Roll With the Punches

Roll with the Punches is a comedy inspired by the great Women’s Movies of the 1950’s. It follows the fortunes of a well-to-do San Francisco family – Dr John Evans, world-famous neurosurgeon and philanderer; his long-suffering wife, Susan (played in drag), confined to a wheelchair with hysterical paralysis; their children, Millicent, a rude slattern; and Marshall, spinning delicately from the strings of his mother’s apron. And of course, their faithful Irish retainer, Nellie.

Dr. Evans hires a new nanny for the children, the delightfully carnivorous Penelope Raintree. Suddenly Susan must fight for her home and her man. (Too bad she’s doing it on wheels from the top of Nob Hill.) When tragedy strikes, Susan’s twin sister Sharon comes from London to solve one mystery and reveal an even greater secret.

This New York International Fringe Festival hit was written by Garet Scott and directed by Kevin Thomsen (MTV’s Spy Groove, HBO’s Quality of Mercy). It stars David R. Gordon (Making Porn) as John, and Mark Finley as Susan/Sharon leading the New York cast. Original score by Emmy-Award-winning composer John Bauers.