OVER PAID, OVER SEXED, AND OVER HERE

"The war at home just got serious!"

Cast: 4 female and 5 male actors.
Length: 2 Acts (110 minutes)
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: It is 1942, wartime Australia, and the tension crackles. But the “enemy” for the local boys is not the feared Japanese, who stand poised to invade as they sweep down through the Pacific. It’s the newly arrived American troops, who have the local girls swooning, with their boxes of chocolates and polite manners. We are in the home of the three Mays sisters, Allison, Dorothy and Rosey, and their dad Don, who run a dry-cleaning shop in a small coastal town. Relations with the Yankee “bedroom commandos” start off badly for local yokel Jack when he takes potshots at their landing craft. Things go from bad to worse when two of the Americans, Harry and Robert, come into the shop and start a-courting the girls. Fast-talking black market wheeler-dealer Mrs Ham is not one to miss out on the prospect of a bit of fun with the boys and her jaw-dropping moonshine “Shell Shock” adds spice to events. But despite all the glamour, it is between Dorothy and local lad George that true romance blossoms in the end. Over Paid, Over Sexed & Over Here! Is a very funny, at times poignant, and always totally engaging tale that will also evoke a twinge of nostalgia among older members of the audience.
Royalty / Performance Fee: $75 per performance (USA)

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Characters

4 Female / 5 Male

DON MAYS Father to Allison, Dorothy and Rosey. 55 years old. He suffers from shell-shock and has a nervous condition from the First World War that increasingly has left him aloof and distracted.
ALLISON MAYS - The oldest of the Mays sisters. 35 years old. With the death of her mother she has assumed a motherly role in the family. Has moved back in with father to run family business while her husband Kenneth is away at war.
DOROTHY MAYS - The middle sister and 28 years old. Unmarried. Independent. Outspoken. Works at the family dry cleaning business. Resents the war.
ROSEY MAYS - The youngest of the Mays sisters at 17 years of age. Bright, happy and enthusiastic.
JACK - Of indeterminate age somewhere between 20 and 35 years old. Very proudly a member of the Air Raid Precaution Unit (ARP) and possessing an over blown sense of self importance. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.
GEORGE - Late 20’s to late 30’s. Having not been accepted into the army due to health issues his self-esteem has taken a beating. Possesses more intelligence and many more capabilities than one would assume at first glance. In love with Dorothy.
MRS HAM - In her mid to late 50’s but appears much older. A busybody and hard-shot who is making the best of the war by establishing a black market of sorts. Often assumes an unwelcome motherly responsibility for the Mays sisters. Unmarried.
HARRY - American serviceman in his early 20’s. Clean cut, dashing, cheerful and charming. Self-confident and optimistic. A leader by nature.
ROBERT - American serviceman, younger than Harry. Perhaps 18 or 19 years old. Clean cut, polite and charming. Happy to follow Harry’s lead.

What the critics are saying

"Devon Williamson has established a reputation across New Zealand and Australia for quality comedies. This is quite possibly his best yet."
- Bay of Plenty Times

"Over Paid, Over Sexed & Over Here! Is a very funny, at times poignant, and always totally engaging tale that will also evoke a twinge of nostalgia among older members of the audience."

Productions

Detour Theatre - premiere season