Bobbi Boland
Encyclopedia
Bobbi Boland is a play by Nancy Hasty which premiered at the Off-Broadway
Arclight Theatre
in New York City
, New York
. It ran from March 1 to July 10, 2001.
, Florida
and centers around Bobbi. She runs the charm school and is a theater star. It is a quaint, small town, and is trying to keep at bay the Rock n' Roll which is becoming more and more present. It's where a measure of a man is how much he provides for his family, where sexuality is overlooked, charm school's are still present and the theater is important part of everyone's social life.
Twenty years earlier, Bobbi was Miss Florida
, and from that she gained valid beliefs of the way ladies and gentlemen should act towards each other. Sam is her gay haberdasher
neighbor and theatre director. Bobbi is married to her high school sweetheart, Roger, who was once a great football player. He currently works at an office and hates it, and would much rather be doing carpentry
. He has become a Joe Shmoe
, wearing the suit and tie, and doing the job to satisfy his wife's idea of a husband, complete with him climbing the corporate ladder and keeping an elegant and prosperous house.
The play opens with Bobbi and Roger prepping the house because the owner of his company, George McGowan, to entertain the possibility of a promotion for him. Bobbi then has one of her charm school students, Susan, be hostess and Bobbi nags Roger before the bell rings. When it does, they are shocked to see George has not brought his wife, but Kim, a new, leggy young blonde from New York.
The drama heightens because Roger does love his wife, even though he knows he is being pushed around. Bobbi sees Kim as a threat to her marriage, and Kim forms a bond with Susan. By the resolution of the play, Bobbi is alone.
The show starred Nancy Hasty as Bobbi Boland (the original actress quit over differences with the director), Holiday Segal as Susan Johnson, Gregg Henry
as Roger Boland, Byron Loyd as Sam White, David Little as George McGowan, and Tanya Clarke as Kim McGowan.
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
Arclight Theatre
Arclight Theatre
The Arclight Theatre, located at 152 West 71st Street, between Broadway & Columbus Avenues.The theater has a seating capacity of 99 seats and is located on the lower level of The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, down one flight of stairs....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It ran from March 1 to July 10, 2001.
Plot
Set in 1967 in CrestviewCrestview, Florida
Crestview is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. Crestview’s name was chosen because of its location on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the City....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and centers around Bobbi. She runs the charm school and is a theater star. It is a quaint, small town, and is trying to keep at bay the Rock n' Roll which is becoming more and more present. It's where a measure of a man is how much he provides for his family, where sexuality is overlooked, charm school's are still present and the theater is important part of everyone's social life.
Twenty years earlier, Bobbi was Miss Florida
Miss Florida
The Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.-Winners:* Assumed the crown after Miss Florida won Miss America...
, and from that she gained valid beliefs of the way ladies and gentlemen should act towards each other. Sam is her gay haberdasher
Haberdasher
A haberdasher is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons, zips, and other notions. In American English, haberdasher is another term for a men's outfitter. A haberdasher's shop or the items sold therein are called haberdashery.-Origin and use:The word appears in...
neighbor and theatre director. Bobbi is married to her high school sweetheart, Roger, who was once a great football player. He currently works at an office and hates it, and would much rather be doing carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. He has become a Joe Shmoe
Joe Shmoe
Joe Shmoe is one of the most commonly used fictional names in American English. It is used to identify the typical, everyday person who does not have any special status, frequently in contrast to some group...
, wearing the suit and tie, and doing the job to satisfy his wife's idea of a husband, complete with him climbing the corporate ladder and keeping an elegant and prosperous house.
The play opens with Bobbi and Roger prepping the house because the owner of his company, George McGowan, to entertain the possibility of a promotion for him. Bobbi then has one of her charm school students, Susan, be hostess and Bobbi nags Roger before the bell rings. When it does, they are shocked to see George has not brought his wife, but Kim, a new, leggy young blonde from New York.
The drama heightens because Roger does love his wife, even though he knows he is being pushed around. Bobbi sees Kim as a threat to her marriage, and Kim forms a bond with Susan. By the resolution of the play, Bobbi is alone.
Cast
Written by Nancy Hasty, directed by Evan Bergman, sets by John Farrell, costumes by Jill Kliber, lighting by Steve Rust, sound design by Cynthia Tuohy, and the stage manager was Jim Ring.The show starred Nancy Hasty as Bobbi Boland (the original actress quit over differences with the director), Holiday Segal as Susan Johnson, Gregg Henry
Gregg Henry
Gregg Lee Henry is an American theatre, film and television character actor and rock, blues and country musician.-Biography:...
as Roger Boland, Byron Loyd as Sam White, David Little as George McGowan, and Tanya Clarke as Kim McGowan.