Bad Medicine or Good to the Last Drop

by Kris Thompson

In the sleepy little cattle town of Bagwell, Colorado, childhood sweethearts Sheriff Gene Ranger and Nurse Becky Trueheart are on the fast-track for marriage when evil darkens their doorstep. Beautiful con-artist, Sally West, is found unconscious and feigns amnesia. Her secret ally, snake oil salesman and self-proclaimed healer, Bodkin Shamley, appears. He discredits the town doctor and surreptitiously takes over with the goal of wooing Becky for her inherited cattle land. The villainous pair secretly introduce a concoction of love potion and all the wrong people start falling head-over-heals for each other. There is only one hope for Gene, Becky, and all of Bagwell…true love.

Available through Next Stage Press www.nextstagepress.com/bad-medicine

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Bad Medicine or Good to the Last Drop

Recommended by

Doug DeVita: Bad Medicine or Good to the Last Drop by Kris Thompson

“

Superior, sublime silliness, this homage to 19th century melodrama is a lot of fun. With a large cast offering meaty roles for performers of any gender to sink their teeth into, this is the kind of show that is like a vacation for its audiences: pure, delightful entertainment.

Superior, sublime silliness, this homage to 19th century melodrama is a lot of fun. With a large cast offering meaty roles for performers of any gender to sink their teeth into, this is the kind of show that is like a vacation for its audiences: pure, delightful entertainment.

”

Character Information

CARL GOODALL

Town doctor, 40s, widowed, smart, sweet on Lacy but undeclared.

Character Age

40-50

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
BECKY TRUEHEART

Heroine, young pretty Nurse, 25, assistant to Carl, being courted by Gene, recently inherited large cattle ranch upon father's passing.

(There is a line in the script describing her as "milky white" so if a person of color plays this role please contact playwright for an adjustment in dialogue, no problem.

Character Age

25

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
BODKIN SHAMLEY

Villain, snake oil peddler and con-artist 40s, well spoken, in cahoots with Sally.
IMPORTANT: Bodkin Shamley is pronounced: BODE-KIN SHAM-LEE. His name is constantly being mispronounced so important to pronounce correctly when not being mispronounced.

Character Age

40-50

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
SALLY WEST

Beautiful con-artist, 30s, in cahoots with Bodkin.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
GENE RANGER

Hero, town sheriff, 26, courting Becky.

Character Age

26

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
LACY MCKINNEY

Proprietor of Bagwell Saloon, 30s, sister to Charlie, tough, widowed, sweet on Carl but undeclared.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
CHARLIE HAMBY

Townsperson, 30s, brother to Lacy, know-it-all, best friend to Hickory.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
HICKORY PICKETT

Townsperson, 30s, with bad dental hygiene, best friend to Charlie.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
MAXWELL FORMAN

Sounds like Foghorn Leghorn. Government official, 50s, coming to finalize the lease agreement of Becky’s Ranch.
Can be changed to MAXIENE FORMAN for female actor.

Character Age

50s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s
DOUGLAS PRATHER

Local reverend, 60s, known for giving senseless words of wisdom.
Can be changed to DONNA PRATHER for female actor.

Character Age

60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+

Production History

Type Community Theater, Organization College of the Mainland, Year 2024
Type Community Theater, Organization Way Off Broadway Community Players, Year 2021
Type Community Theater, Organization Gillette Community Theatre, Year 2018
Type Community Theater, Organization McKinney Repertory Theatre, Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Theatre Suburbia, Year 2014

Awards

Best Show: 2016 MaRTy Awards

McKinney Repertory Theatre

Winner

2016
National Scriptwriting Contest

Theatre Suburbia

Winner

2014

Genre

comedy,

melodrama,

period,

romantic comedy

Subject Matter Keywords

Old West,

true love,

heroes and villains

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

all ages

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters

Supporting Materials

Published Script

https://www.nextstagepress.com/bad-medicine/

Supporting Video

http://theatresuburbia.org/show.php?show=389,

https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/BWW-Interviews-Playwright-Kris-Ga…

Reviews

Next Stage Press

“
Bodkin Shamley! What a wonderful name for a melodrama villain. Kris Thompson has written a deliciously nasty, egocentric maniac of a villain in Bad Medicine. Bodkin was more fun to bring to life than any character I had played before. The cast is rounded out with a collection of characters that make for an engaging company of entertaining buffoons and sweet-hearted heroics. This is not only a fun plot, but is very well written with sharply observed interplay between the characters. Audiences love this show.
”
Broadway World

“
The play is funny and self-aware. While rooted in a classic tale, it has the feeling of something more experimental and exploratory. And the story is Shakespearean, not lazy, in its familiarity.
”