The Plays of Steve Duprey
Men of a Certain Age
(4 men, 1 woman, unit set)
Four men in their sixties gather at their usual spot...a cabin in the woods...to play cards, eat wings and complain about their various ailments. But one of them has news of a new woman in his life...a much younger woman. The weekend is spent trying to reconcile this new information with his age, his widow and his widows brother (who is, to say the least, not crazy about this news.)
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A great opportunity for older men to show off their skills, this play makes a sweet companion piece to WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE
CHARACTERS
STEPHANIE – Forty years old. A grief counselor. Alan’s secret girlfriend
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ALAN – A conflicted sixty-six-year-old man. Widowed for a year and a half. Been with Stephanie for three years. ALAN is the glue of the group…he holds things together, arranges for gatherings, usually cooks and entertains.
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ROB – A priest. Alan’s oldest friend. Sixty-six years old. Physically fit and powerful. More of a linebacker than a priest.
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CHRIS – Sixty-six years old. Alan’s friend since ninth grade. Widowed for five years. Never gotten over it. He’s a bit of a recluse now and only comes out of his house to spend time with the guys. Hasn’t made it to the last few gatherings.
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JIMMY – Sixty-five years old. Married for 40 years to the same woman. Alan’s college roommate.
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Duration: 120 minutes
Setting: Single story cabin interior
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THEATER REVIEW: 'Men of a Certain Age' will make you laugh, tear up
A while back, you might have been lucky enough to catch a performance of an original play, “Women of a Certain Age,” by local playwright Steve Duprey. That was a funny, well-plotted and well-acted production presented by the Geneva Theatre Guild. The play centered on a group of close female friends spending a couple of eventful days together in a cozy mountain cabin. The story was imaginative and even a tad far-fetched, but it was delightful and enjoyable in every respect.
Now here comes what might be thought of as a sequel — except that it isn’t.
“Men of a Certain Age,” also by Duprey and also presented by the Geneva Theatre Guild, tells the story of four men, friends since their youthful days, gathering in another cozy cabin. Similar setting, but not the same cabin — and these men have no relationship to the women in the previous play.
The male story is an entirely different one, but it has a ring of truth that may be difficult to observe by anyone who has lost a spouse or mate.
This tale centers on two men — best friends and brothers-in-law — both of whom were widowed and are dealing with their losses in two completely different ways.
Alan (actor Glen Wyand) lost his wife, Helen, to illness less than two years before the time of the cabin gathering. Helen was the younger sister of Chris (actor Llewellyn Lafford) who lost his own wife, Janet, in a traffic accident more than twice that long ago.
Chris hasn’t taken it well at all. Idolizing his sister and feeling guilty that his wife died and he didn’t, he has moped and become sullen and obsessed with his own health.
Alan, on the other hand, has found new love with a nurse who cared for Helen during her long illness. The nurse, Stephanie (actress Abigail Adams), is younger than Alan — much younger. And, therein lies the rub. Alan hasn’t mentioned to any of his close friends that he has a new woman in his life, let alone one he describes as young enough to be his daughter.
In the course of two emotionally charged acts, these two men and their friends, Jimmy (actor Steve Mitchell), a happily married man with a living wife, and Rob (actor John Gibbon), a priest, deal with the issues of loss, guilt, renewal, trust, and deep friendship — the sorts of things that don’t generally make up the story of a bunch of men drinking beer and wine and playing euchre together in a pleasant getaway cabin.
There are moments of humor in this play — quite funny moments — but it’s really a drama, and a good one at that. The interactions among those men realistically reveal the depths of emotion that can happen in a small group of men who have known each other through all sorts of ups and downs for a lifetime.
You think guys can’t really feel much of anything? Think again.
Duprey, who is the director of his own play, has chosen a superb group of actors to bring to life the complex characters he created in this play. They’re all men of the right age, and they’re all very good. And, the one woman in the cast, Abigail Adams, is equally well cast and does a superb portrayal of her character.
If you see this play, you will laugh several times, but you also might find yourself tearing up a bit as the story unfolds, so have some tissues handy. Just in case.
Carol Ritter Wright is a retired journalist who has been active in community theater, in the Finger Lakes and Rochester, as an actor, singer and director for more than 50 years.
Perusals and Licensing
Since Men of a Certain Age is not currently owned by any publishing company, licensing takes place directly through the author. Click here to go to the licensing page where you can request a perusal copy, a quote for your show or request a licensing agreement. Feel Free to email Steve with your inquiries at dupreyart123@gmail.com
Some Photos
Geneva Theatre Guild's production of Men of a Certain Age was directed by Steve Duprey. It played at the Pat Collins Black Box Theatre in Geneva, NY, February 22-25, 2024. These photos were taken at the final dress rehearsal by Kate Duprey. The set, designed by Steve Duprey, was constructed and painted by Simon Hadley and Robin Parker.
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