Old Mill Cafe: A Play in Two Acts

Old Mill Café is a play about the struggles of ordinary people in ordinary small towns across America as they face economic hardships and attempt to adapt to changing times. The characters represent a cross-section of people in one such town, Riverview. There is Amy, a widow left alone to try to save the once-upscale restaurant her she and her husband began. There is Jenny, who drains herself trying to be the perfect wife and mother. There is Frank, whose once-successful plumbing business is failing. There is Mattie, the motherly waitress, whose religious beliefs lend her strength and hope. There is Grace, the sophisticate, who is one of the few left of the town's upper class. And there is Chantal, the owner of the local beauty shop, who is a Dolly Parton-like force of nature. Despite the initially grave circumstances at the play's opening, it ends triumphantly. Change has come to Riverview, and with it, a new and better tomorrow. Old Mill is a play for general audiences. With music, memorable characters, laughter and wisdom, it is sure to entertain and leave the audience tapping their feet and singing along at the finale'. Old Mill Café was written with community theater and other amateur productions in mind. It involves only one simple set (the Old Mill Café), a minimum of set dressing (3 or 4 mismatched, small tables and chairs and a cashier's stand). The time is the present day in a rural setting, so no costumes other than the actors' everyday casual clothes are required. While it is a play, it does incorporate four musical acts using the device of an open mike night at the café. All the music used will be original songs by the musical acts or will be songs in the public domain, so copyright problems are avoided. Generally speaking, any songs published or in common use prior to 1923 are in the public domain, and long lists of these songs are available on the internet. No special lighting or sound effects are necessary, though the musical acts may require a microphone and speakers, depending on the size of the theater. The action takes place on a single early evening, more or less in real time, to avoid set and costume changes. There are 6 female and 3 male speaking parts plus at least 3 musical acts.