Minnesota Fringe Festival

Pre-World War II stud muffin connects online with Baby Boomer sweetie. Comedy ensues.

Sex, Lies and Social Security is an original satire about the challenges and downright absurdities of internet dating for people old enough to remember the invention of television.

Watch the trailer!



From the task of creating an online profile to the screening of ridiculously wrong matches; from the struggle of starting a relationship using nothing but e-mail to an eventual face-to-face meeting; from the first rush of romance to the much later beginnings of love, Sex, Lies and Social Security reveals the part of the picture you don't see on idyllic TV ads for dating websites.

It is loosely (sometimes VERY loosely) based on the true story of how its two co-star senior-aged romantics, Twin Cities storyteller and director Patricia Drury and Louisiana actor and producer Bob Sidman, found each other and fell in love, mostly in cyberspace and entirely over the age of 60.

Both funny and ultimately hopeful, this show proves the truth of its make-believe senior dating website's motto - "It ain't over 'til it's over, and it ain't over yet!"

Embedded within Sex, Lies and Social Security are two one-act comedy skits about senior relationships made available by permission from ArtAge Publications, Portland, OR. They're pretty silly, but we like 'em.

This production is presented by Acting Unlimited, Lafayette, Louisiana, because Sidman is a part of them and they said they'd do it.

The cast

Brenda Atkins
Role: Stage Manager Number One
Brenda was formerly a carefree, international flight attendant who has now gone corporate and very local. She loves theater, dabbles in improv, and relies on both - especially the Fringe - to remain sane (if indeed she actually is sane.) She likes the fact that being stage manager involves a little more than just "carrying the lamp" for other people.

Patricia Drury
Role: Co-star, Director, Writer
Patricia has performed as a storyteller at Wild Yam Cabaret, Patrick's Cabaret and other Twin Cities venues and has published a couple of short stories. She works as a professional life,health, and relationship coach. Once upon a time she was a public policy wonk, of all things. For an antidote to all that seriousness, she relies on her off-beat sense of humor and her love of theater. She is excited to be in the Fringe for the first time (unless you count that cameo as a giant revolver a couple of years ago.)

Joe Fowler
Role: Stage Manager Number Two
Joe is a psychologist in private practice in the Twin Cities and also at a Twin Cities middle school. He has long been a fan of the Fringe, so when his friends Drury and Sidman asked if he would help with their show, he impulsively said "Yes." He is banking on having been told he can learn what he needs to know to be a stage manager in five minutes.

Bob Sidman
Role: Co-star, Producer
Bob retired four years ago from his previous life as a mathematician during which, among other things, he successfully protected the Great Lakes from enemy submarine attacks. He has acted in over 50 roles in Louisiana community theater, including C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands, Candy in Of Mice and Men, and the bartender in Taming of the Shrew (you look it up....) He is currently appearing on screen as Dudley in the maybe-soon-to-be-sci-fi-classic Quantum Apocalypse and on stage in September as Dr. Flemming in Prescription: Murder. Bob has spent more time at Fringe Central-Bedlam Theater than anybody else on the Gulf Coast.

Acting Unlimited, Inc.

Sex, Lies and Social Security

Thu., Jul. 30 @ 5:30 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 3 @ 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 5 @ 10:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 7 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9 @ 2:30 p.m.

Venue Gremlin Theatre
For ages 18+
Created by Patricia Drury
From Lafayette, LA
genres Comedy, Satire
subjects Relationships, Seniors
features World premiere, Original script/choreography, First-time Minnesota Fringe Festival producer

Overall rating

User reviews

Very enjoyable, but could be better
by Rochelle Eastman Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
The main story was great, honest and humorous with some thought provoking lines. Anyone over a certain age could easily relate. There were a couple filler stories that were ok, but not quite as developed. However, like others, I was bothered by the actors reading from scripts. Overall, I laughed a lot and enjoyed the show, but with a few tweaks it could have been better.

