A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Easy Money

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 4m, 1girl(s)

The Stafford family are all in need of money in one way or the other. They have been secretly doing the football pools - secretly because Grandma who lives with them disapproves. When they find that they have won, everything looks good. They all have money for their needs and Grandma, in disgust, has started to pack her things to move out. Then they discover the maid forgot to post the coupon.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m, 1girl(s)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary
The Staffords regularly fill in their football pool coupon, but they keep it  a secret from Grandma, who does not approve of gambling. At the moment they are finding things a bit tight, and Philip is about to give up his golf. Carol, his daughter, is supposed to be engaged to Martin Latham, who lives next door, but he is doubtful of his ability to provide for her. Her brother, Denis, recently demobilised, is about to invest in a very shady venture with a friend if he can raise the money. Staying with them is a niece, Jacky, who quarrels continually with Grandma, after the manner of extreme youth with extreme age. Grandma hears of the family gamble and announces her intention of leaving and going to live with her other son Paul. But before she can finish packing, the Staffords find they have won a dividend – large enough to make Grandma revise her judgement. Now their plans of how to spend the money evoke such quarrels that they are all relieved when a chastened Jacky tells them she forgot to post the coupon. The news brings them to their senses: Denis is saved from serious trouble with the police; Martin, who felt like he could not marry Carol when she had more money than himself, can now propose; and Grandma starts packing again. In their first excitement, every member of the family had sent off a telegraphed claim, and now when these are admitted they cannot understand it. It turns out it was the previous week’s coupon Jacky forgot to post, and as long as they are congratulating each other on their double luck of winning the money and losing Grandma as well – in she walks again. 
Males: 2 young, 2 middle-aged. 
Females: 1 juvenile, 1 young, 1 middle-aged, 1 elderly, 1 maidservant
  • Time Period 1940s / WWII
  • Setting A lounge.
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Arnold Ridley

ARNOLD RIDLEY, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984)

Born in Bath – and always a proud West Countryman – Arnold Ridley is best known today for playing the part of Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. This came at the end of a long and varied career in the theatre. He was a prol ...

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