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Overview

Synopsis

Contented, kindly Mary Haines, a well-off woman living in New York City, is the envy of her friends, boasting a wholesome, happy marriage, adorable children, and a comfortable home. Unfortunately, she is living in a fool’s paradise… which her tactless friend, the gossip-hungry Sylvia Fowler, discovers, when a favored manicurist spills the beans: Mary’s husband Stephen Haines has been nabbed by Crystal Allen, a sultry, gold-digging man-eater, who sets her traps behind the perfume counter at Saks Fifth Avenue. Sylvia arranges, in humiliating fashion, for Mary to hear the tale from that same manicurist, and so Mary’s painful dilemma is created: keep silent, keep her marriage, and condone her husband’s cheating ways…. or divorce him, making way for her rival to step into her place? Filled with strong, colorful, comedic characters, a snappy supporting cast of many dozens, and an abundance of witty dialogue, Clare Boothe Luce’s The Women is juicy, wicked, and full of guilty fun. both a scathing commentary on the life of the superficial, selfish socialite and a knowing, heart-felt depiction of romantic rivalry, toxic friendships, and the thousands of supporting roles women play in offices, salons, and their own lives.

Casting note: this play contains over 40 roles, but with some strenuous doubling of the Featured characters, only 20 actors are absolutely necessary.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1936
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1930s, new york city, reno nevada
Cast Size
large
Ideal For
community theatre, regional / professional theatre, college / university theatre, large cast, all-female cast, All-Female Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast

Context

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Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Mary Haines

Lead

Female

Spoken

Sylvia Fowler

Lead

Female

Spoken

Crystal Allen

Lead

Female

Spoken

Edith Potter

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Peggy Day

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Nancy Blake

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Little Mary

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mrs. Morehead

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Countess Flora de Lage

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Miriam Aarons

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Jane

Featured

Female

Spoken

First Hairdresser

Featured

Female

Spoken

Second Hairdresser

Featured

Female

Spoken

Pedicurist

Featured

Female

Spoken

Olga

Featured

Female

Spoken

Euphie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Miss Fordyce

Featured

Female

Spoken

First Salesgirl

Featured

Female

Spoken

Second Salesgirl

Featured

Female

Spoken

Head Saleswoman (Miss Shapiro)

Featured

Female

Spoken

First Model (Miss Myrtle)

Featured

Female

Spoken

Second Saleswoman

Featured

Female

Spoken

Corset Model

Featured

Female

Spoken

Princess Tamara

Featured

Female

Spoken

Exercise Instructress

Featured

Female

Spoken

Maggie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Miss Trimmerback

Featured

Female

Spoken

Miss Watts

Featured

Female

Spoken

A Nurse

Featured

Female

Spoken

Lucy

Featured

Female

Spoken

Helene

Featured

Female

Spoken

First Cutie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Second Cutie

Featured

Female

Spoken

First Society Woman

Featured

Female

Spoken

Second Society Woman

Featured

Female

Spoken

Sadie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Cigarette Girl

Featured

Female

Spoken

A Dowager

Featured

Female

Spoken

A Debutante

Featured

Female

Spoken

A Girl in Distress

Featured

Female

Spoken

A Fitter

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

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

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

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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