The Chateau Rainbeau Holiday Door
Decorating Contest

SYNOPSIS

After Ray loses his husband, he moves into Chateau Rainbeau, a gay retirement facility where his friend George lives. James, Ray’s long-time nemesis also lives there. Their enmity breaks out in the open when they both enter the facility’s annual holiday door decorating contest. The play deals with issues of rivalry, coping with grief, and finding love in ones seventies.

CHARACTERS (3M)

GEORGE DELANEY: Male, age 70+, any race or ethnicity. Retired accountant. An established resident of the Chateau Rainbeau Retirement Community. 

RAY KAMINSKI: Male, age 70+, any race or ethnicity. Retired florist and recent widower. An old friend of George but a new resident of Chateau Rainbeau. In decent physical shape. 

JAMES RANDALL JAMES: Age 70+, any race or ethnicity, slender and good-looking. Long-term resident of Chateau Rainbeau. Thinks he’s God’s gift to interior decoration and to other gay men.

SETTING

The living/dining room of Ray’s apartment in Chateau Rainbeau, a retirement community for gay men. Settee or easy chair, small dining table with a couple of chairs, other furnishings as desired. Doorways lead to a bedroom, the kitchen, and the exterior hallway.

TIME

The present, or ca. 2023. The holiday season, beginning the Friday before Thanksgiving.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM READERS ON NEW PLAY EXCHANGE

Philip Middleton Williams: “It's a matter of reality that the holidays with all their commercialized tidings of comfort and joy are a tough time for people who have lost loved ones. Moving on alone is not easy, and in this warm and often humorous short play, Don Baker takes on grief and the competition to outdo the neighbors in holiday decor. All it takes is a little taste, charm, and good friends (not to mention a good-natured rivalry) to make the season bright.”

Brent Alles: “A very enjoyable holiday-themed play. Wonderful characters that draw you right into the story (should provide great parts for actors to play as well). Some very funny lines, but there's a poignancy that I appreciated as well. It elevated this above a jokey holiday celebration into something much more rewarding to read/view. In the end, you have here an involving, humorous, touching slice of life that would fit in well with a holiday one-act festival or even being produced on its own.”

Morey Norkin: “This is such a lovely, sweet story, perfect for the holidays. Although it deals with grief, it is never maudlin. Baker provides plenty of humor and warmth plus one truly smarmy character that everyone will be rooting against. Let the decorating begin!”