Beggars Did Ride

Synopsis

This farce results from a dream of wishes fulfilled.  During the upheaval of the feminist movement of the early 70’s, families, couples and society were still struggling to deal with changing gender roles.  Rose and Ernie Carr have a heated late night argument about opportunities for women which Ernie ends by saying, “I wish I could be a woman so I could show them how.”   In Rose’s dream, he gets his wish, as do his construction crew brothers, his teenage daughter and others.  They all learn to be careful what they wish for.

CAST:

Rose Carr – late thirties

Ernie Carr – late thirties

Rhonda Carr – their daughter, about fifteen

Mike Kelly – early forties

Gin Kelly – early forties

Gloria Maxswell – middle twenties

Herman Maxswell – middle twenties

Midge Caspar – early thirties

Bill Caspar – early thirties

Howard Rhodes – around sixty-five

Marge Motts – any age over thirty

Rev. Martin Beeler – over thirty

Dr. Ava Foster – early forties

Brick Browning – about sixteen

Becky Wilding – early twenties

(The characters of Brick Browning and Rev. Martin Beeler could be doubled. The characters of Marge Motts and Becky Wilding could be doubled.)

General Costume Directions:

Men changed to women should have well-padded bosoms and hips.  Except for Ernie, when meeting Brick, and Bill later in the play, they should be dressed in men’s clothes.  Clothes should be big enough so that shirt shoulder seams hang down about 2 inches and the waist of the trousers are too big and are gathered in by a belt that has the end about 3- 4 inches hanging free.

Women changed to men should have heavy shoulder, collar bone and lower rib cage padding and wear sports bras.  As males, Gloria wears slacks, turtleneck shirt and blazer and Rhonda wears jeans and shirt and later also slacks, turtleneck and blazer.

Women portraying women should wear dresses. 

Men portraying men should wear masculine attire that fits well.

All Sets are suggested by simple furnishings. 

 

The era of the play is the early 70’s during the rise of the feminist movement