The Sunset Gang Warren Adler & L. Russell Brown

Transcription

1 The Sunset Gang Warren Adler & L. Russell Brown

2 ArtAge supplies books, plays, and materials to older performers around the world. Directors and actors have come to rely on our 30+ years of experience in the field to help them find useful materials and information that makes their productions stimulating, fun, and entertaining. ArtAge s unique program has been featured in American Theatre, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Modern Maturity, American Theatre, on CNN, NBC, and in many other sources. ArtAge is more than a catalog. We also supply information, news, and trends on our top rated website, We stay in touch with the field with our very popular enewsletter, Senior Theatre Online. Our President, Bonnie Vorenberg, is asked to speak at conferences and present workshops that supplement her writing and consulting efforts. We re here to help you be successful in Senior Theatre! We help older performers fulfill their theatrical dreams! ArtAge Publications Bonnie L. Vorenberg, President PO Box Portland OR or bonniev@seniortheatre.com

3 NOTICE Copyright: This play is fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America, the British Commonwealth of Nations, including Canada, and all countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Convention. The printed text is offered for sale at the price quoted, with the understanding that if any additional copies are needed for production, they will be purchased from the publisher. Sharing the material with other organizations or persons is prohibited. This play may not be reproduced in any other form without written permission from the publisher. United States laws are specific about piracy of copyrighted materials. Permission to make changes: You have permission to alter the musical so that it works for any ethnicity, language, or religion. You may change character names, phrases, locations, and other elements so that it fits the ethnicity that you prefer. All changes are subject to approval, but will not be unreasonably withheld. Contact ArtAge for permission to make changes. In Publicity: All programs, advertising, and publicity must give credit to the authors as follows: The Sunset Gang Book and Lyrics by Warren Adler based on his story collection The Sunset Gang Music by L. Russell Brown The names of the authors must appear on a separate line in which no other name appears, immediately following the title and in size of type equal to 50% of the size of the largest, most prominent letter used for the title of the play. No one but producers, prior presenters of the specific production of the play and stars of the play may receive billing above the title. No one except stars receiving billing above the title may receive larger or more prominent billing than that given to the authors. Insert in your programs: Performed with special permission from ArtAge Publications at

4 Royalty: The writing of plays is a means of livelihood. Unlawful use of a playwrightʹs work deprives the creator of his or her rightful income. The play is subject to royalty payment for professional and amateur performances. This includes readings, cuttings, scenes, and excerpts, whether admission fee is charged or not. Contact ArtAge Publications for royalty rates for productions of The Sunset Gang, payable two weeks prior to your show. Contact us for information about royalty for professional productions, permission to videotape, or additional questions. Royalty fees are subject to change. Copyright 1977 The Sunset Gang stories Copyright 1991 The Sunset Gang PBS television series Copyright 1992 The Sunset Gang music Copyright 2014 The Sunset Gang dramatic text

5 About The Sunset Gang From Warren Adler, the author of the infamous and iconic The War of the Roses, comes The Sunset Gang, the musical described by the New York Times as, A bittersweet musical about aging and desire a deep examination of love and loyalty among people over 60. The Sunset Gang follows the unforgettable residents of the Sunset Village retirement community. Love and lust blossom, bloom, and flourish. These characters are alive and kicking in a way that transcends the merely physical, shedding light on the powerfully unique perspectives that youth, on its own, simply cannot afford. The Sunset Gang is comprised of tales told in spry and invigorating detail it is, at its heart, a celebration of life! From its first publishing in 1977, The Sunset Gang has resonated loud and clear. In 1991, three of the collection s stories: Yiddish, The Detective, and The Home were adopted into PBS s hit TV series American Playhouse. They met with critical acclaim, garnering Doris Roberts an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special. The Off Broadway musical of The Sunset Gang featured music scored by L. Russell Brown, composer of Jersey Boys C mon Marianne, and Tie a Yellow Ribbon to the Old Oak Tree. About Warren Adler Acclaimed author, playwright, poet and essayist Warren Adler is best known for The War of the Roses, his masterpiece that was adapted into the dark comedy starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. Following the success of his iconic novel, Adler optioned and sold film rights for more than a dozen of his novels and short stories to Hollywood and major television networks. The War of the Roses, The Children (in development), Random Hearts, The Sunset Gang, Private Lies, Funny Boys, Madeline s Miracles, Trans Siberian Express, and his Fiona Fitzgerald mystery series are only a few titles that have left Adler s mark on contemporary American authorship from page to stage to screen. Adler s works have been translated in over 25 languages, and have received stellar reviews by all major publications. He blogs for The Huffington Post and lectures on creative writing, motion picture adaptation, and the future of e books. Adler taught at NYU and is the sponsor of the Warren Adler Visiting Writer series at NYU s Creative Writing Program. He is the founder of the Jackson Hole Writer s Conference and a member of the Authors Guild, PEN American Center, the Century Association, and the Lotos Club.

