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Overview

Synopsis

Dividing the Estate is the story of the Gordon clan, a Texas family who has been hard hit by the precipitous drop in oil prices in 1987. Family matriarch Stella rules over the family, but she is 85 years old, and her family smells their inheritance coming. Her younger daughter, Mary Jo, comes to visit for the day along with her husband, and their two daughters, prompting a family get-together. Mary Jo is deeply in debt and wants to divide the estate before her mother dies. Various members of the family, including the servants, take sides in the debate, and wonder how much, if anything, there actually is to inherit. The family bickers as only a Southern family can, mentioning every slight and insult that has occurred over the past 80 years. Light comedy turns dark in Act Two, when two deaths occur.

Show Information

Book
Horton Foote
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1989
Genres
Comedy, Dark Comedy
Time & Place
harrison, texas, 1987
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
Dramatists Play Service
Ideal For
professional theatre, community theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Stella

Lead

Female

Spoken

Mary Jo

Lead

Female

Spoken

Lucille

Lead

Female

Spoken

Lewis

Lead

Male

Spoken

Son

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Bob

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Doug

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mildred

Featured

Female

Spoken

Irene

Featured

Female

Spoken

Pauline

Featured

Female

Spoken

Sissie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Emily

Featured

Female

Spoken

Cathleen

Featured

Female

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

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Key Terms

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Videos

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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