In the month of May 1664, Louis XIV entertained the Queen-mother, Anne of Austria, and his own wife , Maria Theresa, with a brilliant and sumptuous fete at Versailles.... The second day was distinguished by the representation of The Pricess of Elis [by Moliere].... The Princess of Elis, a comedy-ballet, was intended to represent the struggle between the affections of the male and female sex, a struggle in which victory often remains with the one who seems the furthest from obtaining it.... The author's natural flow of wit and humor was checked by the necessity of accommodating himself to the conventionalities of courtly propriety...

About two dozen comedies of the Roman playwright Plautus have survived the years, with many of them ending up rewritten and recast by other playwrights such as Moliere. This one, Pseudolus, was part of the source for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Simo, an old gentleman of Athens: ToddHW Calidorus, his son, in love with Phoenicium: Tomas Peter Charinus, the friend of Calidorus: Adam Bielka Callipho, the friend of Simo: Alan Mapstone Pseudolus, the servant...

When his younger brother incurs a large betting debt, what could be easier than for a man to borrow the money to save him from the factory he runs while his employers are away. Whoops; his employers are coming back before he has repaid the money. Ah, perhaps his wife can get the money from a friendly Lord who was once her suitor.... A friendly card game perhaps. What could go wrong? - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Lord Kengussie: Son of the Exiles Baron Croodle: ToddHW Harold Boycott: Mark Nelson Jules Faubert: Alan Mapstone Millicent Boycott: Sonia Dorinda Croodle: Jenn Broda Margot: Adrian Stephens Stage Directions: MichaelMaggs Editing: ToddHW

This comedy is by Gilbert on his own without Sullivan. "Listen to me. You love this girl?" "I love her sir, a'most as weel as I love mysel' !" "Then reflect how you are standing in the way of her prosperity." "Sir, I'm puir on pocket, but I've a rich hairt." - Summary From The Play Cast list: Cheviot Hill, a young man of property: Matthew Reece Belvawney, his friend: skypigeon Mr. Symperson: Alan Mapstone Angus Macalister, a Lowland peasant lad: ToddHW Major McGillicuddy: Craig Franklin Belinda Treherne: Emmi Kranz Minnie, Symperson's daughter: Jenn Broda Mrs...

A man's wife is caught up in Philanthropy, generously supporting all sorts of good causes. But that does not include her husband's interests in "the Turf or the Stable - no feeling except one of positive distaste." So what is he to do? How about somehow getting her to "endow a Home for about twenty decayed jockeys and stablemen ... who have outlived their chances on the turf and fallen on bad days?" Sounds very noble, but of course that is not quite what he has in mind.... - Summary by ToddHW Cast...

A Comedy in Three Acts The Young Idea is a play about two siblings, Gerda eighteen and Sholto twenty-one, who attempt to engineer the reconciliation of their divorced parents. It is full of laughs, love-triangles, and a lot of DRAMA! - Summary by Ambsweet13 Cast List: George Brent: dgulinoGerda : Amanda MehlSholto: BucksawJennifer: JennPrattCicely: Claire ButlerPriscilla Hartleberry: JennPrattClaud Eccles: skypigeonJulia Cragworthy: ambsweet13Eustace Dabbit: Matthew ReeceSibyl Blaith: Jody LebelRodney Masters: Mike ManolakesHuddle : Larry WilsonHiram J. Walkin: skypigeonMaria : April6090Stage Directions: ToddHW Edited by: ambsweet13 and David Olson Proof Listening by: superk and Yangxu

"Sweet Lavender" must be regarded as one of the most successful stage-plays of modern times, and there can be no question that it has proved so far the most popular of Mr. Pinero's works. Its representations may be counted by the thousand, and its popularity has extended over many latitudes. The reason of this is not far to seek: it proclaims itself in the gentle humanity and genial humour of the play. ... a sort of modern fairy tale." - Summary by Malcom C. Salaman, October 1893 Cast list: Horace Bream : Matthew Reece Geoffrey Wedderburn : ToddHW Clement Hale : Karsus Richard Phenyl : Andrew James Dr...

