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Overview

Synopsis

When meek Bess Johnson and bold Macon Hill meet at a stage-coach stop in Wyoming Territory, they are united by their common purpose. Both mail-order brides, they have come West across the states during the era of expansion, looking for love and adventure, trusting in the abundance of life to shower them with both. The road to happiness is barred when Macon is paired with stolid, one-eyed Will Curtis, and Bess’ handsome new husband, Jack, turns out to be a cruel and neglectful man. The friendship of these two women is tested sorely over 25 years of fires, snowstorms, Indian kidnappings and extramarital affairs, Beth Henley’s rich, distinctive language is both plain-spoken and poetic, and the story of Bess and Macon is epic, yet intimate, full of shocking cruelty and sudden beauty.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1989
Genres
Drama, Dark Comedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
late 1860s - early 1890s, wyoming territory, st. louis, missouri
Cast Size
small
Ideal For
college / university theatre, community theatre, professional / regional theatre, small cast, adult cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Macon Hill

Lead

Female

Spoken

Jack Flan

Lead

Male

Spoken

Will Curtis

Lead

Male

Spoken

Bess Johnson

Lead

Female

Spoken

Professor Elmore Crome

Supporting

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

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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