Everybody Loves Opal

The general disarray of her establishment is aggravated by the fact that Opal collects things-anything that can be toted home in her little red wagon

Opal is also an optimist, for no matter how mean her lot-or her "friends" -Opal responds with unfailing kindness and an abiding faith in the goodness of human nature

Into her rather strange world comes Gloria, Bradford and Solomon, three purveyors of bogus perfume on the lam from the authorities

Opal's menage is the perfect hideout-and Opal, herself, might be the remedy for their shattered finances

They decide that what she needs is plenty of insurance, a rapid demise, and three beneficiaries named Gloria, Bradford and Solomon

Attempted murder wouldn't seem to be funny, but in Mr. Patrick's magic hands it is uproarious

The unsavory trio concoct an elaborate scheme to drop the ceiling on Opal's unsuspecting head-but she is in the cellar at the time; they try to drug her and set the house on fire-but Opal's state trooper friend arrives at the wrong (or right) moment; a plan for a "hit and run" accident backfires

Through it all, Opal radiates kindness, affection and, strangely enough, gratitude

But the real clincher comes at the end

It seems that there was plenty of money around all the time; bags, barrels, and mooseheads full of it, in fact, and any friend of Opal's is welcome to as much as he wants

All they had to do was ask

Mr. Patrick calls his play "aprank in three acts," and the critical reception of the Broadway production was a resounding vindication of his efforts

shamelessly entertaining" ~ NY Post

"loads of laughs and a cheerful philosophy" ~ NY Mirror

"chockful of nutty laughs" ~ Women's Wear Daily

"goofy, extravagant and enjoyable" ~ NY Daily News