JAC Publishing & Promotions

The Fabulous Imbecile by Michael Legge
#2005-0033

ISBN #1-933159-37-5

(See also Michael Legge's comedies Shake-A-Spear and Time Was

Cast Requirements:

bulletARTIE: Middle-aged. A nervous novice.
bulletANNIE: A young, no-nonsense stage manager. Tart-tongued.
bulletRICHARD JAGGER: Middle-aged. The theater company’s resident director. Long-suffering (but who isn’t in theater?).
bulletMONTY DROSS: Middle-aged. High-strung. Recovering from a nervous breakdown.
bulletSTACY TRUMBELL: Any age. A first-time reporter who can’t believe her luck at being on the scene of a fiasco.
bulletFLO REPOZA: Senior citizen. A veteran of the stage and somewhat grand. Prone to fainting spells.
bulletMAX GROVER: Senior citizen. An old friend of Flo’s. A high-priced executive in the entertainment world.
bulletGRANT POWERS: 30s. Tall, good-looking, with an athletic build (although a slight paunch is permissible.) Loud, cocky and completely self-centered at first. Somewhat softened in his attitude by the end.
bulletAL: A young man. Chauffeur. Unassuming. A nice guy.
bulletBELINDA: A young ingenue type. Small and pretty. Not really stupid, just in her own little world.
bulletHEIDI: Middle-aged. Artie’s wife. Bossy, direct and not impressed with Grant (at all).

The Setting

The scene is the backstage area of the East Pocket Community Players. There are several raw flats forming three sides which jut out. A door is on the SR side of the flats and a double terrace door is center. There is enough space for actors to go out "on stage." The back wall where the “audience” sits is black. In the backstage area is a table and chair at right, with table lamp and notebooks. There is a microphone that connects to the theater loudspeaker system. There are several chairs where actors can sit. Another door left leads to the dressing rooms and outside.

Plot Summary

A small community theater group, The Pocket Players, are excited by the home coming of local boy made good, Grant Powers. Grant has become a famous movie star specializing in action films, and he has agreed to do his home town a favor by appearing in a new play written by local playwright, Monty Dross. It's also a publicity stunt for Grant, who is trying to legitimize himself as a serious actor. Unfortunately his arrogant and crude demeanor hasn't changed over the years and he quickly antagonizes the entire theater company. To top it off, even though he's had the script in his possession ahead of time, he didn't bother to learn his lines, and was unable to show up for rehearsals. The play's director, Richard and his stage manager, Annie try to make the best of a bad situation, as they come up with schemes to make Grant not look like an idiot. Chaos ensues during the performance, driving Monty the playwright over the edge of sanity, along with the rest of the cast. Once the shambles of a play is cut short, Grant makes what little peace he can with the cast, and an unexpected twist at the end comes from an audience member.

Online purchases are for single script purchases only and include $3 S&H.  For more than one script or a script package, please call us at (781) 272-2066

Imbecile.jpg (87696 bytes)

$5.75/individual copy

$65/package +
$35/performance royalty

Props List Costume List
bulletPlay scripts (at least 3)
bulletMicrophone on table that connects to the P.A.
bulletCane
bulletMini tape recorder
bulletBusiness card
bulletTake-out menu
bulletBag of take-out food
bulletVase with dead roses
bulletLength of toilet paper
bulletPaper bag with sandwich
bulletBaseball bat
bulletSoda can
bulletHeadset for Annie2
bulletNotebooks and pens
bulletFoot bandaging
bulletCamera
bulletTwo suitcases
bulletEmpty binder
bulletPortable light
bulletLoose piece of paper “onstage”
bulletServing tray
bulletLarge key chain
bulletFencing sword
bulletARTIE: Casual attire before the show. Business attire/3-piece suit during the play.
bulletANNIE: Black sweater or T-shirt. Dark pants.
bulletRICHARD JAGGER: Casual, but dark clothes. Has a cane.
bulletMONTY DROSS: Flashy suit. In Act II, he throws off a coat and wears a bow tie and vest to be the Butler.
bulletSTACY TRUMBELL: Pant suit.
bulletFLO REPOZA: Casual blouse and slacks in the beginning. Her role in the play calls for a fancy billowing dress.
bulletMAX GROVER: Conservative suit.
bulletGRANT POWERS: Loud Hawaiian shirt and shorts (or baggy pants) in the beginning. His role in the play calls for a turtle neck and dark pants with loafers.
bulletAL: White shirt and tie. Dark pants. A chauffer’s cap.
bulletBELINDA: Casual blouse with shorts or slacks in the beginning. Her role in the play calls for a frilly, pastel dress.
bulletHEIDI: Casual at the beginning. Her role in the play calls for a dark dress suitable for a middle-aged woman.
The Fabulous Imbecile was first performed in August 2003. The production was directed by Michael Legge and featured:
bulletArtie: Tom Motekaitus
bulletAnnie: Kirsten Raymond
bulletRichard Jagger: James Porter
bulletMonty Dross: BJ McCoy
bulletStacy Trumbell: Linda Wright-Robison
bulletFlo Repoza: Bunny Porter
bulletMax Grover: Charles Cormier
bulletGrant Powers: Eric Borgman
bulletAl: Steve Buja
bulletBelinda: Lynda Slocomb
bulletHeidi: Rose Marie Lyon

Author Biography


Headshot (75662 bytes)As he says himself, Michael Legge has been a film maker, playwright, actor and director for "too many years."  He is the Artistic Director of the Medway (MA) Players and prides his group on the fact that they prefer to stage unpublished works and new plays.  When he can't do that, he searches for old, obscure plays that no one else does.  Shake-A-Spear is his first published play.  His previous plays include Shake A Spear, and Memoirs of a Gorilla.  He is currently working on a new play, Time Was.

Legge is also the head of his own production company, Sideshow Cinema, which has been producing no budget feature length comedies for 20 years.  His movies, Honey Glaze, Braindrainer, Loons and Cutthroats are all available on DVD and can be easily found online.  His newest movie, Democrazy, was released in January'05. 

Michael has no plans to "grow up" anytime soon.

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