This nostalgic serio-comedy peeks into a typical home in Chicago's "Irish Bungalow Belt" in 1928 where not-so-typical events occur. When a pair of gangsters - who aren't so tough after all - invade the serenity of the house, the result is entertainment in terms of quick action, hearty laughs and tender romance.
Tossing together a diverse blend of colorful characters in one amusing predicament after another, Near to Me is a moving tribute to the "good old days" when, let's face it, life could be quite chaotic. What makes this play especially unique is its attention to historical detail. While the story is fictional, its characters refer to actual people, places and events contemporary to the Roaring Twenties - sometimes on the very days on which this story is set.
An explanatory glossary in the back adds to the reading script and helps directors and actors better understand the era and the characters they portray. Newspapers, magazines, even the 1928 "blue books" and phone directories were consulted for accuracy. Near to Me is fun for all ages!