Synopsis

The delightful and mischievous Patty O’Toole has passed away and all his friends have gathered to say their last good-byes.  The funeral director brings everyone to order and the eulogies begin.  Things start rather normally until suddenly the ghost of Patty O’Toole appears to participate in his own wake.  It seems there is a delay in processing and he is in a holding pattern before he is able to go to the great beyond, so he thought he might as well see what everyone has to say about him while he’s waiting.

At first they are all very upset by his being there, but somehow they find a way to continue.  As they all begin to relate their memories, it soon becomes apparent that not all their memories were filled with hearts and flowers, resulting in a knock-down, drag out fight between Burnadette and Maureen, Father Shawnasee on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Aidan Donnelly in hot water with his wife over a sweat shirt, and a not-so-happy memory of a flatulent dog at Michael’s Pub.

Then there’s all the stories about Patty, the Leprechauns, the Banshee, a clock that runs backward, and all the little children in the village that just happen to look just like him.  (Uh Oh!)

And through it all, Patty proves to be the playful instigator of trouble every bit as much as when he was alive.

All the emotions rise to a fever pitch when, finally, Patty is called to move on.  It is only then that they all realize just how dull and boring life is going to be without him and they say a heartfelt “Good-byes”.

Lots of fun!

Lots of laughs!  And a real display of what it is to be Irish!

Cast of Characters

Cast Size = 9

• The Ghost of PATTY O’TOOLE – (Early 50’s) A true jovial Irishman type, with a twinkle in his eye.  Patty is wearing make-up to make him look a little ghostlike, but not at all frightening.  He is wearing his funeral suit, and the back seam is split most of the way up the back (Funeral Directors do this for ease of dressing the deceased.  He is wearing a dress shirt and bright green tie.  He is not wearing any pants.  He is wearing boxer shorts with green shamrocks on them.
• FUNERAL DIRECTOR – (Late 70’s) Barry Fitzgerald type Irishman.
• RYAN FITZGERALD – (Early 50’s) Boyhood friend
• BURNADETTE McDEVITT – (Early 50’s) A girlfriend.
• LIAM HARRIGAN – (Early 50’s) Boyhood friend
• CONNOR O’BOYLE – (Early 50’s) Boyhood friend.
• MAUREEN McCLEARY DONNELLY – (Early 50’s) A girlfriend.  Became Aidan’s wife.
• AIDAN DONNELLY – (Early 50’s) Boyhood friend MICHAEL MURPHY – (Mid 60’s) Local Pub Owner
• OFFICER SHAMUS O’ROURKE – (LATE 60’S EARLY 70’S) FATHER SHAWNASEE – (Early 70’s) Priest

Production Notes

SET:  A Funeral Parlor in Ireland.  At floor level in front of the stage, there is a casket with a mannequin/dummy dressed up as the body of Patty O’Toole, and there are two large flower arrangements, one at the head and one at the foot of the casket.  The flowers are white.   There are rows of seats, and a podium for eulogizing on the stage.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES:  An easy play to put on.  There is only one  set and the costumes are “street dress”.  It is important to  cast people with the ability to speak in an understandable Irish brogue.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:  For additional fun for the audience, they can be Informed in advance, through the advertising and box office sales, that they will be attending an Irish Wake and it is advisable for them to wear the customary “Black” clothing out of respect for the fact  that we are mourning the dearly departed.

Also, if possible, you may choose to have the casket at floor level so the audience can pass by and view the “body” in order to say their good-byes to the deceased.   The Funeral Director can stand by the casket to supervise the “Passer’s By” and gently invite them to  return to their seats after they pass the casket.

When all the people have arrived, the Funeral Director  goes to the podium to make the announcements, and the show begins.

There is a navigation bar at the bottom of the script sample.  From it you can turn the page, enlarge part of the view, expand to fit the full screen, or download the pdf.  If you enlarge to full screen, pressing the ESC key will return you here.

Your Materials Package Includes:

• 19 Scripts
• 1 Press Play CD of Sound Effects
• 1 “Patty O’Toole” Music CD

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