Original, Daring, Funny, and Oh..So True
by Chelsea Anderson Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Sex, Lies and Social Security is a must see! Creative script and genuine display of the many quirks associated with online romance. My cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much! This show offers the perfect amount of charm and anticipation for how a relationship unfolds. Simple and sweet. Impressive!

Life, love, hope, smile
by Igor Blokhintsev Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
It was kind of a show when feel that world became better place to live than 1 hour before that show. Simple - yes, thoughtful - yes, romantic - yes, humoros -yes, ecouraging? -yes,yes. And all of that of high quality. Especially good for people with life experience. "Are you old enough" Bob asked me before the show - yes, old and young enough to enjoy your show and keep hope. Thank you Patricia, thank you Bob.
Igor Blokhintsev

Love for Lunch
by Lynn Cross Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
This show was put together like a sandwich – bread - filling - bread. I devoured the bread, a spot-on, touching, hilarious recreation of the minefield that is the quest to “find the one,” complicated by the snakepit that is online dating, further complicated by the social downsides of aging. I give the bread 5 kitties. The filling, two relationship-themed skits, not so much. Well-performed and cute, but not as genuine, compelling, and tasty. I will take off another kitty for the actors not getting off book in time for the show. That is really distracting. Age is not a good enough excuse for that. It’s a tribute to the rich material, performance ability, and personal charm of these two that it worked so very well—and I know it did—everybody was laughing almost the whole time.

Only Good Thing is the Title
by Tess Galati Follow this reviewer
Rating 0 kitties
If you like seeing people reading onstage--and taking too long to get to each other's lines, even if they're read, you might like the first five minutes of this show. Skip it.

Did we see the same show
by Darlene Lewis Follow this reviewer
Rating 1 kitty
Who are the reviewer giving 4 and 5 kitties? The title is catchy, the writing is OK, but the acting was bad. I've seen 6 shows in two days and this was the only stinker. Sorry

Not too Old To Pop!
by Larry Ripp Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Saw the opening show and while I thought the performances were "careful" because I suppose it's open day jitters, I also thought the players were very charming with warm personalities which you really need to sell the show. The only reason I'm not going to 4 or 5 kitties is that both actors were on script. Otherwise, a well done, well thought through piece of work that I enjoyed and can recommend to others.

engaging and fun
by vickijoan keck Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
These two have a wonderful chemistry and engaging stage presence. The combination of their own stories and published comedy sketches was an interesting balance and very funny. Especially loved Patricia's great New York Jewish accent in "Truth in Advertising" - right on and very funny. Truly enjoyable show which would have gotten five kitties from me if they would have gone without the scripts, which hampered them a little.

Sex, Lies and Social Security
by Bev Bev Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Was I laughing because it was funny or because I heard myself in some of the lines? Who knows? Who cares? This is a really funny, quite realistic and very open journey from first love to last, or as they put it from Stage I to Stage III. Patricia and Bob traverse the stages with panache, playfulness and poignancy. The time flew! Go! Go now, go often! (NOTE: Not only for the old at heart. I'm thinkin' that some folks' teen to adult children might laugh even harder then we oldsters did!)

Sex, Lies & Social Security
by Rebecca Radcliffe Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Oh, what a fun way to spend an evening! If your road to love was ever filled with potholes and boulders, then you will chuckle your way through this playful but insightful journey toward love for those weathered a bit (or a lot!) by life. A delightful script, two witty players, charming "score," and skilled tech create an evening that will leave you smiling.

Sex, Lies and Social Security
by Steph Cunningham Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Light, delightful romp through the aging & dating scene. The writing, pacing and great energy of Patricia & Bob make this a fun (and at times, laugh out loud) hour of storytelling. Great job, you two! Looking forward to Part II, Stage 3.

Sex Lies & Social Security
by Nancy Hendrickson Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Great bit of fun; lots of laughs for all ages; dont miss this one

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