6 About L. Russell Brown L. Russell Brown began his career when he was sixteen years old with the famous R&B label Fury Records. Over the course of fifty years of songwriting, Brown s recordings have sold millions of records, many times topping the charts. He has written for such artists as The Four Seasons, Tony Orlando & Dawn, and Tracy Byrd. His song C mon Marianne is currently featured in Jersey Boys, the highest grossing Broadway musical ever. His timeless song, Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, started a cultural revolution in the 1970s. It appears in such movies as Wallace and Gromitt, Fargo, and Forrest Gump. THE SUNSET GANG A Musical in Two Acts By Book and Lyrics by Warren Adler Music by L. Russell Brown CAST: BILL: MIMI: JENNY: DAVID: HARRIET: SELMA IDA JACK: NATHAN SAM 70s, a forlorn, yet vital and handsome man. 70s, Bill s wife, the domineering type, she is a woman of some pulchritude, once called a zaftig. Mid-60s, attractive, still youthful and yearning for livelihood. Mid-60s, Jenny s husband, a pleasant-looking man who is perpetually selfcontent. 70s, Mimi s friends, they are all of the same age, typical of the women from that era: tough, slightly, cynical, enjoying old age. 70s, David s friends, they are all old men who are content with playing cards and living out their days.

7 MARLYN: JOANNE LARRY: MICHAEL: 30s, daughters of Bill and Mimi, the two are shrewd yet caring. 40s, Mimi s son-in-law, a lawyer-type that is apathetic and selfish. 30s, Jenny and David s son. PLACE: The Sunset Gang Retirement Home, a middle class retirement village in Florida. A large sign reads "Sunset Village Grow Old Along With Me, The Best Is Yet To Be." TIME: Present day. THE SUNSET GANG ACT I Scene 1 At rise: The inhabitants of Sunset Village, energetic and joyful seniors, fill the stage, partaking in various daily activities. Some are in jogging outfits, shorts, T-shirts, bathing suits, baseball hats, and sneakers. Others carry books for more intellectual pursuits. Some cross the stage on bicycles. The mood is upbeat. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a summer camp. These retired people have spent their careers as civil servants, teachers, storekeepers, and small business owners, and are now living on their pensions and social security, enjoying their retirement free from the pressures of their earlier lives. ALL: (singing) HERE WE ARE, THE SUNSET GANG WE'VE COME THROUGH THE WHOLE SHEBANG THE UPS AND DOWNS THE WIN OR LOSE LOOK AT US NOW WE'VE PAID OUR DUES WE ARE THE SUNSET GANG WHO WILL REMEMBER THE SONGS WE SANG? WE'RE STILL AROUND LOST UNTIL FOUND BY THE BIG GUY IN THE SKY WHO WILL GIVE US THE EVIL EYE

8 AND SEND US TO THE SHOWERS TO BE PLANTED UNDER FLOWERS WE ARE THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF THE SUNSET GANG WE KNOW THAT LIFE'S A BOOMERANG IN ONE END AND OUT THE OTHER THEN BACK AGAIN THAT'S ALL BROTHER THE SUN GOES UP THE SUN GOES DOWN AND WE FOLLOW IT ROUND AND ROUND UNTIL THE GOLDEN GLOW GROWS WEARY AND OUR EYES ARE GLAZED AND TEARY WE ARE THE SUNSET GANG WHO WILL REMEMBER THE SONGS WE SANG? OUR KIDS MAY SAY WE'RE TOO OLD TO PLAY OUR BONES ARE BRITTLE AND OUR HAIR IS GRAY BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY REMEMBER KIDS YOU'RE HEADING OUR WAY WE HONEYMOONED IN NIAGARA AND WE HAD SOME SPICY FUN THEN ALONG CAME VIAGRA NOW IT'S BACK TO NIAGRA MAN: (singing) MAN AND WOMAN: (singing) WE'VE HAD WARS AND BIG DEPRESSIONS WE'VE BEEN BROKE AND HAD RECESSIONS BUT WE'RE NOT READY TO BE DONE UNTIL WE HAVE A LOT MORE FUN ALL: (singing) CAUSE WE ARE THE SUNSET GANG STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND DETERMINED TO SURVIVE WE'RE GONNA HANG TOUGH UNTIL THE BIG GUY SAYS ENOUGH AND HAVE A BALL UNTIL THAT LAST CURTAIN CALL

9 WE'LL BE UP AND WE'LL BE DOWN WE'LL FOOL AROUND AND DO IT ALL UNTIL WE HEAR THE SIREN'S CALL CAUSE WE ARE THE SUNSET GANG WE'LL END IT ALL WITH ONE BIG BANG MAYBE WE DIDN'T PICK A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER BUT WE'LL TELL YOU THIS IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER NEVER OVER TILL IT'S OVER 'TILL THE LAST CLINK AND CLANG YES WE'RE THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF THE SUNSET GANG (The music fades. The stage darkens and we see Bill forlornly staring out the window of his condominium at the happy group of people.) BILL: That's my wife Mimi out there, the one in the fancy get-up. She's having a ball. She has her friends, her bridge games, and her coffee klatches. I call her group the "Yenta Mafia," which is probably unkind. Fact is, nothing escapes their notice. I was a lawyer for forty-five years. Married nearly as long. Two grown kids, grandchildren. The whole nine yards. Now this. Retirement. The twilight years. Here at Sunset Village everybody is an "usta." They usta do this. They usta do that. The thing is: I don't want to be a usta. I like to think of myself as a now kind of guy. I still yearn. For what? Who knows? But it's not this. (He sings:) THERE'S NOTHING HERE FOR ME I FEEL MY SOUL IS DYING THERE'S SO MUCH I AM DENYING IT'S NOT HOW LIFE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THERE MUST BE MORE TO SEE THIS CANNOT BE THE ENDING I'M STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND IN MY HEART I FEEL THIS YEARNING FOR SOMETHING MORE FOR SOMETHING MORE I LONG TO FEEL THE FIRE I ONCE FELT BEFORE THERE'S NOTHING HERE FOR ME I FEEL LIKE I'M A STRANGER AND I'D RATHER FACE THE DANGER

10 THAN LIVE AN EMPTY LIFE I KNOW THERE'S MORE WORTH LIVING FOR THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING MORE FOR ME (As he finishes the song. Mimi enters, all agog with excitement. Bill turns back to the window to contemplate). MIMI: You will not believe this. I just met Terry Fine. I hadn't seen her since sixth grade at P.S. 91. Imagine that. She's a widow now. We're going to the Mall in a few minutes. Play catch-up on all the people we used to know. BILL: Guess you're one of the lucky ones. MIMI: Lucky? BILL: I'm still here. But you seem to spend more time with widows. Rehearsing the role, I guess. (Mimi studies him for a long moment.) MIMI: You're so morbid, Bill. I just don't understand. What is going on with you? This place is wonderful. We both made the decision to retire here. I've made great girlfriends. We have a lot in common. I love it here. The weather. The activities. BILL: For me it was a mistake. MIMI: You had to retire Bill. It was mandatory. For me, it wasn't a mistake. BILL: You make choices. Some are bad. Some are good. MIMI: All I can say is that I'm happy here. (Bill contemplates her answer, and then speaks.) BILL: How about staying home today, Mimi? MIMI: Stay home? And do what? BILL: I don't know. Fool around maybe.

