Paul M. Kelly holds a doctorate in education from Fordham University. An associate member of the Dramatists Guild of America, he has had numerous productions of his plays developed through The Village Playwrights. Dr. Kelly is a registrar and teaches English at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
Night Prattle by Paul M. Kelly
Published July, 2003
Paul M. Kelly's trilogy of one-act plays, Night Prattle, engages the reader through the witty and elegant repartee of his characters. Their voices etch an indelible portrait of a world where ambitions, obsessions, excesses, and commitments are realized, and where friendship remains a source of comfort and frustration.
Tying the ensemble together are the choice reminiscences flowing from the fast-paced dialogue. Whether it be a one-night fling as a hustler in Delicious Thing, a look at parochial school educators in Brides of God, or the misadventures of a middle-aged man in Feasting With Panthers, Kelly cleverly reveals to his audience a unique glimpse into the alternative lifestyles of his characters.
Night Prattle unveils a cavalcade of private moments from six individuals living and working in Manhattan. The motivations of the characters are fueled by their salient views on how to achieve their desires. Throughout the collection, a distinct depth, breadth and richness emerges from the gay themes, rising to universal heights of individuality and contemporary survival.
Published March, 2003
This comedy takes place in an exclusive nursing home. Miss Larson, frustrated at being surrounded by people who neither understand nor appreciate her or the things she loves, has taken to speaking in nothing but quotes of the last words of famous people. Although the clear intent of this strategy is to give all who encounter her the impression that she is senile, and thereby afford her some peace and quiet, we understand from the outset that it is a cry for attention - the right attention. A young man, Greg, meets her while waiting for his lover, who is considering the nursing home for his father. He figures out her charade and why she indulges in it.
At the start of the drama, Mother appears to be the recipient of parental abuse, but as the play unfolds, we discover that her middle-aged daughter must deal with a troubling situation - how to care for an elderly parent determined to commit suicide. It's Mother's Day, again, and time is running out. Mother wants her daughter Marian to understand and assist her so she can end it all before her son Jimmy comes home to visit. For Marian, every day is Mother's Day.
That Particular Plan and Disclosure at Bentwell Manor by Paul M. Kelly
Published November, 2002
This offbeat comedy exposes the eccentric behavior of Godfrey Chambers, wealthy manufacturing industrialist, Lydia, his wacky nymphomaniac wife, Evelyn, their estranged daughter who communicates with baboons, and the spurned butler, Carl.
Godfrey and Carl place an ad in a London newspaper arranging to meet with Scott Sprinter, an American studying abroad who carried out a break-in at the Chambers' home. Since the event had a profound effect on Lydia, Godfrey hopes that bribery will prompt Sprinter to assist him in committing his wife to an asylum. Throughout the play, the American, who wants the money but has no idea what is expected of him, finds himself trapped in a situation where the quirky characters around him struggle to make choices and decisions based on absurd judgment.
The scene of this farce is Bentwell Manor, home of Lady Bentwell, son Bradley, and their staff. Horrified by the social implications of her son marrying the actress and perceived gold digger Clarice Changely, Lady Bentwell hires her former lover, the Inspector, to delve into Clarice's past. She must act quickly, not only to foil the engagement, but also to prevent anyone from learning the truth about her own past.
Meanwhile, the reader is treated to the high jinks of the maid, Gertrude, who constantly runs off to be a punk-rock groupie, and Bridget the cook, who has decided on a novel way to commit suicide in order to get back at Lady Bentwell for refusing her a decent reference, thereby thwarting her plans to leave Bentwell Manor for good.
Published August, 2002
The action takes place in an apartment building in Chelsea, a trendy enclave of lower Manhattan. As the play begins, a memorial service is in progress, honoring the memory of the landlady, Mrs. Birchmire. Her tenants, seven gay men, recall their beloved friend through a series of lighthearted vignettes. The characters come from the audience and walk to a podium center stage and, as they remember their happiest times with Mrs. Birchmire, they move from the podium and into the memory scene.
The scenes in this two-act comedy are snapshots frozen in time about a strong-willed woman who inspired her tenants to be themselves. They present a group of individuals who are open and affirming, and who treasure and value their experiences with her. Their relationships become enhanced and accentuated. Their words become honest and revealing. Their lives become illuminated, lightened, and meaningful in a play that promotes the luminous values of understanding, concern, and friendship.
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