THIS LOOKS BETTER
Looking for Full Length comedy. 2 males (middle-age, 18) 3/4 females (30's,40's). New theatre company that needs to make a big impression for first show. If well known play or playwright, even better

It's On - It's Off by Ray Lawrence, 2M, 4F, - however, the ladies would have to stretch their ages up and down!

Hi Maureen,

I can't quite get to 2m, 4f ... best we can offer is 3m, 4f as follows ...

Dancing With Auntie (3m, 4f) by Bill Cronshaw
When teenager Barry invites his new girlfriend to the family Christmas party, she has a catalytic effect on the rest of the household, bringing to the fore a secret that has been hidden for many years. Barry's father has some explaining to do to his niece and his son in an attempt to atone for his actions. A beatifully crafted, wickedly humorous play.

Pretzels For Dinner (3m, 4f) by Janet Shaw (Strong language & content)
Annie and Bill have been married for 40 years during which time he has been the 'lord and master'. Even after death, he maintains a presence and keeps her on her toes. Only she can see and hear him, until finally she decides that she doesn't need him anymore.

... you can download free preview files from our website to get a feel for each of them.

Blithe Spirit comes to mind, but has that only got one bloke in it?

Maureen

You could try a number of John Godber plays if "northern humour" appeals to you.
Lucky Sods springs to mind, but I believe alot of his plays have a cast of 6 to 8 people.

Party Piece by Richard Harris, who wrote Stepping Out and Outside Edge is also a favourite of mine - 3m/4w.

No, two blokes. I forget the names but there's the central character and the doctor who comes round for the seance. However, I think there are five female characters.

sounds good but I don't think the character will suit an 18 year old. This is my problem you see



Party piece sounds great but I have only 2 males and 1 is only 18. Difficult one

Maureen

I don't know this play, but it might suit? Certainly a GI would be at the younger end of the spectrum.

All's Fair
~ Frank Vickery - M2,F4

Set in the wartime Rhondda, this poignant comedy captures the frustrated humanity of life in the Welsh Valleys in 1942. Dilys is in love with an American GI and Sophie, frustrated at being unmarried is happy to settle for Dily's dull brother. Mother is nearing the end of her life and Brenda is teetering on the brink of adolescence. An astute observation of female relationships.

I do know a couple of his other plays, one of which , the comedy "Family Planning", I quite like.

Thanks guys for the suggestions guys but please keep them coming. I'm researching

The House on The Cliff (mystery rather than comedy) by George Batson

and The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson

are both 2M, 4F. I can't remember the ages.

"The Memory of Water" is great, but both males are much older than 18.
One is 40's, the others 30's to 40's, I think.

Yes, one of them is the husband of the oldest of the sisters, the other is married with children.
You'd need your 18-year-old to be very mature!

John Godber's Gym & Tonic may suit - does include a younger male role (around 18 I think).

I am not a Godber fan but I will open my mind to this. Trying to get more info on Blithe Spirit. Could the doctor be played by an 18 year old?

Maureen

Another possibility might be Amanda Whittington's "Ladies Day".
It has 4 women - 20's to 40's, but you could stretch a bit.
It also has 6 men, but these are written to be played by 1 man, so maybe you could divide these between
your 2 men, using the most appropriate ones for your 18 year old.
It also has a simple sylised set as the scenes move locations, so it's largely carried by the dialogue and acting, which might be handy if you're budget-conscious.

"An exuberant comedy about four likely lasses from the Hull fish docks on a day trip to the races, from the author of Be My Baby.

Work, love and life are just one long, hard slog for the fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. But their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York.

Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off to the races for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot - and more besides...

'With its Yorkshire heart and soul it has all the warmth of a Calendar Girls or a Full Monty' Yorkshire Post

'Exuberantly up-to-the-minute comedy' Guardian"

French's Have quite a few. I don't know about the age range through.

Abigail's Party.
Office Suite
Secretary Bird
Loose Ends

and there's more

Abigail's Party - both men are 30's - 40's.
Don't know any of the others...

He would certainly need aging, just from the fact that he's a Doctor and therefore gone through years of training, he's also friends with the main male. It's a wonderful play, but I suspect your ages arn't really suitable.

Good review with more information here - http://www.musicomh.com/theatre/blithe-spirit.htm

Lots of information about the film here - http://lean.bfi.org.uk/material.php?theme=...e=blithe_spirit

Little more about the play here - http://www.ericdsnider.com/theater/blithe-spirit-1/

I watched the movie last night. Our Director isn't sure that he likes it as it is quite a classical style. Thanks for all your ideas. I'm thinking of Neils Simon's "The Good Doctor" and "The Memory of Water" We do want to try and find a well known play or playwright as this is our first production and we have no reputation yet. I think we have a tall order.

give him an "acting challenge" and draw in some lines on his face!

teehee

Not sure what your time deadline is. I have one act of of a full length (two act) farce
2M, 2F but could be more. Could be a few more weeks though before it's finished.
But you seem to want something already produced?
One male could be any age would play a number of parts as they only appear once.