The Good Ladies’ Book
This play has the following sections: 1 2 3 4
A two-act play
with traditional and popular music
of 19th Century America
Staged reading, The Pollyanna Theatre Company, directed by Judy Matetzschk.
Characters:
Sarah Josepha Hale: She is eternally young looking, but obviously mature. Dressed in black, she is the living image of a Victorian silhouette. Very well educated, equal to that of an Ivy League college. She wants to better women’s position in the world, particularly through education and employment. But she also loves her family, and wants them to be successful and happy.
Richard Hunter/Young Richard: (played by a child and an adult) Grandson to Sarah Josepha Hale, son of Francis. His grandmother’s favorite.
David Hale: Country lawyer. Husband to Sarah.
David Emerson Hale: Sarah’s oldest son. A caretaker, eventually a soldier.
Josepha Hale: Sarah’s eldest daughter. Studious, eventually uses a wheelchair.
Horatio Hale: Sarah’s third child, eventually an explorer.
Frances Ann Hale Hunter: Sarah’s youngest daughter, eventually a homemaker.
Young William/William Hale: (played by a child and an adult) Sarah’s youngest son, eventually a lawyer.
Hannah Hale: Sarah’s sister in law. Very good with her hands, a craftswoman.
Louis Godey: (Pronounced Gu-day) Editor/Businessman. A jolly well-groomed gentleman of French decent (but no trace of an accent remains). He is a good man, but practices the “scissors” editing popular of the times: he steals from other sources without paying the writers.
Emma Willard: Sarah’s best friend, one-and-a-half years older, but looks more so. She wears glasses, the typical school marm. She is very serious and forward-thinking: willing to take the risks necessary for her cause. Her goal is to provide full educational opportunities for women; no matter what the costs.
Lydia Sigourney: Another friend of Sarah’s, married (husband never appears, but must be well-to-do: Lydia should always be the best dressed in the room). A good friend to Sarah, but lives far away, and family duties often pull her away. Is a passionate spokesperson for women’s independence; but does not particularly desire it for herself.
Lowell Mason: Composer of fine Church music. First passion is God.
Oliver Wendell Holmes: Idealistic, patriotic, and several years younger than Sarah. Trained as a medical doctor, but in his heart of hearts, he wants to be a writer.
Edgar Allen Poe: Blustery and wild-eyed with a gift for hyperbole. Advocates for fair wages for writers, a jovial fellow in comparison to his dark and brooding work.
Griswold: A minor writer, social enemy of Poe’s.
Mrs. Owen: Poor New England seaman’s wife, representative of the type of women Sarah advocated for.
Dr. Yates: Very handsome and totally shady.
Elizabeth Oakes Smith: Writer and public speaker. Vocal opponent of Sarah’s conservative stance. More disappointed in her than angry at her.
Nathaniel Hawthorne: Very sexy and seductive, at the brink of his popularity.
Matthew Vassar: Man of wealth. A true philanthropist.
Mysterious Visitor: Most likely, the President of the United States. Clean-shaven, breaking the stereotype, but should wear the customary tall hat. Very troubled by war.
Other minor characters:
Debt Collector
William’s Wife
Movers
Fine Lady
People from the Sale
Soldiers
Suggested Doubling for 10 actors 4W; 6M (1 child):
Sarah Josepha Hale
Richard Hunter/Dr. Yates
Young William/Young Richard
David Hale/Debt Collector/People from the Sale/Oliver Wendell Holmes
Louis Godey/Edgar Allen Poe/David Emerson Hale/Matthew Vassar/Mover
Hannah Hale/Emma Willard/Josepha Hale
Frances Ann Hale Hunter/Fine Lady/Lydia Sigourney
Mrs. Owen/Elizabeth Oakes Smith/People from the Sale/William’s Wife
Hawthorne/Horatio Hale/Mysterious Visitor/People from the Sale/Soldier
Lowell Mason/Griswold/William Hale/Mover/People from the Sale/Soldier
Time:
The play takes place through the memories of Richard Hunter on Thanksgiving Day, on a second floor apartment room, in the year 1880. He tells the story of a period spanning from 1820 to 1863.
Setting:
A replication of a classic Victorian New England Living Room that could be found in Newport, New Hampshire; Boston, Massachusetts; or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A Note About Style:
This setting remains the same throughout, even when Sarah moves to other cities. A profound shift of lighting or replacement of certain items of furniture or accessories could give the room a different kind of look from time to time. Richard is really telling the story all at one time, and the actors enter and exit frequently but unobtrusively as he recalls them. It is suggested that in performance, a live orchestra of piano, flute, violin, drum, guitar, bass, and/or banjo be used, with simple arrangements made particularly for each performance. It is intended that the songs spring naturally through the action, and not set apart as musical “numbers.” Dance is encouraged, but should be simple, folksy, well-grounded and informed by the natural action of the scene: playing with a child, setting tables, making dresses, arranging a sale, observing a monument, dancing at a party. Some songs serve as interior monologues, and need no special movement at all.
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