11 MIMI: Fool around? Good God, Bill. Does it ever stop? BILL: It stopped a long time ago, Mimi. (She shakes her head in disgust and quickly changes the subject.) MIMI: If only you would find something that interests you, Bill. Okay, you're not a jock. But you can join a club. They got all kinds of clubs here, discussion groups, craft classes. Language clubs. There's one. People learning the language of their parents. Italian, German, Greek. Yiddish. There's a Yiddish club. Join that. Your parents were immigrants. That's what they spoke. BILL: We are all children of immigrants, Mimi. MIMI: Not that again. My parents were not immigrants. They were from Philadelphia. (Bill turns away from her. She sings:) WHAT'S WRONG BILL? YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I KNEW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU? I FOUND MY NICHE WHY CAN'T YOU? WHAT S WRONG BILL? YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I KNEW TELL ME WHAT'S INSIDE OF YOU I SETTLED IN WHY DON'T YOU? I THOUGHT THE YIDDISH CLUB WOULD SATISFY YOUR NEED FOR STIMULATION INSTEAD IT SEEMS IT S DISSIPATED ALL YOUR INSPIRATION WHY NOT FIND A FRIEND AND BOND WITH MEN LIKE OTHERS DO HAVE FUN OUT THERE IN THE SUN YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO REST AND PLAY COME ON BILL RISE AND SHINE AND GREET THE NEW DAY WHAT'S WRONG BILL? YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I KNEW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU? I FOUND

12 MY NICHE WHY OH WHY CAN'T YOU? (Bill has no reaction.) MIMI: Well, can t say I didn t try. (Mimi exits.) BILL: Not hard enough, Mimi. Not hard enough. (He sings:) THERE'S NOTHING HERE FOR ME I FEEL MY SOUL IS DYING THERE'S SO MUCH THAT I'M DENYING IT'S NOT HOW LIFE'S SUPPOSED TO BE (End scene.) Scene 2 The light fades and another part of the stage is lit, revealing a condominium living room. Jenny is sitting, and poring over travel brochures, tantalized by the material. Her husband David, is a pleasant looking man. He appears self-satisfied and content. He is playing solitaire. It is twilight. JENNY: (Her eyes drift to watch the colors of the darkening sky) Glorious Venice. Gondolas plying the quiet water. Wonderful sights. Why can't we go? There's so much more. DAVID: Glorious Venice. Rotting buildings, stinking canals. We took that tour to Europe remember? Big deal. Know what travel means to me? Exhaustion. Greasy food, sore feet and loose bowels. I don't know what I saw more of, churches or toilets. JENNY: You make everything sound so gross David. I thought when you sold the store we would use this as a kind of home base. We have the time now and there are inexpensive tours. Why can't we see the world, David there's so much out there to see. Look at these brochures. This is just not what I expected, David. I want to see everything I've missed.

