Acapulco

by Jacquelyn Reingold

It's 1966, it's Brooklyn, it's Acapulco. Meet Doris, a soon to be divorced New Yorker, her frisky boyfriend who dyes his chest hair, a mysterious woman who’s really a man, her lying sociopath of a husband, a scheming laundress mother-in-law, and the Whore of Brooklyn. A swinging 1960’s comedy, except it isn't.

It's 1966, it's Brooklyn, it's Acapulco. Meet Doris, a soon to be divorced New Yorker, her frisky boyfriend who dyes his chest hair, a mysterious woman who’s really a man, her lying sociopath of a husband, a scheming laundress mother-in-law, and the Whore of Brooklyn. A swinging 1960’s comedy, except it isn't.

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Acapulco

Recommended by

  • Ali MacLean: Acapulco by Jacquelyn Reingold
    “

    A fun, 1960s farce with plot twists, gender twists, questionable sex, centering on a wonderfully daffy Brooklyn woman, Doris, who learns her own worth and value in the interim. Doris is endearing, even as she walks into traps, and has a warmth and comedic rhythm on par with Theda Blau from It Had To Be You. It’s striking today to see a woman want a man she doesn’t like to propose to her…and yet it isn’t. We root for Doris to overcome the 1960s conventions she’s confined by and come out on top. Great fun.

    A fun, 1960s farce with plot twists, gender twists, questionable sex, centering on a wonderfully daffy Brooklyn woman, Doris, who learns her own worth and value in the interim. Doris is endearing, even as she walks into traps, and has a warmth and comedic rhythm on par with Theda Blau from It Had To Be You. It’s striking today to see a woman want a man she doesn’t like to propose to her…and yet it isn’t. We root for Doris to overcome the 1960s conventions she’s confined by and come out on top. Great fun.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: Acapulco by Jacquelyn Reingold
    “

    A fun and meaningful comedy where the marriage path isn't quite what one expects and you discover yourself in the process. Well done!

    A fun and meaningful comedy where the marriage path isn't quite what one expects and you discover yourself in the process. Well done!

    ”
  • Brooke Berman: Acapulco by Jacquelyn Reingold
    “

    ACAPULCO is a delightful romp of a play about sex and gender roles, marriage and divorce, family and lovers, revenge and ultimately forgiveness. It follows the adventures of 30-something Brooklynite Doris, whose husband abandons her and unwittingly sends her on a crash course with self-actualization. The play is a love-letter to a generation of women raised to be good wives and mothers, women who often found themselves stranded once they'd achieved those goals. Funny and heart-warming, we can't help but fall in love with Doris and cheer her on as she finds her voice and ultimately her...

    ACAPULCO is a delightful romp of a play about sex and gender roles, marriage and divorce, family and lovers, revenge and ultimately forgiveness. It follows the adventures of 30-something Brooklynite Doris, whose husband abandons her and unwittingly sends her on a crash course with self-actualization. The play is a love-letter to a generation of women raised to be good wives and mothers, women who often found themselves stranded once they'd achieved those goals. Funny and heart-warming, we can't help but fall in love with Doris and cheer her on as she finds her voice and ultimately her backbone.

    read more
    ”

Character Information

  • Doris
    Quirky, naïve, frazzled. Sees the best in everything. Upbeat on the outside, desperate on the inside. Doing her best for her kids.
    30-45
    White,
    Jewish
    Female,
    Female identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Betty and Ben
    Leading role. A good guy in a bad spot. Trying to maneuver the impossible. Will do just about anything for his kids. Male.
    30-45
    Black
    Male (could be played by a non binary actor)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Dick
    Doris' soon to be ex. A liar. Handsome, successful, sociopath. Born and raised in Brooklyn. Doesn’t care about his kids
    35-45
    White,
    Jewish
    Male.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Nettie
    Dick's mother. Strong but easily rattled. Came from Russia in her teens. Balabusta.
    60s-70s
    White,
    Jewish
    Female.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Stewart
    Spirited and loud. Too much but not bad. Enjoys life. In lust with Doris.
    40-50
    White,
    Jewish
    Male.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Candy
    Dick’s girlfriend. Brooklyn babe. Tough, street. Knows what she wants. And how to get it.
    30-45
    White
    Female,
    female identifying.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop, SoBe Arts in Miami Beach, FL, starring Evan Handler and Nadia Dajani.,
  • Reading, Aracaworks, directed by John Rando, with Linda Lavin, Tony Shaloub, Colman Domingo, Richard Kind, Mia Barron, Leslie Kreitzer. ,