Donna Isabella does not want to marry Don Guzman, her father's choice. Donna Violante's father wants her to become a nun. Isabella is attacked on the street and carried insensible into Violante's house. What will happen next? Confidential letters, secret identities, conniving servants, disguises and other fallderoll await! Supposedly Jane Austen put on a family performance of this play. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Don Felix: Greg Giordano Colonel Briton: skypigeon Frederic: Adrian Stephens Don...

Matthew Hopkins, a renowned witch-hunter, has his sights set on the quiet village near Pendell Manor. However Cecile Howard and her friends are determined to put an end to his superstitious nonsense, put an end to his reign of terror, and teach him a lesson he won't soon forget! - Summary by Kelly S. Taylor Cast list: The Witch Wife: A Tale of Malkin Tower by Henry Spicer BC/Editor for this play is Kelly S. Taylor Sir Gerald Mole: Mike Manolakes Marchmont Needham: Cavaet Antony Gabb: Parsa2020 Harry...

Subtitled "An Original Dramatic Contrast", the play presents two neighbors, Harry and Jenny, parting in Act 1 and then meeting again 30 years later in Act 2 after Harry's return from India. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Mr Harry Spreadbrow: Rob Marland Wilcox, a Gardener: ToddHW Miss Jenny Northcott: Jenn Broda Ruth, a Maidservant: Sonia Stage Directions: MichaelMaggs Editing: ToddHW

Moliere, on the way to the Ballet of the Muses, a court festival, started to write a new Heroic Pastoral. "He chose for his subject a similar one to the history of Florizel and Perdita in Shakespeare's Winter's Tale…. The charm of his writing, the exquisite delicacy of the sentiment, and the freshness of the pastoral scenes, cause us to regret that Moliere wrote only the first two acts of this play and never finished it." Though it was performed this way in Dec 1666 - so maybe there is enough here to enjoy...

Buried treasure, reckless son, exile, young love, betrayal, detection - all as relevant today as when this comedy was written 2200 years ago. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Luxury: Sonia Poverty: Availle Charmides, an Athenian merchant: ToddHW Lesbonicus, the son of Charmides: Rémi Callicles, a friend of Charmides: Mike Manolakes Megaronides, a friend of Callicles: David Purdy Stasimus, the servant of Charmides and Lesbonicus: Adrian Stephens Philto, a wealthy Athenian: Algy Pug Lysiteles, the son of Philto, and a friend of Lesbonicus: VocalPenguin A Sharper: Alan Mapstone Stage Directions: Wayne Cooke Editing: ToddHW

What happens when wartime romance and talents encounter the post-war civilian world? "I'm going to take you to - " "Racine?" "If you're my wife you'll go with me to Hell!" "I'd rather go there than Racine." "Did anybody ever tell you that you were a snob?" - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Billy Arkwright, Twenty-five, late Lieutenant, A. E. F.: Andrew Gaunce Nora, Maid: Annie Mars General McInerny, U. S. A, fifty: ToddHW Jack Rutherford, Late Lieutenant, N. A.: DavyDave Florence Lanham, Twenty-one: Jenn Broda Mrs...

Who knows what might be going on in Miss Buzby's boarding house, where she accepts theatrical types? - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Jerome Townsend, a lover somewhat in the background: Tommy Hersant Felix Marden, who is not afraid to come to the front: Adrian Stephens Mr. Smith, a mysterious individual: ToddHW Alexander Pettifer, a worm that finally turns: Alan Mapstone Jimmie Spangler, a song and dance artist: David Purdy Marguerite Marr, a star in vaudeville: JennPratt Lillian Wendale, by the villian still pursued: ashleighjane Pansy Purple, Jimmie's professional partner: Kelly S...

Pleusicles loves Philocomasium, but she is kidnapped by Pyrgopolinices. Palaestrio, faithful servant to Pleusicles, witnesses this and goes to tell his master, but is captured by Pirates and ends up a servant to Pyrgopolinices as well. Palaestrio still gets word to Pleusicles, who arrives on scene. Palaestrio then invents a complex and daring plan involving mistresses, supposed twin sisters, disguises, family friends in the right places, and a monkey to try to escape Pyrgopolinices and reunite Pleusicles and Philocomasium...

