A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Solitaire

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  2w, 3m

"There's an air of Tennessee Williams in O'Neill's writing with its
strong focus on things Southern, colorful characters, family infighting,
down-to-earth feelings and a strong sense of Southern values… This is a
superb story, one that is well crafted by the author and one that
captures you through the excellent work of the storytellers on stage." -
The Slidell Sentry-News, Slidell, LA

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Not Applicable
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! American Embassy and Fulbright Invitations to the American Center in Paris and the Tristan Bates Theatre, London

Details

Summary
Solitaire is a tour de force comedy about inheritance in the style of Oscar Wilde, Chekhov, Tennessee Williams. Matriarch Irene Dubonnet must decide whom to leave her money to and whom to destroy. Her exotic Mississippi Gulf Coast estate is the unforgettable place being fought over by decadent but glamorous relatives, vacationing on her compound one hour from New Orleans! Funny situations sparked by witty lines bring the audience into an intriguing overview of topsy-turvy privileged life in the Gothic Deep South.
IRENE DUBONNET (MIMI)- 60s; strong, stylish widow of one month; wears a hat cocked over one eye, a neck smothered with pearls, a 5-caret solitaire; Irene dresses young—dying her hair a richer version of red to offset her violet eyes—and flashing a fan, color coordinated to each outfit, against the heat; Irene could pass for forty.
ROOSTER DUBONNET (ROO) - 30; her son, an artist and a dreamer with the boyish charm of a college freshman; very careless; Rooster appears pale, sickly, with flushed cheeks and locks of hair tumbling in disarray over his forehead; an uncertainty is at the center of all his choices; Rooster forgets to change his clothes.
QUINT LEGERE - 45; Irene’s son-in-law, a driven accountant; very neat; no matter what Quint wears, his broad shoulders and smooth tan make him look first class; Quint changes his shirt four times a day to keep crisp in the summer; Quint feels it’s important to dress your best when you feel your worst.
BUNKY - 20; the only son of Quint and ex-wife Kitten Dubonnet Legere; nonchalant and seductive in blue jeans and boots, he refuses to relate to school; he wears a tee-shirt which reads, “Protect Wild Life. Throw a Party;” Bunky is a rebel—with a wild streak of fun. He quells his passion for adventure by absorbing himself in blues music and busywork for his relatives.
JASMINE RUSH - 36; adopted daughter of Irene Dubonnet, glamorous actress; dresses outrageously—over the edge of Italian fashion—with heavy eye make-up and ensembles contoured to her body and legs; the most famous hand model in the world, Jasmine needs help doing ordinary things like opening bottles, zipping gowns, dialing the phone—so she won’t rip a nail.
  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Additional Features Not Applicable
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"After a round of spontaneous ovation, the audience then clapped thunderously in unison and rushed to performers…" - Metro News, The Times-Picayune

"There's an air of Tennessee Williams in O'Neill's writing with its strong focus on things Southern, colorful characters, family infighting, down-to-earth feelings and a strong sense of Southern values… This is a superb story, one that is well crafted by the author and one that captures you through the excellent work of the storytellers on stage." - The Slidell Sentry-News, Slidell, LA

Photos

  • Solitaire

    Image: Courtesy of Rosary O'Neill

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

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Authors

Rosary Hartel O'Neill

Rosary Hartel O’Neill is the author of 25 plays, 18 published by Samuel French, Inc., and four books of nonfiction. The fourth edition of her text The Actor’s Checklist is used in schools nationwide.

Her book New Orleans Voodoo: A Cultural History (co-written with Rory Schmi ...

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