Elephant Sighs
by Ed Simpson

Name: Elephant Sighs
Brand: Ed Simpson
SKU: 9780573697326
Rating: 4 (4 reviews)

Elephant Sighs Book Cover — Elephant Sighs Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Male

90 mins Present Day All Men Interior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Comedy

Synopsis

Comedy / 5mNot long after moving to the small town of Randolphsburg PA uptight lawyer Joel Bixby is invited by Leo Applegate an avuncular fast food connoisseur to join a group of townsmen who meet in a ramshackle room at the edge of town.

Leo has chosen Joel as a replacement for the late - and greatly beloved - Walter Deagon.

Despite protesting that he's just not an organizational man Joel finds himself mesmerized by Leo's ebullient manner and agrees to drop by - without ever asking just

Themes Men--Societies and clubs Men--Societies and clubs--Drama PS3569.I4887 E54 2009

Press Reviews

"[Simpson is] exploring how these men use their ties with each other as a salve for their agonizing disappointments....Simpson isn’t poking fun at anyone...his writing is remarkably funny as well as perceptive and economical...."
— LA City Beat

"A meticulously crafted play about male bonding...an incredibly nuanced and knowing play. Comedy and tragedy co-mingle in almost equal measure....a breathtaking recognition of the nature of need and the power of instinct."
— Studio City Sun

"Ed Simpson’s comedy Elephant Sighs, is a warm, funny, and life-affirming tale... a sweet-spirited fable... The play’s keen ear for the dialogue of male-bonding rituals recalls the work of David Mamet... but Simpson has a gentler and delightfully quirky style all his own."
— Backstage West

"Heartfelt... thought provoking and enjoyable. There was laughter aplenty - laughter based on the accuracy of the play’s character-driven writing. Yes, there are many one liners in the Neil Simon tradition, but there are also five varied characters drawn with skill and perception."
— The Trenton Times

"Heartwarming... a compelling look at a group of men, it deals with life’s truly significant issues in a simple and forthright way... Inventive and thought provoking."
— The Courier Times, New Jersey

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Dink Feeney 50s-60s; a kind, smallish, perpetually gleeful and delighted man; devoted to his wife, family, and friends	female	50s	50s-60s; a kind, smallish, perpetually gleeful and delighted man; devoted to his wife, family, and friends
Nick Whalen 30s-40s; a volatile contractor beset by life; passionate; wears his heart on his sleeve	male	30s	30s-40s; a volatile contractor beset by life; passionate; wears his heart on his sleeve
Perry Latimer 30s-40s; Nick’s best friend and a former minister who now sells insurance; a decent man in the midst of a crisis of faith	—	30s	30s-40s; Nick’s best friend and a former minister who now sells insurance; a decent man in the midst of a crisis of faith
Leo Applegate 60s; large, loquacious, sentimental, and the beloved leader of the group; a fast food connoisseur.	—	60s	60s; large, loquacious, sentimental, and the beloved leader of the group; a fast food connoisseur.
Joel Bixby 30s; a well-dressed, uptight, emotionally guarded lawyer; a newcomer and a fish out of water	—	30s	30s; a well-dressed, uptight, emotionally guarded lawyer; a newcomer and a fish out of water