Bamboozled by Patricia Milton

Winner, Outstanding Production, Theatre Bay Area, 2018
Finalist, Outstanding World Premiere Play, Theatre Bay Area, 2018
Winner, Outstanding Ensemble of a Play, Theatre Bay Area, 2018
Stranded in Tennessee, and charged with defrauding a Daughter of the Confederacy out of family Civil War heirlooms worth over $1M, a young black appraiser from L.A. must find a way to win the suit, or face...
Winner, Outstanding Production, Theatre Bay Area, 2018
Finalist, Outstanding World Premiere Play, Theatre Bay Area, 2018
Winner, Outstanding Ensemble of a Play, Theatre Bay Area, 2018
Stranded in Tennessee, and charged with defrauding a Daughter of the Confederacy out of family Civil War heirlooms worth over $1M, a young black appraiser from L.A. must find a way to win the suit, or face ruin. Inspired by the true story of an Antiques Road Show appraiser who cheated a family out of a million dollars' worth of Confederate memorabilia, this four-woman play looks at what we value, and what it costs us. A timely exploration of the improbable road to reparations, and a look at how justice bats last. This play premiered February 2018 at Central Works in Berkeley, CA, USA, and was a Theatre Bay Area Awards Recommended Production, and an SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle "Go See!" production.
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Bamboozled

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    28 Sep. 2021
    “ A powerful look at the conflict in what we value to social conscience and how that plays out. Well done. ”
  • Lorraine Midanik:
    28 May. 2019
    “ This is a wonderful comedy inspired by a true story of what can happen when you mix greed, racism and family relationships. The dialogue is clever and engaging throughout and thoroughly enjoyable. It also provides meaty roles for four women. I highly recommend it. ”
  • susan jackson:
    24 May. 2019
    “ I had the opportunity to act in this play as well, and portraying the Southern White Supremacist was a lot of fun because Patricia found the right balance in the characters. The fast paced rhythm, the dialogue, the circumstances were enjoyable and timely. It is an excellent play for these times, and for four actresses. And a great surprise ending that makes the audience gasp! ”

Character Information

No doubling

  • Abby Howard
    20's,
    Black
    ,
    Cisgender Female
    Hails from Rialto, California. Desperate but resourceful. Busy tracing her family line. An "Antiques Roadtrip" appraiser accused of fraud. Guilty or innocent? Let's find out. MOTTO: "Know the Value of Everything,
    Especially Family."
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Savannah Hill
    30's-40's,
    Black
    ,
    Cisgender Female
    Lawyer. Lesbian, partnered with Delia, a grade-school teacher. Hails from Memphis. A preacher's daughter. Tennessee accent, which she tightens up /code switches for Opal Anne. Misused and damn near fed up.
    MOTTO: "Fit in. Make do. Fuck these people."
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Rochelle Ashworth
    40's-50's,
    White
    ,
    Cisgender Female
    Ambitious lawyer, fighter, lesbian, originally from Blades, Delaware (the North). She classifies herself as an outsider. Came to Tennessee for love. Dumped, she stays for spite, determined to grow her business.
    Seriously on the hustle regarding her career. Standard US accent. MOTTO: "No one is innocent."
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Opal Anne Hatchett
    50's-60's,
    White
    ,
    Cisgender Female
    Old-school Southern matriarch who hosts Civil War re-enactments on her estate. Tennessee accent. Trump voter, a member of Richard Spencer's pro-white movement. A big-time fan of the 19th century and its values,
    Opal Anne's got no patience for white guilt. Tennessee accent. MOTTO: "The South Shall Rise Again."
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Central Works Theatre
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Playwrights Center of San Francisco (called "Bending Toward Justice")
    ,
    2017

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Central Works Theatre, Berkeley, CA
    ,
    2018

Awards

Winner
,
Outstanding Production
,
Theatre Bay Area
,
2018
Finalist
,
Outstanding World Premiere Play
,
Theatre Bay Area
,
2018
Winner
,
Outstanding Ensemble of a Play
,
Theatre Bay Area
,
2018
Winner
,
Oustanding Performance in a Lead Role (2 awards)
,
Theatre Bay Area
,
2018
Finalist
,
Outstanding Direction of a Play
,
Theatre Bay Area
,
2018
Finalist
,
Outstanding Costume Design
,
Theatre Bay Area
,
2018
Finalist
,
Outstanding Production, East Bay
,
SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
,
2018
Finalist
,
Outstanding Production, entire San Francisco Bay Area
,
San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
,
2018
Finalist
,
Outstanding Ensemble
,
San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
,
2018
Winner
,
Best Featured Actress - Susan Jackson as Opan Anne
,
SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
,
2018