Three half-sisters. Three different mothers. One tiny Toronto condo — and enough secrets to fill it.
When polished, successful June unexpectedly arrives to stay with her older sisters Margaret and Evelyn, the reunion quickly becomes more complicated than anyone anticipated. Each woman is hiding something: June's seemingly perfect life has collapsed, Evelyn's wheelchair-bound helplessness isn't quite what it appears, and recently widowed Margaret is concealing a secret of her own.
As their carefully constructed façades begin to crumble, decades of sibling rivalry, jealousy and competing memories of the father they shared rise to the surface. The Other Daughters is a comedy about ageing, pride, family, and three sisters discovering that sometimes the people who know you best are the very people from whom it's hardest to hide.
Genre: Dramatic Comedy
Acts: 2
Run time: 95 minutes
Suitable for students 16+
Content notes: Play contains themes of Grief/Bereavement; Death of a Spouse; Compulsive Shoplifting/Kleptomania; Mental Health/Therapy; Alcohol Use; Sexual References
Cast size: 5 actors
Male roles: 2
Female roles: 3
Casting notes:
Margaret — Female, late 70s
Evelyn (Evy) — Female, early 70s
June — Female, 60s
Nick — Male, 60s
Charlie — Male, 60s
The three principal female roles are substantial, distinct roles written for mature performers. Margaret, Evelyn and June should read as women in their late 70s, early 70s and 60s respectively; however, exact actor ages may be flexible provided the relative age differences between the sisters are believable. Nick and Charlie are both written in their 60s and may also be cast with some age flexibility. The characters are not written with race or ethnicity as defining characteristics, allowing for inclusive casting. Strong comic timing is important throughout, particularly for the physical and farcical elements of the play. Charlie is a largely non-verbal role for much of the play and requires a performer with particularly strong physical comedy and expressive skills.
Keywords: Sisters, Half-Sisters, Family, Family Relationships, Sibling Rivalry, Family Secrets, Secrets, Ageing, Older Women, Seniors, Women, Female-Led, Female Ensemble, Comedy, Contemporary Comedy, Family Comedy, Relationship Comedy, Canadian, Toronto, Urban, Condominium, Domestic Life, Grief, Widowhood, Loss, Loneliness, Pride, Jealousy, Resentment, Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Identity, Independence, Vulnerability, Second Chances, Starting Over, Sisterhood, Family History, Fathers and Daughters, Different Mothers, Blended Family, Generational Memories, Marriage, Divorce, Romance, Later-Life Romance, Friendship, Caregiving, Recovery, Disability, Deception, Financial Trouble, Career Loss, Unemployment, Homelessness, Financial Insecurity, Compulsive Behaviour, Shoplifting, Kleptomania, Therapy, Mental Health, Healing, Self-Discovery, Personal Growth, Family Conflict, Family Reconnection, Dysfunctional Family, Ageing with Humour, Sex and Ageing, Older Adults, Retirement Age, Music, Piano, Guitar, Physical Comedy, Verbal Comedy, Character Comedy, Ensemble Comedy, Single-Set Play, Small Cast, Contemporary Theatre.
