My friends and I want to put something together this summer, and I’m having a hard time thinking of the right show to suggest. Here’s what I’m looking for:
A smallish cast, maybe six or seven tops, but no fewer than five. Male-heavy is preferable. And it should be an ensemble, where all the parts are roughly equivalent in size. Ideally, too, none of the roles should require very young or very old actors.
Something talky and witty, like Stoppard or Christopher Hampton.
Something that’s not set-, props-, or costume-intensive.
Anyone have any suggestions? Assume that royalties aren’t an issue (although obviously we’d prefer lower royalties if possible).
I was going to suggest my favorite O’Neill play, The Iceman Cometh, but I think the cast is too big (ten, maybe?). It is man-heavy, though; I think there are only two women. Set is just a bar, so it can be done very minimally. It’s talky, but it’s also a downer. But, like I said, I think the cast is too big.
I thought you would get more responses for this, but you haven’t, so I’ll offer the one I thought of: Christopher Durang’s* Beyond Therapy*. 4 men, 2 women. The roles are different sizes, and you would have to buy the rights from Samuel French, but it’s a pretty funny play. You might look into other plays by Durang as well.
My husband just closed a run of The Boys Next Door which the story of four men who live in a group home and their liason. I think it’s six men, two women.
Very heartwarming and cute…and heartbreaking…but nothing very deep or controversial.
If your cast can sing, **The Fantasticks ** is always well received. There is one definitely female character and a second one that could be. The rest (5 or 6) are male.
Set dressing can be very minimal. Street clothes work as costumes. Very few props are needed. The only essestial prop is the masquerade mask in act 2. Everything else could be mimed if necessary.
I recommend something by Neil Simon, preferably Rumors. It’s been a while since I read it (should do this tonight, now that you remind me), but the cast size hovers around 7, it’s male heavy, and can be staged with suits and dresses (dinner party setting). A really amazing play that gets less love than other Simon fare while it is at least as good.
(for which I could not find a reasonable link) is improv style fairy tales. Between each vignette is a song. It had a short run off broadway in the early 70s, and it was a TV series featuring Paul Sand in the mid 70s