alphabetical author index

Senior Circuit (formerly Five Nickels)

  • Jack Neary
  • Collection / Anthology, Comedy, Contemporary
  • 3M, 3F
  • ISBN: S1P

Formerly titled Five Nickels, Senior Circuit is a full evening of one-act plays, centering on the experience of the golden years.

  • Collection / Anthology
  • Comedy
  • 100 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Adult, Senior
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Senior Theatre
Formerly titled Five Nickels, Senior Circuit is a full evening of one-act plays, centering on the experience of the golden years.

Five Nickels introduces us to Ed Maloney, 60, single and shy. He's a Catholic usher and, on this particular Sunday, he is confronted by Catherine Barber, a 50-year-old widow who, after weeks and weeks of holding back, has finally determined to confront this lifelong bachelor with her true feelings -- feelings which she has been expressing weekly in the church hallway in a very special, subtle way. (45 min.)

Act II opens with Late Date, in which two sharply sassy 20-somethings who, hoping to never cross paths again after one date from hell, are forced to deal with the very real fact that their single parents are considering dating each other. (15 min.)

Oklahoma is an actor-audience one-on-one in which a woman in her 70s reminisces about her days as a World War II nurse and how the horrors of war were miraculously eased by a surprise trip to New York to see the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. (10 min.)

The third piece, Lilacs, is a sweet, often hilarious chance meeting, said to have really taken place sometime in the 1920s, between a young boy destined to be a priest and a 14-year-old girl who would one day become one of the most famous actresses in the world. (10 min.)

Finally, The Wedding, a roll-in-the-aisles laugh following the plight of a regular Joe named Frank who must accommodate the seemingly outrageous demands made by his only daughter. Why Mary-Ellen can't seen the wisdom behind Dad's choice to hold her wedding reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall is only one of the innumerable comic confrontations in this show. (20 min.)

Senior Circuit is written to be presented as a full evening of theatre, but each playlet can easily stand on its own. 

REVIEWS:

"[Neary is] the Catholic Northeast Garrison Keillor."

 Pioneer Valley Advocate

"Five Nickels is a funny, thought-provoking, very entertaining evening with many laughs."

 Hello Holyoke Newspaper

  • Casting: 3M, 3F
  • Casting Attributes: Parts for Senior Actors

Name Price
Senior Circuit (formerly Five Nickels) Script Order Now

Formerly titled Five Nickels, Senior Circuit is a full evening of one-act plays, centering on the experience of the golden years. Five Nickels introduces us to Ed Maloney, 60, single and shy. He's a Catholic usher and, on this particular Sunday, he is confronted by Catherine Barber, a 50-year-old widow who, after weeks and weeks of holding back, has finally determined to confront this lifelong bachelor with her true feelingsefeelings which she has been expressing weekly in the church hallway in a very special, very subtle way. (45 min.) Act II opens with Late Date, in which two sharply sassy 20-somethings who, hoping to never cross paths again after one date from hell, are forced to deal with the very real fact that their single parents are considering dating each other. (15 min.) Oklahoma is an actor-audience one-on-one in which a woman in her 70s reminisces about her days as a World War II nurse and how the horrors of war were miraculously eased by a surprise trip to New York to see the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. (10 min.) The third piece, Lilacs, is a sweet, often hilarious chance meeting, said to have really taken place sometime in the 1920s, between a young boy destined to be a priest and a 14-year-old girl who would one day become one of the most famous actresses in the world. (10 min.) Finally, The Wedding, a roll-in-the-aisles laugh following the plight of a regular Joe named Frank who must accommodate the seemingly outrageous demands made by his only daughter. Why Mary-Ellen can't see the wisdom behind Dad's choice to hold her wedding reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall is only one of the innumerable comic confrontations in the show. (20 min.) Senior Circuit is written to be presented as a full evening of theatre, but each playlet can easily stand on its own. Simple sets. Approx. running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes. These plays may be performed individually or in any combination, in which case royalties may be adjusted upon application.

$19.95