Beneficence

4m, 4w
3m 40-60, 1m 20-25; 3w 40-70, 1w 18-25

Society ladies are planning their annual Garden Club benefit luncheon. Expected attendees include the Arthur family -- mother Jane, daughter Lorena, and son Stuart and his brain-damaged twin Gilbert (played by the same actor). Ladies and their husbands discuss plans, while Jane attempts to persuade her children to attend. Things move along until the actors start rebelling one by one, going off script and antagonizing each other.

Beneficence tells its story with extensive doubling. Most of the ensemble play two or more major characters, and others jump in to cover roles for brief periods of time. It all gets more and more chaotic, ending with monologues for each of the actors expressing their pleasure or displeasure at appearing in this Pirandelloesque production.

Staging should be simple, with tables and chairs needed only for the final luncheon sequence. Props include settings for the benefit luncheon (tablecloths, napkins, etc.) and a broom (which also doubles as a character!). The earlier scenes should take place with no specific indications of location.

In its running time of less than an hour, Beneficence provides acting challenges for eight performers. Its strong sexual content and partial nudity make it suitable only for adult audiences.