The Beaux Stratagem, already in the catalog , was written by George Farquhar in 1707. The Belle's Stratagem, "a Ladies' response" to the Beaux Stratagem play with strong female characters, was written by Hannah Cowley in 1780. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Doricourt: A D Latheron Hardy: Alan Mapstone Sir George Touchwood: ToddHW Flutter: Larry Wilson Saville: Mike Manolakes Villers: Marya James Courtall: Greg Giordano Silvertongue: Son of the Exiles Crowquill: qthemusic123 First Gentleman: Adrian Stephens Second Gentleman: Tomas Peter Mountebank: Sandra Schmit French Servant: Rémi Porter: Sonia Dick : David Purdy Letitia Hardy: Jenn Broda Mrs...

A Western from 1918, that ran over a 1000 shows on Broadway and was made into movies twice. Lightnin' and his wife run a seedy hotel that straddles the Nevada-California state line, making for an interesting legal situation. When some out-of-town businessmen come to town to try and take advantage of the locals, they discover that there is more savvy in them thar hills than they first thought. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Lightnin' Bill Jones: ToddHW John Marvin: Andrew Gaunce Raymond Thomas:...

Tom Cobb: "Why, there's a squalid old pauper idiot, a patient of his, who's got no name of his own, and Whipple [Doctor] christened him "Tom Cobb", because he says he's the ugliest old lunatic he ever saw and reminds him of me. And all the boys in the neighborhood have taken it up, and he's been known as Tom Cobb for the last two years. That's pleasant of Whipple.... One Tom Cobb's enough at a time!" What happens to young Tom if the old Tom dies and all young Tom's bills are now erased since he be dead...

A rich widow or two. An owner of 1000 acres of fine land. An heiress to the 1000 acres. Nefarious visitors of various sorts after the land, jewels, or whatever else they can get. Meddlers and neighbors. Faithful retainers and stalwart protectors. Comedy abounds. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Joshua Wicks, owner of "close onto 1,000 acres": Wayne Cooke Mr. Peter Schultz, sometimes vendor of sausages: Greg Giordano Mr. Barry Bland, an Englishman possessed of a shady reputation and a talkative...

"It is so sad when relations don't get on together." "Sadder still when they think they've got a right to trample on you, just because you happen to be an orphan and - I don't want to talk about my relations. I want to forget them. I stood them for nearly six months. I don't want to be reminded of them. I want to forget that they ever existed." She is not going to have her wish. Oh, no, not at all. A comedy. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Fanny: Devorah Allen Vernon Wetherell, Lord Bantock...

This fast-paced Victorian farce is at heart a comedy of manners. Dion Bouciault’s witty dialogue ridicules the pretensions of society as the plot sets up the unpleasant initial situation of the aging, vain Sir Harcourt Courtly being set by a special provision of her father’s will to marry 18-year-old Grace Harkaway. The situation quickly escalates upon their arrival at Oak Hall to seal the engagement as more increasingly zany minor characters are added and romantic complications ensue. Double courtship and comic deception abound in this high-spirited comedy...

Ye lords and ladies who have gathered here to see our little comedy of cheer, I bid you welcome to the Sunshine play, And hope 'twill drive your troubles all away. This delightful comedy is sure to brighten your day as we join an amusing group of characters while they recover from various ailments at the Sunshine Sanitarium. - Summary by Prologue and Jenn Broda Maudelia McCann, aged ten: Annie Mars Mrs. Bunch McCann, of Detroit, the mother: mleigh Mrs. Sol Whipple, of Whipple's Corners, Conn...

Betting that he can write 10,000 words in 24 hours, a novelist locks himself into a snowbound summer resort on Baldpate Mountain with what he believes is the one and only key to Baldpate Inn. Yet his work is interrupted by a number of colorful characters who have arrived for various shady enterprises, each thinking they had the only key to the inn. Soon it is clear there must be seven keys to Baldpate. The mystery deepens as the novelist finds himself entangled in an improbable series of schemes and plans...