13 DAVID: Missed? What? We didn't have a good life so far? We have a nice son. Nice grandchildren. I don't understand why you can't love it here. This is paradise for people our age. Other women play cards, do activities. They exercise, ride bicycles. They paint. They knit. They take cooking lessons. They learn languages. JENNY: Learning a language? Not a bad idea. If I learn Italian will you take me to Venice? DAVID: Venice is too far for a conversation in Italian. You wanna speak Italian, talk to a waiter at an Italian restaurant. (After brief thoughtful silence) Hey I've an idea. They have a Yiddish Club here. Didn't you speak it growing up? You're always talking about the good old days. JENNY: The good old days. I did have a happy childhood David. But now when I look back on my life as an adult well, nothing much happened we had a child watched him grow up, then he left we came here. Is this it David? Is this all there is? DAVID: For women there's never enough. For me here, right here, is more than enough. Everything I want is here. Who needs to see broken down buildings. I saw enough broken down buildings in the Bronx. It's safe here, nice and warm and friendly. JENNY: You're so open to adventure David. DAVID: I ve had enough adventure for a lifetime. I was mugged three times. My gin games are enough adventure for me. I don't understand you, Jenny. I buy you a piece of paradise and it isn't enough. You should be jumping for joy. I'll tell you what. Tomorrow we'll go to a movie. Now, why don't you watch television? JENNY: Movies. Television. Not my cup of tea, David. Recycled boring kid stuff. (She rises and paces restlessly.) DAVID: I don't care. My gin games are enough excitement for me. JENNY: David there s so much out there to see, DAVID THERE S SO MUCH OUT THERE TO SEE. THIS IS JUST NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. I WANT, I WANT MORE. DAVID: MORE? WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT? JENNY: (singing) OH MAYBE IT'S ME OH MAYBE IT'S ME BUT THIS PLACE IS NOT THE PLACE THAT I WANT TO BE I'VE ALWAYS HAD A YEN FOR TRAVELING

14 BUT NOW IT SEEMS MY LIFE'S UNRAVELING THERE'S SUCH A BIG WORLD OUT THERE TO SEE ANCIENT PLACES DIFFERENT FACES ALL THE RACES SO MANY THINGS BENEATH THE SKY BEFORE WE DIE DAVID: I don t understand why you can t love it here. Everything I want is here. It s safe here. Nice! And warm! And friendly! I WANNA STAY HOME I DON'T WANNA ROAM I DON'T WANNA STRAY NO NOT FOR A DAY I GOT EVERYTHING A BODY COULD NEED I'M COMFORTABLE HERE NO I'LL NEVER LEAVE WITH SO MANY FRIENDS I'M NEVER ALONE DON'T ASK ME TO GO I WANNA STAY HOME (He sings:) JENNY: I GUESS I M JUST NOT GIVING IT A CHANCE. IT COULD BE MY FAULT. OH MAYBE IT'S ME OH MAYBE IT'S ME BUT WAITING FOR DYING IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA (She sings:) I KNOW ITS TRUE WE ALL GROW OLDER BUT EVERYDAY I GROW A LITTLE BOLDER JUST GAZING OUT ACROSS THE GREAT BIG SEA DREAMING OF SPAIN THE AFRICAN PLAINS FRIENDLY DANES I'VE GOT A YEARNING TO FLY BEFORE I DIE MAYBE IT IS ME

15 DAVID: Yes, it is you Jenny. It s up to you to make a life for yourself here. As for me (He sings:) I WANNA STAY HOME (Jenny sings:) OH MAYBE IT'S ME I DON'T WANNA ROAM (Jenny sings:) OH MAYBE IT'S ME I DON'T WANT TO STRAY (Jenny sings:) I JUST CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT A TRIP TO GAY PARIS NO NOT FOR A DAY I'VE GOT EVERYTHING A BODY COULD NEED (Jenny sings:) STROLLING DOWN THE SPANISH STEPS OF ROMA I'M COMFORTABLE HERE (Jenny sings:) OR MAYBE TAKE A TRIP OUT TO TACOMA NO I'LL NEVER LEAVE WITH SO MANY FRIENDS I'M NEVER ALONE DON'T ASK ME TO GO I WANNA STAY TACOMA? JENNY: (singing) THIS WANDERLUST IS BUSTING OUT OF ME YOKOHAMA (David sings:) I WANT TO STAY THE DALAI LAMA (David sings:) I WANT TO STAY THE LAND OF RAMA (David sings:) I WANT TO STAY I WANT TO SEE THE WHOLE SHOW BEFORE I GO (David sings:) STAY HOME BILL AND JENNY: (singing) JENNY: (singing) OH MAYBE IT'S ME OH MAYBE IT'S ME BUT I WON T BE READY TO SETTLE DOWN AND DO NOTHING BUT LAZE AROUND 'TILL AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED (David sings:) I WANNA STAY HOME AND THREE (End scene.)