Ripcord
by David Lindsay-abaire

Name: Ripcord
Brand: David Lindsay-abaire
SKU: 9780822234609
Rating: 4.12 (158 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 minsPresent DayRole(s) for Senior Actor(s)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsContemporary Costumes/Street ClothesAmerican Comedy

What readers are saying

Readers find the play to be a delightful mix of humor and heartfelt moments. Many enjoy the sharp dialogue and engaging characters, especially the dynamic between the seniors, Abby and Marilyn. The play is praised for its pace and emotional depth, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience. While some reviews note it can be a bit fluffy, the overall response is overwhelmingly positive.

Clever and biting humorHeartwarming endingFun characters and dialogueGreat for senior actorsA bit fluffy at times

Synopsis

THE STORY: A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary.

A seemingly harmless bet between the old women quickly escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship that reveals not just the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but also deeper truths that each would rather remain hidden.

Press Reviews

"No shortage of funny lines and inspired moments of physical comedy."
— The Hollywood Reporter

"A deeply satisfying and vastly entertaining story of two elderly women through together by a comic cosmic force."
— Deadline

"The author of comedy-dramas that toy with sitcom expectations but then veer elsewhere, [David Lindsay-Abaire] is obviously riffing, in Ripcord, on television templates like The Golden Girls. [It’s a] play that flirts with surrealism... suggesting the possibility that, even in old age, people can make choices that may produce a gentler landing."
— New York Magazine

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Marilyn Dunne A resident, 70s-80s.	—	70s	A resident, 70s-80s.
Scotty A resident aide, 20s-30s.	—	20s	A resident aide, 20s-30s.
Benjamin, Lewis, And Clown Played by the same actor, 40s.	—	40s	Played by the same actor, 40s.
Colleen And Woman In White Played by the same actress, 30s-40s.	female	30s	Played by the same actress, 30s-40s.
Derek, Zombie Butler, And Masked Man Played by the same actor, 30s-40s.	—	30s	Played by the same actor, 30s-40s.
Abby Binder A resident, 70s-80s.	—	70s	A resident, 70s-80s.