In this delightful farce/comedy of manners, the eccentric and theatrical Bliss family invites four hapless guests to their English country house for the weekend. Hijinks ensue. - Summary by WendyKatzHillerCast List: Judith Bliss: WendyKatzHiller David Bliss: ToddHW Sorel Bliss: Jenn Broda Simon Bliss: Tchaikovsky Myra Arundel: Kelly S. Taylor Richard Greatham: Mike Manolakes Jackie Coryton: Jvisi Sandy Tyrell: CassiopeiaSparks Clara: C. Roxanne Maxwell Stage Directions: Jim Locke

Subtitled "An American Drama in Three Acts. A Play with a Punch." "A comedy drama of American life depicting the joys and sorrows, the heartaches and struggles and temptations of a small group of government employees working in a post office in a small city in the middle west. There is the stern inspector, the officious postmaster, the busybody mail clerk, the ambitious young clerk..., the kind hearted old man who carries the rural route, the raw recruit and the noble hearted, plucky little stamp clerk, who bravely stifles her own feelings and lives for the advancement of her friends...

"A Woman's Way" belongs to a class of comedy curiously rare on our native stage in recent seasons, the comedy of smart people, with a flavor of character study to give it dignity." "In this comedy, it is "inevitable" that the wife and the other woman should meet in the presence of the husband, and that they should come to open grapple under the very eyes of the audience. The joy of [Buchanan's] comedy, of course, in no small measure is due to the fact that the other woman is not at all the sort of antagonist the wife expected; that she is, in fact, charming, with worldly poise equal to the occasion...

Alexis Pointdextre gets his family sorcerer to brew up a love potion. But what happens when it gets out of control? This two act operetta was a success and convinced Gilbert and Sullivan to go ahead and collaborate on H.M.S. Pinafore the next year. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, an elderly Baronet: Andrew Kennedy Alexis, of the Grenadier Guards - his son: rwraptor Dr. Daly, Vicar of Ploverleigh: Scotty Smith John Wellington Wells, of J. W. Wells and Co., Family Sorcerers: ToddHW Notary: Tchaikovsky Lady Sangazure, a Lady of ancient lineage: April Mendis Aline, her daughter - betrothed to Alexis: Annie Mars Mrs...

The English-born Princess Pannonia had spent the twenty years of her marriage isolated in the Prince's remote Hungarian castle. Now widowed, she returns to London to re-engage with former friends, all fearfully facing middle-age. Can romance be rekindled with a former flame? Or will it be found with someone new or perhaps someone overlooked before? - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Princess Pannonia: awonski Sir George Lamorant, Bart.: Greg Giordano Fay Zuliani: Jenn Broda Edward Oriel: Tomas Peter Blanche Oriel: Michele Eaton Lady Ringstead: Sonia Mr...

Twin sisters, separated at birth to different lands. Later, Mnesilochus falls in love with one of them, only to see his friend Pistoclerus apparently with her. Great complications abound. Eventually all is explained and everyone joins together to carouse. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Silenus, the Divinity, who speaks the Prologue: ToddHW Nicobulus, an aged citizen of Athens: Adrian Stephens Mnesilochus, his son: Greg Giordano Philoxenus, another aged citizen of Athens: Alan Mapstone Pistoclerus,...

"I will discuss this matter in an allegory: ... There was once upon a time a man, and he had a sister; and this said sister, she had a brother; and so this sister fell in love with another brother, and he had another sister; and one day what should she do, but take it into her head to run away with him? So then, after that, the brother, from whom the sister had been stolen, stole the sister of the thief. Now will you be pleased to tell us whether it would be best, in such a case, that each man should...

Daniel Dowlas a chandler from Gosport, transmogrified into a baron, naturally enough demands, in what consists the mighty difference between drinking his tea out of a cup, or a saucer. He has the good sense to feel his insufficiency; and, aspiring to shine as an orator, engages a professor to teach him culture. Opposed to my lord, stands my lady, Dowlas; wife, a full-blown hollyhock of the aristocracy of Mammon. She affects to amend her spouse's cakelology, admits that an oath may now and then be suffered to garnish polite discourse, but then, it must be pronounced with an air to one's equals, and with a kind of careless condescension to menials...

An early screwball comedy, the plot revolves around a Soap Manufacturing Mogul's attempt to get his idle-rich son to make something of himself. This involves a Countess who speaks only French ; the son's sweetheart ; a hard-sell theatrical press-agent , and a new soap company set up by the son in competition with his father. “No. 13 Soap ... It's Unlucky for Dirt.” - Summary by Son of the Exiles Cast list: MARY GRAYSON : Annie Mars JOHNSON : Alan Mapstone COMTESSE DE BEAURIEN : Sonia RODNEY...