Overview
A play with music about people dying to live. At Riverdale Manor, a retirement community in the Bronx, seniors contemplate the possibility of dying from a broken heart, if divorce is even worth it at a certain age, and when is the right time to have sex again. A talent show, with the promise of cake for dessert, sets the scene for a series of life-changing vignettes that debate what to do with the time we have left.
Casting & Production
Casting
FRANK, seventy-two, gay tailor from the Midwest. He was married to a woman and had a child. He “came out” in his late 20’s when he thought it was finally safe. He met his husband, Brobson, at Gay Pride and they’ve been together ever since.
ANGELINA, sixty-eight, married to Morty, works part-time from home as a bookkeeper. She was born and raised in the Bronx and never left. She’s never been anywhere out of New York because, well, what’s the point? She speaks in a thick Bronx accent.
MORTY, sixty-nine, married to Angelina, recently retired from his job as a taxi dispatcher. Born and raised in the Bronx and shares the same philosophy as his wife about not going anywhere else…ever. He speaks in a thick Bronx accent.
LILY, seventy, widow, former human resources executive. Pageant girl from Georgia. She loved to go out to clubs in her day and really let loose. She is bold, yet introverted. She knows just about everyone in the community, but, since her husband died, has very little patience for most of them.
ROBERT, seventy-one, divorced, former professor of mathematics at Fordham University. He’s book smart, but has never excelled at picking up on social cues, especially with women. He secretly always wanted to be a dancer.
BROBSON, sixty-five, gay, married to Frank, former nurse and amateur musician. originally from New Orleans and still retains the accent. He spends his spare time golfing and playing piano with theatrical flare.
EDITH, eighty-one, married to Joe, former gal Friday turned housewife. The quintessential old Jewish lady, but tough as nails. She’s got balls and is a stylish dresser, but hard of hearing.
JOE, eighty-three, immigrant, married to edith, former union foreman, quintessential old Jewish man who worked hard all his life and would like nothing more than to leave the Bronx for Florida. He doesn’t see very well, even with glasses.
DENISE, sixty-eight, widow, Lynn’s sister, clinical psychologist, still working. She lives alone and sees patient at her house as well as serving as the resident psychologist at Riverdale Manor. She’s a workaholic and a breast cancer survivor.
RICHARD, seventy-two, married to ellen, former high school gym teacher, has early-onset dementia. He’s always trying to be funny, using humor as a way to deal with his memory issues. He has a thick Brooklyn accent, which makes most people think he’s dumb.
LYNN, sixty-four, partner of Susan, former executive assistant, originally from Brooklyn, streetwise and a hopeless gossip. She has recently reclaimed her love for baton twirling.
SUSAN, sixty-three, partner of Lynn, former housewife, cheerleader. originally from the Midwest, she is gullible, but not naïve and wise without knowing it.
MARY, sixty-seven, widowed, italian, Catholic and bitter. Former docent with the MeT and has a passion for opera. Tone-deaf.
PADDY, seventy, originally from ireland and has retained the accent. Widower, former cop.
CAROL, a “certain” age, divorced, from the Midwest. She came to new York with a dollar and a dream and
was gullible enough to believe that she would make it on Broadway. After dancing burlesque for years, she finally booked a Broadway show as a chorus girl.
DR. MILLER, sixty-five, the resident doctor at Riverdale Manor. He was once considered a great cardiologist, but the older he gets, the more misdiagnoses he seems to deliver.
ELLEN, seventy, married to Richard, who has dementia. Former Director of Librarians for the nY Public Library system. Very intelligent and private. She has a faint trace of a new York accent, but has mostly straightened it out over time because she thought it made her sound dumb.
ALICE, seventy-two, originally from Arkansas, wheelchair bound, married to Lou, former marketing director. She is not loving retirement life because it reminds her of how much she hasn’t done. She is focused on having fun and wants to travel more than anything else.
LOU, seventy-two, married to Alice, veteran, former lawyer. He never made partner, but not because he wasn’t good enough. He just didn’t want the responsibility. He was making a fine living and that was good enough for Lou. He is content to mill about the community until he dies.
SHOW ANNOUNCER (for cast of 5 only), Announcer. He’s our “Johnny” of the evening, but is certainly not a professional announcer. He just happened to miss the last meeting of the entertainment committee and was assigned the job.
Note:
This play works best when performed with a minimum of 6 actors (3W, 3M) and a maximum of 19. It can be done with 5 actors, (3W, 2M) but will require an alternate script with voice-overs introducing the talent show acts in order to allow enough time for costume changes in certain places.
Setting
Place
Riverdale Manor Retirement Community.
Time
Riverdale, NY. Present Day.
Reviews
“A rare, authentic story about growing old.”
—Portland Press Herald
“Senior Living revels in simplicity, sweetness, and a healthy dose of schtick.”
—Portland Phoenix
Media
