A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Four Old Broads

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  6w, 1m

“If The Golden Girls was rebooted today, it would look much like Four Old Broads, a clever geriatric comedy.” – Carolina Curtain Call

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Not Applicable
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior

Details

Summary

Retired burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton desperately needs a vacation – and NOT another trip up to Helen, Georgia to see that “precious little German village for the umpteenth time.” A Sassy Seniors Cruise through the Caribbean may be just the ticket if she can just convince her best friend, Eaddy Mae Clayton, to stop praying and go with her. Unfortunately, things have not been very pleasant at Magnolia Place Assisted Living since Nurse Pat Jones began working there. The newest resident, Imogene Fletcher, is suddenly losing her memory. Maude Jenkins is obsessed with her favorite soap opera and planning her own funeral. Sam Smith, retired Elvis impersonator, keeps trying to bed every woman in the building. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the gals try to outsmart the evil Nurse Pat Jones and figure out why so many residents have been moved to “the dark side,” what exactly IS that mysterious pill, and what happened to Doctor Head? Hilarity ensues as Imogene goes undercover and Maude enters the Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Pageant to throw Pat off their trail. If they can solve the mystery, they may make it to the cruise ship after all.

History
Four Old Broads premiered at the Winder Barrow Community Theatre in Winder, Georgia in March 2017 under the direction of Léland Downs Karas. The first professional production premiered at Centre Stage Greenville in Greenville, South Carolina in September 2017.
Cast Attributes

BEATRICE SHELTON – A former burlesque star with an attitude – Senior Citizen
EADDY MAE CLAYTON – A former nurse and “religious” lady – Senior Citizen
IMOGENE FLETCHER – The newest resident at Magnolia Place – Senior Citizen 
PAT JONES – A rude and pushy nurse – 40s–50s 
MAUDE JENKINS – A funeral and soap opera obsessed frump – Senior Citizen
SAM SMITH – Retired Elvis impersonator and Casanova – Senior Citizen 
RUBY SUE BENNETT – A quiet, romance novel loving nurse – 30s

Note: Although written with senior actors in mind, the roles of the four old broads and Sam can be played by any aged actor through the magic of theatrical make-up.

Although written with senior actors in mind, the roles of the four old broads and Sam can be played by any aged actor through the magic of theatrical make-up.

  • Time Period 1990s
  • Setting

    Magnolia Place, a Senior Assisted Living Community in Petula, Georgia. Spring 1990s.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Physical Comedy
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol

Media

“Leslie Kimbell is a much needed new voice in theatre, writing these ‘old broads’ with authenticity, pathos and humor. Audiences eat them up! Four Old Broads is laugh-out-loud hysterical with a whole lot of heart.” – Del Shores

“If The Golden Girls was rebooted today, it would look much like Four Old Broads, a clever geriatric comedy.” – Carolina Curtain Call

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $130 per performance

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Leslie Kimbell

Leslie Kimbell (writer, actor, director, designer) gained the majority of her life experience and salty sense of humor from 22 years traveling the world as a burlesque headliner.

Her Four Old Broads series is inspired by memories of her Nannie DeVries and Aunt Sissie Bumpus, w ...

View full profile

Community

Now Playing

Community Experiences