Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre

[romgitsean]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:19am

Save your Arsenic and Old Lace and Rumors, though.

Preferably less than ten people. Suggestions?

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:26am

Not sure how helpful this will be, but it's entertaining to think about...

You'd have to wait for rights and then rewrite to adapt for additional players, but I think Colin Quinn's Long Story Short could actually be a kind of cool thing for a small ensemble to do. The players could have a lot of fun with this piece - almost like a comedic version of Metamorphoses. It's educational but with the opportunity to have some lighthearted fun, which could be well received. (Unfortunately, it's not doing so well out here...but I really think it could be cool like this.)

Updated On: 1/2/11 at 01:26 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:51am

GLORIOUS. It is the story of the infamous opera singer Gloria Jenkins. It is a very small cast. It is a very funny, touching, and fun little play. It is not a musical. It can be done with a very small set (or no set) all you need is a piano and a couch and maybe a video screen.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:17am

Lend Me a Tenor, and Boeing-Boeing come to mind.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:30am

Well, "Art" by Yasmina Reza of course. Three people, one unit set, very few props. Boom. Easy.

If you want to go with something less snobby check out "The Underpants" and "Picasso at the Lapine Agile," both by Steve Martin. Jeff Daniels' "Escabana in da Moonlight" and "Escabana in Love" also seem to be very popular.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:36am

I admit that I'm not familiar with the show, but what about "Waiting for Godot"? Then again, I do hear that the show is either a hit or miss.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 3:27am

Play On

Written by Rick Abbot


Play On is about a small community theater staging a new play – Murder Most Foul - for the first time. The eccentric playwright decides at the last minute to change lines and add a new character a few days before opening night. Wackiness ensues! It's similar to Noises Off. 10 characters as I recall.

[Overkill]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 3:35am

Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams
Torch Song Trilogy
Waiting For Godot
Noises Off!
The Boys Next Door
The Graduate

[NotSinceCarrie2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 6:27pm

Bill Irwin's Scapin is quite fun, and an excellent way to have two leads (at least, that's how we did it, with Sylvestre just as important as Scapin -- 7m, 4f)

I'm blanking on others, but Lunch Hour (3m, 2f) is underrated.

[FinishingTheHat2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 7:19pm

Fools, by Neil Simon (7m, 3f, but some genders can be easily switched). Not his *best*, but it is a fun, enjoyable, silly show, and has a stationary set.

[tommyboy]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 7:25pm

Any or all of the Tuna trilogy -- hilarious, but requires 2 very talented male actors.

Private Lives -- a classic British comedy by Noel Coward -- requires accents. Don't do it if you can't cast the accents.

On Golden Pond

Sylvia -- can be cast with 4 or 6, a family-friendly version of the script is offered by the author (A.R. Gurney) for the kiddies, blue-hairs or church groups. But the R-like rated version is funnier.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 9:04pm

Don't know anything about Bill Irwin's adaptation of Scapin, but Jim Dale's adaptation, Scapino, is a fun show. However, unless you have a truly dynamic entertainer playing the title character, the play will not work.

Just to play devil's advocate, Waiting For Godot would be a very challenging show for a community theater, and is not the kind of play you undertake without knowing you have people who can pull it off. Also, it's not really a comedy.

Assuming you don't have a huge casting pool to choose from, you may have to chose the play based on who you have.

[wonderland01]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 10:52pm

I second Noises Off, if you have a cast good at physical comedy. Rumors is also great.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 8:35am

I'm currently in Ken Ludwig's LEADING LADIES and it is hilarious!!! 3 women and 5 men with basically a unit set.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 8:44am

Blithe Spirit

[algy]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 10:38am

Can I add "Stepping out" to the mix?

I saw the recent UK tour - and I've seen it done in a village hall - made me laugh both times, but I preferred the village hall. And it's even better if the cast can't dance...

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 10:47am

Wait. Since when is On Golden Pond a comedy?

[Jon]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:16pm

Moonlight and Magnolias
Tale of the Allergist's Wife
The Last Night of Ballyhoo

...though all of the above might be "too Jewish" for some groups.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:23pm

I agree with Blithe Spirit.

I have never seen the musical version High Spirits, but love the cast album and don't know why you would need a large ensemble for it.

[JimCo]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:25pm

Dearly Departed...it is a scream, and audiences love it. Play it real, though. The only way it works!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:30pm

You can't go wrong with Neil Simon. Depending on your talent pool you have Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, any of the "BB" shows- or it you want to hedge your bets go with one of the Suites- you can make the cast bigger or smaller as needed.