! I knew you would come through. I will do some reading.

I did part of The Foreigner in forensics in high school. I think I have a book of it at school. I will read it again. It's been about 20 years.

The set of Noises Off scares me a little. I will read it, though.

Thanks edh915, donzolidis, dramagurl, and KeeKeeDee for the suggestions. I will take a look. I was hoping someone would give me a starting place.

Please keep suggestions coming if you have them....

Edited by StaceySue - 4/15/12 at 12:54pm

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pdavis69
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Posted: 4/16/12 at 8:16am

The Foreigner is a fantastic show. There was some talk on either this site or another chatroom where people complained about the inclusion of the Klan in the show. People did not want them glorified. My opinion was and still is the Klan is portrayed as bumbling idiots and clearly the bad guys. It's a great show.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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Ogreking4
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Posted: 4/18/12 at 2:48pm

"Funny Money" by Ray Cooney is very funny (I read it and didn't think it was great, but when we put it on, it was hilarious...) .... Also "Run for Your Wife" by him is great (and it's sequel "Caught in the Net").

You might check out "Squirrel Lake" by Brian Mitchell... very good.

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

Topic: I'm back, and I'm looking for a farce
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Author	Message
StaceySue Walk-On Joined: 8/12/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Topic: I'm back, and I'm looking for a farce Posted: 4/13/12 at 11:27pm
	I'm a high school director, and I have been thinking about shows for next fall. I would like to do a farce suitable for high school, so no f-bombs, please. You guys always put me on the path that ultimately leads to my show, so I thought I would ask again. I am open to other ideas, too. I don't think I'm ready for a musical this year. Funny and heartwarming would also work. I'd like to keep the cast at 10 or fewer, but I could be persuaded to do a little larger with the right play. We've done Faith County, A Bad Year for Tomatoes, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon--one act, Christmas one-acts by Don Zolidis, and Almost, Maine. We did Almost, Maine last year, and it was well-liked by the audience. The kids enjoyed the mood of the play, if that makes sense. I just thought I would ask for some input. Thanks, you guys teach me so much!

	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 4/14/12 at 12:44pm
	Super old fashioned farce (early 1900's): "Charley's Aunt" (7m, 4w), by Brandon Thomas - Samuel French College chums want to spend an afternoon with their girlfriends, but they need a chaperon. They persuade another guy to pretend to be his "Aunt" from Brazil "where the nuts come from". Needless to say, complications arise. Old fashioned farce (1940's): "See How They Run" (6m, 3w), by Philip King - Samuel French "Galloping in and out of the four doors of an English Vicarage are an American actor and actress, a cockney maid who has seen too many American movies, an old maid who "touches alcohol for the first time in her life", and four men in clergyman's suits - one of whom (which one!?!!) is an escaped prisoner." Modern farce: "Love, Sex, and the IRS" (5m, 3w), by William Van Zandt & Jane Milmore - Samuel French Two guys, Jon and Leslie, are roommates. Jon does the bookkeeping. In order to save money, he has filed their income tax as "Married, Filing Jointly" with Leslie listed as Jon's wife. The IRS comes to inspect the happy "couple" (Leslie donning a "not-very-flattering" wig and dress) on the same afternoon that a mother, a fiancee, an ex-girlfriend, a nosy landlord and a suspicious clergyman all show up - each pursuing their own agenda. Edited by edh915 - 4/14/12 at 12:47pm
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edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 4/14/12 at 12:55pm
	One more thought: "Boeing, Boeing" (1960's): Handsome playboy has three or four girlfriends - all flight attendants on different airlines. He's got their flight schedules memorized so there's no overlap in their "off" time. Then the airlines transition to jetliners instead of old fashioned prop planes, the schedules begin to overlap, and (as the TV Guide listing might say) "hilarity ensues."
	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 4/14/12 at 7:01pm
	Funny and Heartwarming: "Somewhere In Between" by Craig Pospisil - Dramatists Play Service Written for 3m, 3w with plenty of doubling. I did it with 6m, 4w and a little doubling. Romance in the big city in ten scenes, with two people maybe finding their other half. Flexible set. Several episodes leading to the happy ending. Stuck in the Elevator with a manic nut. Coffee room talk about how to find a date. Picking up a girl in the bookstore. Riding the subway in NYC. Meeting at a party. The first date. The homeless guy at the bus stop in the rain. Misunderstandings and complications. Resolution. --- Great set pieces for "characters". Sharp and funny. Similar in mood and texture to "Almost, Maine". Edited by edh915 - 4/14/12 at 7:03pm
	IP Logged

Dramagurl214 Walk-On Joined: 3/19/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 4/14/12 at 11:21pm
	Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa by Michal Jacot (Eldridge), it's about these three grand kids that live with their grandpa. Their grandpa is always telling their neighbors the three are trying to kill him for their in inheritance. (62 dollars and a postercard collection). At the b-day party grandpa falls face flat into the cake and the three realize it looks like murder, so they go through all this trouble to keep a nosy detective away from their apartment. my theatre's considering it right now along with the Fruitcake by Dwayne. Yancy(Brooklyn/Heuer Publishing). That one was about a nutty family. That's how I perfectly describe that one. The cast for both are at max is 9 Edited by Dramagurl214 - 4/14/12 at 11:23pm
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donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 4/14/12 at 11:36pm
	A new play of mine, "The Bold, The Young, and the Murdered" might fit your program. Here's the blurb: "The long-running soap opera The Bold and the Young is in its last days: its hunky hero has self-esteem issues, its villainous old man is more interested in soup, and its heroines are slightly psychopathic. The executive producer gives the squabbling cast an ultimatum: Complete one episode overnight or the show dies. But when the director ends up murdered, and other cast members start dropping like flies, it seems like his threat might actually come true. Can these misfits discover the murderer before the show is literally killed off?" Cast of 13 - you can read it here online: http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2304 If you're possibly interested in something I didn't write (sounds crazy, I know) I'd check out: The Nerd, by Larry Shue The Foreigner, by Larry Shue Noises Off (quintessential hilarious play) and maybe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (not a farce, but very funny nonetheless)
	www.donzolidis.com
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KeeKeeDee Player Joined: 8/08/07 Location: Japan Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 4/15/12 at 12:01am
	I really like Ken Ludwig (check spelling) and Lend Me a Tenor OrMoonOverBuffalo
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StaceySue Walk-On Joined: 8/12/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Posted: 4/15/12 at 12:40pm
	Wow, thanks everyone! I knew you would come through. I will do some reading. I did part of The Foreigner in forensics in high school. I think I have a book of it at school. I will read it again. It's been about 20 years. The set of Noises Off scares me a little. I will read it, though. Thanks edh915, donzolidis, dramagurl, and KeeKeeDee for the suggestions. I will take a look. I was hoping someone would give me a starting place. Please keep suggestions coming if you have them.... Edited by StaceySue - 4/15/12 at 12:54pm
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pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 4/16/12 at 8:16am
	The Foreigner is a fantastic show. There was some talk on either this site or another chatroom where people complained about the inclusion of the Klan in the show. People did not want them glorified. My opinion was and still is the Klan is portrayed as bumbling idiots and clearly the bad guys. It's a great show.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

Ogreking4 Player Joined: 2/25/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Posted: 4/18/12 at 2:48pm
	"Funny Money" by Ray Cooney is very funny (I read it and didn't think it was great, but when we put it on, it was hilarious...) .... Also "Run for Your Wife" by him is great (and it's sequel "Caught in the Net"). You might check out "Squirrel Lake" by Brian Mitchell... very good.
	IP Logged