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Overview
Synopsis
What Every Woman Knows centers around the emotional development of John Shand, a humorless young Scotsman whose meteoric political success is due entirely to his wife. However, John fails to recognize the influence and intelligence of his plain wife. While a poor student, he took to regularly breaking into the home of the Wylie family in order to access their library and further his studies. He is soon caught by Alick Wylie, the head of the family, and his two sons, David and James. John makes an agreement with the Wylie men that they will financially support the rest of his studies until he has begun to make his way in the world. However, in return for this support, he must marry Maggie, Alick’s plain, unassuming daughter after 5 years. Despite being offered a get-out clause by Maggie, John sticks to his promise, and Maggie works tirelessly behind the scenes to make her husband a political success. When his success goes to his head and he declares his love for socialite, Lady Sybil, it takes the threat of permanently losing Maggie and her political input to make him realize the valuable loyalty and ability of the woman by his side.
Show Information
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1908
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- scotland, england, 1908
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
Songs
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
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher