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Too Long an Autumn

Short Play, Drama  /  4w, 3m

Jimmie Chinn

Too Long an Autumn
by Jimmie Chinn

Long Autumn is a retirement home for theatricals. Maisie May, a former music-hall star, arrives and initially copes with the rigours of Long Autumn in her ever-cheerful, irrepressible style.

Too Long an Autumn

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

Long Autumn, appropriately named, is a retirement home for theatricals in the autumn of their lives, where euphemism reigns supreme, together with a firm belief that elderly equals senile. Into their midst is flung Maisie May, a former music-hall star, too much of a burden for her strait-laced son and daughter-in-law, who do not find Maisie amusing. Initially the ever-cheerful, irrepressible Maisie copes with the rigours of Long Autumn in her own inimitable style, but she becomes increasingly depressed. Then one day a breezy impresario, Chris, arrives with big plans for Maisie...

Laughter, tears, joy and some wonderful characters.   

The play does contain a musical number to be performed by Maisie and Chris - and this is available on request.

History

The play was first presented by Teddington Theatre Club at Hampton Court Theatre in 1985.

It was subsequently heard on Radio Four's Afternoon Theatre on Wednesday 19th March 1986 with Brenda Bruce, and directed by Gerry Jones.

Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting Various simple interior settings
  • Additional Features Not Applicable
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

'' A stark contrast came with a work that also looked at old age and memories hewn in stone. Jimmie Chinn's Too Long in the Autumn, however, mixes sparkling humour with deep pathos in its story of an ageing music hall star committed to a home for old 'theatricals' by her son and his wife........................this is unadulterated entertainment.''
Kentish Times | 1 May 1997

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £40 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Jimmie Chinn

Jimmie Chinn

James 'Jimmie' Chinn was born in Middleton, Lancashire on March 30th 1940 - the only son of his beloved mother, Edie. His early years, although not always easy, were to shape his writing in the future, and this often difficult time compounded his determination to achieve grea ...

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