Cakes Galore!
Here's a delicious comedy which can be followed by your own dessert sale or cakewalk. Two older ladies, Helen and Fern, are the force behind the church's program to feed the poor. (Well, actually Helen thinks it is she herself who must do everything to get it done right, with Fern as her helper.) But their outreach program of serving soup and sandwiches may not last much longer because the church just doesn't have the funds. That's a real blow since the church across town puts out a much better spread and more often! Helen decides the only way to continue is to ask for donations from the hungry people who show up. Naturally the few coins she collects won't go far, so she borrows one of the "Will work for food" signs from one of the bums and begs for money on a busy street corner. The pastor is appalled and rushes off to get her back. Sugar, an ex-stripper who finds the shy pastor attractive, suggests they hold a fundraiser, a `50s-themed bash. Helen is able to get more than a hundred cakes "donated" from the local groceries which they will raffle off. Unfortunately, they hold their event on the same night as the town's high school football's homecoming and the rival church's free complete turkey dinner! When no one shows up, Autumn, a young woman who has been posing as a homeless person, suggests a great alternative to use these "Cakes Galore!"
Productions
Behind The Scenes
Playwright Laurie Allen Talks About
"Cakes Galore!"
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: Growing up in a small town, activities were always taking place at the fellowship hall at my church. There were socials, Wednesday night meals, group meetings, all-night youth parties, etc. And with this setting in mind, I thought it would be fun to show what happens when a few enthusiastic members attempt to feed the poor, yet be faced with their own money problems, not to mention the rival "rich" church across town that always seemed to do it bigger and better.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: My favorite part of the play is when Helen "flips out" when the fundraising plans don't go as expected. I love it when she slams her fist into the cake, then licks the icing off her hand but quickly realizes she can't enjoy the cake because she's mad!
Q: WHERE DO THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: The characters come from my imagination, but they are often based on people I have known with their good/bad qualities exaggerated. I also see myself in some of the characters, which is hard to get away from as a playwright.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: I tried to create a place where you could almost step out of the audience and walk onto the stage and feel right at home. These are real people that would welcome you with open arms. I wanted their dilemmas, unique personalities and flaws to make us smile and ultimately laugh out loud!
Q: ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT IT?
A: I think each character would be tons of fun to portray! The bossy and frustrating Helen the fun-loving and almost child-like Fern the naïve and out-spoken Sugar the pastor who continually finds himself in uncomfortable situations and the others who arrive at the fellowship hall for a free meal.