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Bothered and Bewildered

  • Gail Young
  • Full Length Play, Dramatic Comedy, Contemporary, New Millennium/21st Century
  • 3M, 5F
  • ISBN: 9780573110634

This comedy-drama about one woman’s struggle with Alzheimer’s follows Irene and her daughters, Louise and Beth, as the girls lose their mum in spirit but not in body.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 90 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Target Audience: Senior, Adult

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre
As her family struggle to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s, Irene blurs reality with her passion for romantic literature. She spends hours discussing how best to write her ‘memory book’ with her imaginary friend and favourite author Barbara Cartland (the deceased, world-famous romantic novelist), disclosing long-kept family secrets that she would never divulge to her daughters. This tragicomedy is about memory, loss, secrets and – above all – love.
REVIEWS:

"Hugely affecting... a judicious and rewarding piece of work – serious without ever becoming melodramatic and humorous without being flippant."

 All Edinburgh Theatre

"A story that is laden with poignancy and pain as a person loses the veneer of respectability to expose the raw truth of what lies beneath... a brave look at a difficult and topical subject."

 Edinburgh Guide

"Dear Gail, I am assured that you will be depicting my mother in a sympathetic way from reading through your script. She was renowned for her sense of humour and you really bring that out... Good luck with the play, I am sure it will be a great success, and make sure that whoever plays my Mum is dressed in pink!"

 Ian McCorquodale, Barbara Cartland's son

"I must confess on reading the synopsis of the play I was uncertain how many laughs would be possible out of such an emotionally draining subject. I was dead wrong!! In my humble opinion the play was excellent, and I and the capacity audience thoroughly enjoyed it. The play was so very touching, sad, and funny and held my attention throughout with very well drawn characters, and the writing was so good that I felt for the daughters every step of the way and cared very much what happened to them all. I loved the introduction of Barbara Cartland as an imaginary friend."

 Hunter Hughes, NODA NW Regional Councillor, October 2014

Premiere Production: Bothered and Bewildered was first performed in October 2014 at the Forum Studio Theatre in Chester by Tip Top Productions. The show was directed by Gail Young, and the sellout premiere was staged as a fundraising production to help raise monies to support the wellbeing of patients with dementia at both the Countess of Chester and Ellesmere Port Hospitals.

Characters

  • Casting: 3M, 5F
  • Casting Attributes: Role(s) for Senior Actor(s)
  • Casting Notes: The play is set in 2001. YOUNG IRENE and SHELLEY must be played by the same young actress. JIM and JAMES must be played by the same young actor. The role of the NHS CONSULTANT can be played as either a man or a woman, but preferably by a man. The COMMUNITY POLICEMAN must be played by a man.

  • IRENE – Elderly widow and mother of Beth & Louise, early 70s.
    BETH – Eldest daughter of Irene, 45-55.
    LOUISE – Youngest daughter of Irene, 45-55.
    BARBARA CARTLAND – 50-60
    NHS CONSULTANT – Male or female, 30-40.
    COMMUNITY POLICEMAN – Male, 30-40. (Can be played by the actor playing NHS CONSULTANT)
    JIM – 20.
    JAMES – Early 20s. (Must be played by the actor playing JIM)
    YOUNG IRENE – Beth’s daughter, 16.
    SHELLEY – Irene’s granddaughter, 19. (Must be played by the actor playing YOUNG IRENE)

    • Available Material

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    Bothered and Bewildered Script This is optional. Order Now

    As her family struggle to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s, Irene blurs reality with her passion for romantic literature. She spends hours discussing how best to write her ‘memory book’ with her imaginary friend and favourite author Barbara Cartland (the deceased, world-famous romantic novelist), disclosing long-kept family secrets that she would never divulge to her daughters. This tragicomedy is about memory, loss, secrets and – above all – love.

    		$24.95

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