Where is The Life?

Feedback from the 2023 production

SYNOPSIS

"The Beeches is a residential home for retired gentlemen of the stage. It is run by Julie, the officious owner who is married to Tony, a letch who is nice but a little dim. Tom, Colin, Alan and Don are residents who have spent their lives in theatre and equally, working together. Despite their ups and downs they have created their own family in The Beeches to replace the families they no longer seem to be a part of.

"Dreams are to hope my dear, so what would you like us to hope for? A miracle? I think somebody's already got the market cornered on that one and called it Easter"

They have come from a bygone world and have now created a new world in The Beeches which is bound together by images, reflections, memories, longings of the past but equally, yearnings for a future.

Tom is a camp old hoofer who could not be more affected. Alan is neurotic and frustrated but will not speak of his concerns or his health as his issues begin to gather pace. Don is everybody’s granddad, warm caring and gentle. Colin is, well, Colin. He is angry, acerbic, cutting and sarcastic.

"Because at some point we will all become one of two things: your living or your life. And irrespective of either, it will come at a price"

He is the old queen of this castle and resents everything and everybody for reasons that even he no longer understands.

"Well. This is all jolly exciting. Just like theatre ... but a little bit more camp"

His time is spent finding new prey and when Kelly the new care assistant arrives, he focuses in on her straight away with resentment, anger and jealousy and all because she has the things he can no longer have: youth ... and time.

Despite the challenges created by them, Kelly soon comes to appreciate that the men have become part of a family of their own making and moreover, she finds in them a family she has never really known. And in doing so she sheds light into their forgotten world – a world where relatives are just a word and true family is four old men whose lives are inextricably bound together and in time, a young girl who realises that some jobs have the facility to teach you more than you think.

"Never be frightened of somebody because they are different to you. But be very wary of those who take delight in pointing those differences out"

She may have years of her life left, but she gives them a priceless gift... by helping them come to terms with the life in their remaining years."

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If you would like to learn more about this piece or details of how to gain permission to perform it, download perusal copies of the script or purchase a copy, please contact the publisher, Stagescripts.

A video walkthrough of the stage set is available to view at this link: https://youtu.be/S88EyxlKLY4

NB: the video shown is a promo for the 2023 production. It uses photos from the 2018 production with music written and performed by Gavin Meredith.

Please note that the script for this play is contained within the published collection from the author, 'The First Ten Plays' which can be obtained as cost from this site by going to the 'In Print' tab.

Gallery photographs courtesy of Colin Smith.