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 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: Bamboozled by Patricia Milton

“

A powerful look at the conflict in what we value to social conscience and how that plays out. Well done.

A powerful look at the conflict in what we value to social conscience and how that plays out. Well done.

”
Lorraine Midanik: Bamboozled by Patricia Milton

“

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.

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: Bamboozled by Patricia Milton

“

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!

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

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."

Character Age

20's

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Black

Character Gender Identity

Cisgender Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Savannah Hill

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."

Character Age

30's-40's

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Black

Character Gender Identity

Cisgender Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Rochelle Ashworth

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."

Character Age

40's-50's

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

White

Character Gender Identity

Cisgender Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Opal Anne Hatchett

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."

Character Age

50's-60's

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

White

Character Gender Identity

Cisgender Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female

Development History

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

Production History

Type Professional, Organization Central Works Theatre, Berkeley, CA, Year 2018

Awards

Best Featured Actress - Susan Jackson as Opan Anne

SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle

Winner

2018
Outstanding Ensemble

San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle

Finalist

2018
Outstanding Production, entire San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle

Finalist

2018
Outstanding Production, East Bay

SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle

Finalist

2018
Outstanding Costume Design

Theatre Bay Area

Finalist

2018
Outstanding Direction of a Play

Theatre Bay Area

Finalist

2018
Oustanding Performance in a Lead Role (2 awards)

Theatre Bay Area

Winner

2018
Outstanding Ensemble of a Play

Theatre Bay Area

Winner

2018
Outstanding World Premiere Play

Theatre Bay Area

Finalist

2018
Outstanding Production

Theatre Bay Area

Winner

2018

Genre

comedy,

drama,

political

Subject Matter Keywords

Race,

stereotypes,

law

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Characters of Color,

Centers Female Characters,

Centers LGBTQ Characters

Supporting Materials

Supporting Video

https://youtu.be/EhDW3ocYXyU

Reviews

For All Events

“
With her first hand knowledge and a writer’s eye for building a narrative from conflict to conflict, [Milton] has crafted a memorable play. . . a thoroughly entertaining work.
”
Gaetana Caldwell-Smith, SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle

“
... as in most of Milton’s plays dealing with complex, controversial issues, it is by no means heavy-handed. The pacing is fast, the dialogue smart, sassy, and snappy.
”
Theatrius

“
Bamboozled steals your heart. ... In her sharp and revealing new play, Milton covers race, nostalgia, corruption, gender, and greed, all mingled with comedy by four outstanding, superb women actors. ... Bamboozled offers a heady mixture of laughs, surprises, and rewards: Bamboozled fills in the blanks in our present quagmire.
”