Betty's Summer Vacation
by Christopher Durang

Name: Betty's Summer Vacation
Brand: Christopher Durang
SKU: 9780822217664
Rating: 3.53 (219 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Betty's Summer Vacation Book Cover — Betty's Summer Vacation Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 minsPresent DayUnit Set/Multiple SettingsContemporary Costumes/Street ClothesComedy

Synopsis

Betty is looking forward to her summer share at the ocean.

But Trudy, whom she knows only slightly, chatters incessantly; and then there are the other housemates – sexy lout Buck, who's pathologically on the make with women, and sweet, withdrawn Keith who carries a shovel and a mysterious hatbox and just may be a serial killer.

Then the emotionally anarchic landlady, Mrs. Siezmagraff, moves in too; and she invites a crazy derelict to dinner, and, well, the vacation becomes more and more of a strain for poor Betty.

Not to mention there seems to be a laugh track coming from the ceiling that no one seems able to shut up.

Death, destruction, mayhem – Betty finds it all in her seaside retreat.

Press Reviews

"The funniest new farce in years… the play lifts off from the ground of brilliantly naturalistic comedy into the stratosphere of zany satire… by far Durang's best."
— New York Post

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Trudy Friendly, chatty, needy, rather desperate underneath. Bit younger than Betty.	—	—	Friendly, chatty, needy, rather desperate underneath. Bit younger than Betty.
Keith Sensitive, quiet, mysterious. Late 20s. Finds it hard to be around people. Seems sweet, seems weird.	—	20s	Sensitive, quiet, mysterious. Late 20s. Finds it hard to be around people. Seems sweet, seems weird.
Buck Handsome, sexy lout-hunk. Might look like a beach guy out of Baywatch. Unabashedly sexist, on the make all the time.	—	—	Handsome, sexy lout-hunk. Might look like a beach guy out of Baywatch. Unabashedly sexist, on the make all the time.
Mrs. Siezmagraff Lively, vibrant woman, mid-40s. Oblivious to anyone else’s discomfort. Auntie Mame-ish.	female	40s	Lively, vibrant woman, mid-40s. Oblivious to anyone else’s discomfort. Auntie Mame-ish.
Mr. Vanislaw An insane derelict who exposes himself to women in bathrooms; naked except for raincoat and sneakers. A little scary, but also just insane. Happy in his way.	male	—	An insane derelict who exposes himself to women in bathrooms; naked except for raincoat and sneakers. A little scary, but also just insane. Happy in his way.
The Group Of Voices 2 men, 1 woman. They laugh, they applaud. They live in the ceiling.	female	—	2 men, 1 woman. They laugh, they applaud. They live in the ceiling.
Betty A nice, fairly normal young woman, late 20s. Sensible, does her best to be reasonable.	female	20s	A nice, fairly normal young woman, late 20s. Sensible, does her best to be reasonable.