The Women

Adapted for our stage

by J. Raven-Smart

original play by Clare Boothe Luce

Screenplay by Diane English

Directed by J. Raven-Smart

Jaguar Troupe Production

Full length, Tender Comedy, Rated: PG-13

Setting:  Manhattan, present day, Story centers on 4 women whose friendships are tested by one of the women struggling with a husband who has been unfaithful.  The play is 98% female cast. While husbands & bosses frequently are the subject of their lively discussions and play an important role in the action on-stage, they are strictly characters mentioned but never seen:  the only males seen are a hairdresser and a New Age Seminar Leader.

While many might refer to this as a “chick” play, the social commentary about what is true about the American upper class woman, both positive and negative is both thought provoking and amusing.  ~  J. Raven-Smart, director

Themes

1) Ideal Woman The ideal woman in this updated version The Women is one who bears children, cares for her husband, BUT does find time for a career that expresses her uniqueness and supports her self worth.

2) Female Archetypes – many types are featured in the play illuminating both positive and negative aspects:  the married-well charity/benefactor wife; the married to her career woman; one female writer who follows a gay lifestyle, the paid housekeeper, immigrant servant, competitive co-workers, unscrupulous gossip columnist, the earth mother wife with many children, fashion & beauty saleswomen, mother of less liberated generation, and young girls.

3) Relationships Between Women –negative/positive views, it's hard for women to truly be friends -trust is frequently an issue between the women characters vs women can be closer friends than some marriages; mother daughter relations are touched on---mother often gives advice to her daughter.  The irony of married women loathing “the other women” and some single women justifying to them selves that having an affair is fair and that “the wife” is somehow to blame.

PG-13*:  mild language, divorce, adultery, sexual innuendo, 1 gay lifestyle reference

*While most high school plays don’t place an audience rating on their plays, I feel it is obligation to the community and their families.  jrs