The Bachelor Party

by Davin Grindstaff

Four longtime friends retreat to a quaint little hotel in the country to celebrate the upcoming marriage of Richard and Steven with a bachelor party. Unbeknownst to them, they are not the only anticipated guests that weekend.
A classic farce with a slightly queer twist – okay, it’s a fairly sizable queer twist.
A complicated love triangle. Doors galore. Mistaken identities and compromising positions abound.

Four longtime friends retreat to a quaint little hotel in the country to celebrate the upcoming marriage of Richard and Steven with a bachelor party. Unbeknownst to them, they are not the only anticipated guests that weekend.
A classic farce with a slightly queer twist – okay, it’s a fairly sizable queer twist.
A complicated love triangle. Doors galore. Mistaken identities and compromising positions abound.

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The Bachelor Party

Recommended by

  • Jacob York: The Bachelor Party by Davin Grindstaff
    “

    Fun, silly, and exciting with endearing characters, THE BACHELOR PARTY gives you everything a farce demands. If your theatre is in the market for a door-slamming dose of fun, read this play. Audiences will adore it.

    Fun, silly, and exciting with endearing characters, THE BACHELOR PARTY gives you everything a farce demands. If your theatre is in the market for a door-slamming dose of fun, read this play. Audiences will adore it.

    ”
  • Benji Carr: The Bachelor Party by Davin Grindstaff
    “

    This script is a damn blast. It’s an excellent ensemble piece, funny throughout. The silent scene is my favorite. Plus, it’s just nice to read a smart farce.

    This script is a damn blast. It’s an excellent ensemble piece, funny throughout. The silent scene is my favorite. Plus, it’s just nice to read a smart farce.

    ”

Character Information

The characters of Stephen & Steven must be played by the same actor.
Lester, Richard, Martin, Jackson, Emerson, Kyle, and Steven/Stephen should all be in their 40s -- of course, younger or older actors who are believable as being in their 40s can be cast. The goal should be to avoid casting actors who are clearly in their 20s-30s.
Miriam Bidwell's age can range from 60s plus. The goal here is that she is believable as being around the same age as Martin's father.
  • Lester
    A gay man in his mid-to-late 40s who has held on to a single dream for the past 23 years: falling madly in love and getting married to his best friend, Richard. Even though he can be a desperate mess at times, Lester's friends value his kind heart and unrelenting optimism.
    40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Emerson
    A non-binary person of color in their mid-to-late forties. Their inherent distrust of society's norms and expectations renders them as someone who can always see through the bullshit... and call it out.
    40s
    Black or Person of Color
    Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Richard Decker
    Lester's best friend of 23 years, he remains devilishly handsome in his mid-to-late 40s. Seductive and charming, it's easy to see why Lester has been in love with him all these years.
    40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Martin Bachelor
    A gay man in his mid-to-late 40s who is hosting the Kink Conference. Possessing the same level of sexual confidence as Richard, Martin goes with the flow more than calculating his next conquest.
    40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Kyle Madison
    A gay man who just turned 50, he is the eldest member of the group, and he's not happy about it. Masking his own insecurities about getting older, Kyle surrounds himself with materialistic possessions and a great deal of judgment. Despite the drama he brings to every occasion, he is deeply loyal and would do anything to protect his friends.
    Just turned 50
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Miriam Bidwell
    A newly-widowed spinster in her mid-to-late 70s who is considering investing in the hotel. Miriam Bidwell holds a conservative set of values that naturally co-exists with old money. Oh and one more thing: She's one tough cookie.
    50s-70s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Priest
    A man of the cloth in his late 20s.
    20s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Jackson Pierce
    A gay man in his mid-to-late 40s who matches the description of Richard. Though not quite his doppleganger, it wouldn't be difficult to confuse them for each other. A romantic at heart and good-natured.
    40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Stephen / Steven
    STEPHEN: A jovial concierge. Although generally oblivious to the world around him, his naivete stems from a childlike innocence that (in most instances) others find endearing.
    STEVEN: A gay man in his mid-to-late 40s. Richard's fiancee. Played by the same actor who plays STEPHEN.
    40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Mr. Stark
    The manager of the cozy little hotel. While he is a contemptuous, crotchety, power-hungry old fart on the outside... nope, that's pretty much what you get on the inside, too.
    50s-70s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, OutFront Theatre (Atlanta, GA), 2022

Awards

  • Writers Search
    Del Shores Foundation
    Finalist
    2023