Photo credit: Connor Price-KelleherA comedy about five senior women who find themselves in a holding cell after being arrested at a protest. They share the cell with a cynical stranger whose assertions force them to re-examine their moral assumptions.
Gina: Assertive and moralistic, she is the natural leader of the group. Whether or not she has ever stepped outside the law, she is remaining quiet about it. She is only won over to the idea of a heist when she pictures it in terms of doing good. Age 65+
Monica: A happy follower who enjoys the social aspects of being an activist. Being part of the group gives her a sense of belonging. She doesn’t question what she’s doing and she’s likely to go along with whatever the more outspoken women decide. Because she doesn’t have the financial security she believes the others do, she worries that they don’t see her as their equal, while her tendency to muddle things makes her—and others—see her as dumb. Age 65+
Anne: Irrepressible, energetic, and always ready to grab the spotlight, she loves the dramatic gesture. Nothing would make her happier than getting her photo in the news for being arrested at a protest and she’d tap dance her way to the gallows if it meant 30 seconds of fame. Activism is her chosen artistic medium while protests–and now jail–are her theatre. She is more focused on playing the role of a social rebel than in the actual results of activism. Despite all this, she is hugely likable due to her cheerful and imaginative outlook. Age 65+
Sara: Restless and in search of excitement as she saw herself aging out of the mainstream of life, she plunged into political activism to get some “fun” and direction back. However, the long, hard slog of chipping away at society’s evils as well as dealing with a serious illness has left her disillusioned, resentful, and rudderless once more. She never was a true zealot but for a time, she enjoyed riding in the posse behind believers like Gina. Her cynical nature now makes her skeptical of Gina’s high moral stance.
Lori: A classic empty-nester who has always hung the greatest part of her identity and self-worth on the successes of her son. When she is asked about herself, what she is doing or feeling, she quickly turns the conversation to one about her son. At the same time, her activism—which her son dislikes and discourages—is her tentative attempt at stepping out from his shadow and earning some respect of her own. With a sheltered upbringing and an early marriage, she never enjoyed the rebellious youth that her friends experienced and she sees her involvement in protests as daring, dangerous, and a bit scary—in short, a way to make up for lost opportunities of the past. Age 65+
Babs: Blunt, crude, amoral, and antagonistic, she appears to be a stereotypical criminal. But is she? How much—and which parts—of what she tells the other women are true? As she tosses around multisyllabic words and challenging ideas, her cellmates don’t know what to think: Is it easier for a professor to masquerade as a felon, or for a villain to pose as a philosopher? Age 65+
Police Officer: The figure of authority. Any age
First produced at Women at Play(s) Festival 2025, Toronto. Directed by Clara McBride. Second production in 2025 by ECHO Players for the Vancouver Island One-Act Play Festival. Winner of the Festival's award for "Best Achievement in Comedy."
Play can be accessed by contacting the author at marianbuechert@gmail.com
All main roles are written for actors age 60+.
In its production history, various roles have been cast as queer, black, POC, and a person with disability. Most of the characters have the potential to be cast in this way.
