NOMINATED FOR THE PGC TOM HENDRY AWARD FOR BEST COMEDY
A comedy in two acts
by Marcia Kash and Douglas E. Hughes
Cast: 4 female, 3 male
Jack and his eccentric retirement home colleagues plot to win back their savings, lost in a Ponzi scheme. This mini-Madoff may be clever, but can he trump the Jack of Diamonds?
Jack of Diamonds follows a group of happy retirees who are under the all-seeing eye of mean Nurse Harper. Jack is a former jeweller who made his living buying and selling diamonds via late-night TV ads. He lives in a rather luxurious, privately-owned retirement home along with his fellow residents: the techno-wizard Rose, the artistically gifted but forgetful Flora, and the narcoleptic beauty Blanche. Unbeknownst to the four of them, however, the man to whom they’ve entrusted their life savings – a smooth-talking financial advisor named Barney Effward – has been arrested for bilking his clients out of their savings through a Ponzi scheme. Faced with financial ruin, all seems lost. They face being moved out of their “home,” and into a state run facility. But when a certain Mr. Smith is mysteriously transferred into their midst, they discover the felonious financier Effward is hiding from the law in their very own seniors’ home – along with several million dollars in diamonds. Pandemonium ensues as a scheme is quickly hatched to make all their money back, and keep the authorities from discovering their plans. But, first like a band of super heroes, they have to apply every one of their special skills to get past Nurse Harper, the cops and Effward’s equally shady lawyer, Mortimer.
Jack of Diamonds is a geriatric gem and a laugh-out-loud comedy of errors from the authors of the smash hit Who’s Under Where?
Jack of Diamonds premiered in 2015 at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario. It has since been produced dozens of times in Canada, the United States and the U.K.
What people say:
“Fast-paced and funny [Jack of Diamonds] elevates silliness to art.” (Hamilton Spectator)
“This show is a delight…a smash…a great night of theatre..” (The View)
“a laugh-out-loud hit that’s perfect for regional theatres who are looking for a play that features older actors.” (Hamilton Spectator)