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Overview

Synopsis

The play takes place in familiar surroundings; a prominent law firm, a church funeral, and the basement of a church. Through the use of the Little Man in the Tuxedo, the quirky host of the play, we are welcomed to go behind the mahogany walls of wealth and prominence to witness tragic figures, farcical situations and, at times, the grotesque in order to tear away the masks we all wear and expose the senselessness of the human condition. The play starts with the portraits of the two founders of the firm, Bernie and Beau, hanging side-by-side with Bernie asking aloud why Beau’s portrait is worthy enough to hang next to his. Quickly news comes of Beau’s inconvenient death and conflict erupts between Bernie, who has full control over the firm and the portrait of Beau which symbolizes the soul of the firm. Throughout the play Bernie schemes to have Beau’s portrait removed from the firm.

The play ends with a “surprise” birthday party for Bernie at which one of the characters tragically tries to keep Beau’s portrait in the firm but after great embarrassment Beau’s portrait is carted away by the cleaning crew to resell for the value of the frame. The Little Man in the Tuxedo comes back on stage to confront us for a final time with questions about our existence and to announce a big surprise for Bernie.

Bernie, the main character is arrogant, petty, insecure and rude. While he has total control over the firm; he wants adoration from the people in the firm for all he believes he has done for them. To secure his wants, he schemes to rid the firm of Beau’s portrait so all attention can be totally on him and all of what he has done for the firm. And while Beau’s portrait is carted off to the garbage, Bernie, with the help of the Little Man in the Tuxedo, is the center of attention as the audience celebrates his birthday surprise, an event which captures the divorce between action and language that we all experience in our daily lives.

Portraits, is a play that revives the Theatre of the Absurd, by examining the divorce between action and language that we all experience as we muddle through life. It concludes by confronting us with the question which of us is the winner and which of us is the loser as we pass through an existence none of us understand.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2015
Genres
Drama, Dark Comedy, Farce
Settings
Contemporary, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Present time in a prominent law firm, A church, Basement of church
Cast Size
medium
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Char

Lead

Female

Spoken

Bernie (Bernard Geldmann)

Lead

Male

Spoken

Kara

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Archibald

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Otto

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Little Man in the Tuxedo

Featured

Male

Spoken

Beau (Beauregard Maguire)

Featured

Male

Silent

Richie

Featured

Male

Spoken

Frank

Featured

Male

Spoken

Jane

Featured

Female

Spoken

The Janitor & the Assistant Janitor

Featured

Male

Spoken

First John and Second John

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

The Priest

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Quizzes

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher