Short Plays for Long Lives
- 10 - 60 minutes
Collection, Doubling Possible, Flexible Casting
$7.95 – $40.00
A collection of six 10-minute plays for seniors and senior theater groups. With mostly senior cast members, these short comedies plays about old people play well for senior groups and senior actors. They may be produced as Readers Theater, or on stage individually or as a group. These are good plays for amdram groups and community theater.
Play Details
Overview
In these short plays for seniors, the characters grapple with life issues that confront everyone over a certain age: when to give up the car keys, memory issues, past issues, and new relationships. Parents of retirement age and their children will recognize themselves in one of these small-cast, one-act plays.
The Play Scripts Included in the Collection
Short Skits for Long Lives by Ed Friedman includes these plays for seniors:
- GENERATIONS
- SARAH
- OASIS
- SECRET DREAMERS
- THE KEYS TO LIFE
- TWO SHIPS
Should children interfere in the romantic lives of their parents?
What happens when a son discovers that there’s more to his mother then he realized?
How does an aging parent know when it’s time to give up the car key?
These issues and more are explored in this collection of 10-minute plays written to spark conversations between the generations.
Great for Readers Theater, Amdram groups, retirement communities and senior living communities.
View more plays for senior actors
From the Play
THE KEYS TO LIFE
We know we have to talk to our kids about driving, but how and when
do we have that talk with our parents?
CAST
Jim, 77 Suburban homeowner, widowed
Bev, 52 Jim’s daughter, married; one child at home, one in college
PLACE
Kitchen of Jim’s home, a suburb outside a large metropolitan area
TIME
Now
(Jim, 77 reading a newspaper in his kitchen. Bev, 52, his daughter enters)
BEV: Good morning Dad. Sorry I’m late, the traffic getting over the bridge was murder.
JIM: Hello, dear.
BEV: How are we today?
JIM: I can’t speak for you, but I’m doing well.
BEV: Good, I’d like to talk to you about something.
JIM: I’ve noticed that any discussion that comes with an introduction is always a problem.
BEV: Dad, none of this has to be problem. I just have a concern.
JIM: Which would be…?
BEV: Elizabeth’s wedding.
JIM: What about Elizabeth’s wedding? I’m not wild about her intended. He has no interest in the arts. A bad sign if you ask me, but it’s her choice. I think she could do better, but what do I know…
BEV: Dad I didn’t come here to discuss the groom. This is about you.
JIM: What about me? I’m not going to say anything. I’m the soul of discretion. I give it two years.
BEV: No Dad, I’m talking about how you’re getting there.
JIM: Where, to the wedding? Well I thought if I got an early start I could leave that morning. It’s pretty far…
BEV: Dad that’s my point. I think it’s too far for you to drive.
JIM: What are you talking about?
BEV: It’s a long drive and I’m concerned about you making the whole trip by yourself.
JIM: I’ve been driving my whole life. Don’t you think I have the sense to pull over somewhere if I get tired?
BEV: I think you may be asking too much of yourself.
JIM: This isn’t about Elizabeth’s wedding is it?
BEV: Dad, don’t be obtuse. You know what I’m talking about.
JIM: Why don’t you spell it out.
BEV: OK if that’s what you want. (beat) I’m concerned that you’re continuing to drive.
JIM: And why should that concern you?
BEV: Because you’ve been driving very erratically.
JIM: You think I’ve been driving erratically? Do you see how people are driving out there?
Productions
-
Windsor Hills Readers Theater, 27th January 2023
Windsor Hills Readers Theater,
27th January 2023
Directed by Kaye Thompson
-
Readers Theatre, 8th June 2022
Readers Theatre,
8th June 2022
Directed by David Friedt.
-
ART factory - The Prime Time Players, 26th February 2022
ART factory – The Prime Time Players,
26th February 2022
Directed by Kimberly Kemp
Related products
-
$5.00 – $40.00
91366
- 15 minutes
- 1 Male, 2 Females, Max/Min cast 3
Competitions, Holocaust Theme, Mother-Daughter, Simple Set
A one-act, 3-character drama. An elderly Holocaust survivor encounters a rebellious teenager in a tattoo parlor. Melanie is determined to get a butterfly tattoo against her mother’s wishes. Sarah is removing her own concentration camp tattoo–91366. Great for competition one-acts, an evening of short plays, or to introduce Holocaust Literature, parent-teen relationships or survival.
Read More -
$7.00 – $40.00
D. D. Bertha Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
- 40 Minutes
- 1 Male, 0 Female, Max/Min 1
Competitions, Flexible Casting, Simple Set
A monologue by D.D. Delaney. The driver of a van for a retirement community takes us into the eerie world of possible illusion or delusion when Bertha, a passenger on his van, begins to describe some disturbing events. The van driver is also a journalist for an alternative press in this small town. Of course, he has to investigate, even knowing that most of his patients are mentally disturbed. The voices are narrated by the van driver, but may also be read by other actors. Great for seniors, middle school and high school competitions, and auditions.
Read More -
$9.00 – $75.00
Attack at the Pierre Fontaine
- 45 Minutes
- 2 Males, 4 Females, Max/Min 6
In this one-act comedy for seniors, a group of long-time friends and residents of the Pierre Fontaine Hotel are alarmed by the increasing dangers in the outside world. One of their members has “news” of an imminent attack. Together, they try to plan a defense strategy (including duct tape?????) which will protect them all. The hilarious but semi-serious results unfold…
Read More -
$7.95 – $75.00
D. D.The Concise Christmas Carol
- 50 Minutes
- 1 Male (up to 4 possible)
Comedy, Drama, Flexible Casting
A 50-minute condensed monologue adapted from Charles Dickens’ Scrooge. How the ghosts who haunt him, eventually transform a lonely, stingy, bitter old man into a generous, infectiously cheerful humanitarian. D.D. Delaney, a professional actor, playwright, journalist, and poet has adapted the familiar holiday classic for the stage. Written as a monologue, it can also be performed by 4 actors. Ideal for Christmas celebrations, house performances, and readers theater. Downloadable PDF available.
Read More