A two act (two hours) musical comedy based on the songs of Tom Lehrer. An elderly gentleman is placed in a mental hospital by a distant relative for nefarious reasons. But if they only knew how crazy he really is.... This is a tribute to one of the most brilliant musical satirists of the twentieth century and a celebration of the old fashioned stage and movie musicals of his time that so influenced Tom Lehrer's songs.
Cast:
TIM LEAR an elderly gentleman (70s to 90s) who has been committed to a mental hospital for nefarious reasons;
NURSE RACHEL (30s to 50s) head nurse for the hospital;
DR. CASH (50s to 60s) head of the Massachusetts State Home for the Bewildered;
MR. CHASER (40s to 50s) lawyer for a distant relative of Tim Lear;
DR. FLOYD (40s to 50s) female army psychiatrist;
GENERAL (60s to 70s) identity withheld for national security, but thinks he’s General Jack D. Ripper from the film, Dr. Strangelove;
HAJ (50s) chief orderly in the ward room;
POPE YENTL (40s to 50s) patient on the ward, older Jewish woman, who thinks she’s the pope. (Casting note – Barbra Streisand for the movie version, obviously);
DALE (30s to 50s) Patient who suffers from the delusion that he’s a patient in a mental hospital;
NURSES JANET & LOLA (20s to 50s) who actually are nurses (in contrast to Jane and Lilly below);
FREDIPUS (20s to 30s) Patient with extreme Oedipal complex;
WINIFRED & WILFRED (70s to 90s) Patients (Note to director – It works best if these two come off as the most adorable grandparents in the world. I wanted Betty White, but too late, damnit!);
DICK (20s to 40s) Patient who’s a little too friendly and a bit of a dick;
ELEANOR/SILENT E (20s to 50s) Patient who speaks through interpretive dance, formerly a teacher;
NICK (60s to 70s) Mysterious patient;
JAYDEN (20s to 40s) Another orderly in the ward room;
JANE & LILLY Two nurses (30s to 40s) (actually two soldiers, John & Larry, in disguise);
???? a surprise male character at the end (70s to 90s)
