The Chateau Rainbeau Holiday Door Decorating Contest

by Donald E. Baker

After Ray loses his husband, he moves into Chateau Rainbeau, a gay retirement facility where his friend George lives. James, Ray’s long-time nemesis also lives there. Their enmity breaks out into the open when they both enter the facility’s annual holiday door decorating contest. The play deals with issues of rivalry, coping with grief, and, perhaps, finding love in ones seventies.

After Ray loses his husband, he moves into Chateau Rainbeau, a gay retirement facility where his friend George lives. James, Ray’s long-time nemesis also lives there. Their enmity breaks out into the open when they both enter the facility’s annual holiday door decorating contest. The play deals with issues of rivalry, coping with grief, and, perhaps, finding love in ones seventies.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

The Chateau Rainbeau Holiday Door Decorating Contest

Recommended by

  • Philip Middleton Williams: The Chateau Rainbeau Holiday Door Decorating Contest

    It's a matter of reality that the holidays with all their commercialized tidings of comfort and joy are a tough time for people who have lost loved ones. Moving on alone is not easy, and in this warm and often humorous short play, Don Baker takes on grief and the competition to outdo the neighbors in holiday decor. All it takes is a little taste, charm, and good friends (not to mention a good-natured rivalry) to make the season bright.

    It's a matter of reality that the holidays with all their commercialized tidings of comfort and joy are a tough time for people who have lost loved ones. Moving on alone is not easy, and in this warm and often humorous short play, Don Baker takes on grief and the competition to outdo the neighbors in holiday decor. All it takes is a little taste, charm, and good friends (not to mention a good-natured rivalry) to make the season bright.

  • Brent Alles: The Chateau Rainbeau Holiday Door Decorating Contest

    A very enjoyable holiday-themed play. Wonderful characters that draw you right into the story (should provide great parts for actors to play as well). Some very funny lines, but there's a poignancy that I appreciated as well. It elevated this above a jokey holiday celebration into something much more rewarding to read/view. In the end, you have here an involving, humorous, touching slice of life that would fit in well with a holiday one-act festival or even being produced on its own.

    A very enjoyable holiday-themed play. Wonderful characters that draw you right into the story (should provide great parts for actors to play as well). Some very funny lines, but there's a poignancy that I appreciated as well. It elevated this above a jokey holiday celebration into something much more rewarding to read/view. In the end, you have here an involving, humorous, touching slice of life that would fit in well with a holiday one-act festival or even being produced on its own.

  • Morey Norkin: The Chateau Rainbeau Holiday Door Decorating Contest

    This is such a lovely, sweet story, perfect for the holidays. Although it deals with grief, it is never maudlin. Baker provides plenty of humor and warmth plus one truly smarmy character that everyone will be rooting against. Let the decorating begin!

    This is such a lovely, sweet story, perfect for the holidays. Although it deals with grief, it is never maudlin. Baker provides plenty of humor and warmth plus one truly smarmy character that everyone will be rooting against. Let the decorating begin!

Character Information

3 M, Playing Age 70+
  • George Delaney
    Gay Male, Age 70+, any race or ethnicity. Retired accountant. An established resident of the Chateau Rainbeau Retirement Community.
    Character Age
    70+
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Ray Kaminsky
    Gay Male, Age 70+. Retired florist and recent widower. An old friend of George but a new resident of Chateau Rainbeau. In decent physical shape.
    Character Age
    70+
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • James Randall James
    Gay Male, Age 70+, any race or ethnicity, slender and good-looking. Long-term resident of Chateau Rainbeau. Thinks he’s God’s gift to interior decoration and to other gay men.
    Character Age
    70+
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male