Notes from the Austin Film Festival


Script Title: Women of a Certain Age Category:
Stage Play ID: 2640

Plot: The action is wonderfully paced. The exposition is clear, and the climax and denouement are wonderful (and in true comedy fashion, one of the biggest laughs comes at the climax with the "fake" lesbian wedding). The reader finds themself rooting for these women as they discover what motherhood in old age might look like.

Concept: Four older women convene in a remote cabin, only to find that one of them has been left with a baby and is deciding whether or not to raise it. Laugh-out-loud funny, the play is a joyous read, showcasing the beautiful relationships of these women while also discussing the beauties and costs of motherhood.

Overall: This is a riot of a play that the reader connects with immediately. In a current market saturated with young character-led drams, it is so refreshing to get a comedy written for older actresses (especially amidst the likes of the new Bookclub installment and Netflix's Grace and Frankie). Additionally, it is easy to see that any comedian would have a field day with this script—it is a wonderful gift to an actor. If anything, the reader would love more moments of "horror" (like Mary's entrance), as the first is set up so well and the "cabin in the woods" trope leaves so many options for the writer to discover. Additionally, it could be interesting to flesh out the moments when the women show disdain for their own children ("close-minded son"). Overall, Women of a Certain Age is a wonderful comedy that audiences are sure to enjoy.

Dialogue: The dialogue is clear, comfortable, and uproariously funny. The dialogue never gets ahead of the joke, and quite often steers the action into wonderfully absurd places. It is additionally so pleasant to see the women bask in their friend-language ("super-aunts" versus "guardians"), as it reinforces the idea that this cabin is truly their own little world.
Structure: Made up of several short scenes that almost feel skit-like at moments, the play wonderfully takes the audience alongside the women as they spend several days at this cabin. Each scene seems to fade to black in wonderfully satisfying ways. This tactic strengthens the pacing of the humor, evoking classic comedies like I Love Lucy. The structure mirrors the style in a very skillful way.
Characters: Each character is wonderfully alive and clear. The relationships are perhaps one of the strongest aspects of the piece and make it so accessible for the reader to root for them. The a cappella "performances" and the women's care for each other evoke such a clear love that is tantamount to the heart of the play.