Gladys has recently separated from her dull husband Marvin.

Anna takes an empty hand-gun about with her; she's losing her memory and cannot recollect where she put the bullets.

La La used to be a jazz singer, as her rendition of the bitter-sweet ballad Miss Otis Regrets shows.

Eva likes people to know that she once had royal connections.

As for Rose, her memories may be the most poignant of all five of the blue haired ladies on the green park bench in New York City.

John A Penzotti's play - Five Blue Haired Ladies Sitting on a Green Park Bench - has been a god-send for actresses of a certain age who complain that there are no good parts in plays for older women.

His five elderly characters meet regularly to gossip, divulge their hopes and fears for the future and remember the past.

"I had sex," says La La. She pauses while the others continue to talk, then adds: "in 1948."

New York critics greeted the play with remarks such as "Sex and the City on Sanatogen", "witty and poignant" and "full of sharp one-liners".

One of the themes is having a second chance to put right past mistakes - if only.

But how will Bingley Little Theatre's regular play-goers take to the production, used as they are to similar confections on television in sitcoms like As Times Goes By and One Foot in the Grave?

Director Robin Martin said: "It ticks several boxes required by an audience for a good night out.

"These ever-young octogenarians believe in growing old disgracefully.

"The play tells of fond and sometimes painful memories. It has keen observations, great belly laughs and some cracking music."

BLT has assembled a strong cast of well-known performers. June Purdy, Marilyn Baines, Freda Denbigh and Pauline Warin have a great deal of experience collectively on amateur stages in the Bradford, Keighley and Ilkley areas.

Rosie Brooks, the actress playing the fifth blue-haired lady, has long been involved with local musical groups and choirs. This will be her BLT debut.

There is no shortage of experience among the other roles either. Gordon Sugden has been a Bingley stalwart for many years. His last role was in Visiting Mr Green.

Stuart Farrell, Anthony Leach and Alison Main have all appeared in recent BLT productions.

Making his debut with the company will be Winstan Robinson. He appeared in Bingley Amateurs' production of The King And I.

Bingley Little Theatre is still raising a glass to its 60th anniversary.

The BLT building was formally opened on Monday, April 26, 1948, in the presence of councillors, magistrates and other civic figures. The Taming of the Shrew opened the following evening for a run of six performances including a Saturday matinee.

The play was reprised last month to celebrate the diamond jubilee of BLT.

  • Five Blue Haired Ladies Sitting on a Green Park Bench runs at Bingley Arts Centre from Monday, January 14 to Saturday, January 19, starting at 7.30pm. The box office number is (01274) 432000.