A Slice of the Blarney

Full Length Play, Dark Comedy / 3m, 4f

Shannon O'Leary is on his death bed. He is a multi-millionaire who knows that his family is just waiting for him to die to see who inherits his fortune. One by one the "faithful" relatives show up and circle like vultures, just waiting. Shannon knows this, but still hopes that there is at least o…

Cast Size
3m, 4f
Duration
120 minutes (2 hours)
Subgenre
Farce, Christmas/Holiday
Accolades
Not Applicable
Target Audience
- Appropriate for all audiences
- Adult
- Senior
- Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13)
- Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Additional Info

Shannon O’Leary is on his death bed. He is a multi-millionaire who knows that his family is just waiting for him to die to see who inherits his fortune. One by one the “faithful” relatives show up and circle like vultures. Shannon knows this, but still hopes that there is at least one of them who really loves him. His last request is for an authentic Irish wake, a wish that gets fulfilled in Act Two – sort of.

Keywords

Death, Parenting/Family

Considerations

Performing Groups

High School/Secondary
College Theatre / Student
Community Theatre
Dinner Theatre
Professional Theatre
Senior Theatre

Cautions

No Special Cautions

License details

Minimum Fee: $90 per performance

Production

Details

Time Period: Present Day
Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
Setting: Shannon O’Leary’s house, in a town right outside of Manhattan.
Additional Features: Not Applicable
Features / Contains: Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes

Music

Musical Style: N/A (Not a musical)
Chorus Size: No Chorus

Casting

3m, 4f

SHANNON O'LEARY - 60-65, crotchety old man
DOUGLAS O'LEARY - 40s-50s, loud mouth; Shannon’s brother
KATIE O'LEARY - 20s, sweet, caring; Shannon’s youngest daughter
ARLENE O'LEARY – 50s, headstrong; Shannon’s ex-wife
SHARON O'LEARY - 30s, gypsy-like, fun; thinks she’s psychic; Shannon’s daughter
PATRICK O'LEARY - 20s, chip on his shoulder; Shannon’s son
COLLEEN SULLIVAN - 30s; pleasant, especially toward Shannon; Shannon’s maid

See all +

Cast Attributes

Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)

Resources

Scripts

Authors

Kitty Burns

Kitty Burns grew up thinking she was 100% Irish Catholic; then, to her surprise, at 18 years of age, she found out that she was only 50% Irish Catholic. The other 50% was Russian Jew! With an identity crisis like that, she figured that she should get into something sensible and rational that would give ...

View full profile

A Slice of the Blarney was first produced by the Vagabond Players in Burbank, California in 1999. Later, it was the first play to be produced at the Haas-Lilienthal House at the Historical San Francisco Museum, where it opened on March 17, 2002.

A Slice of the Blarney

A Slice of the Blarney