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A PLAYSCRIPTS TITLE
Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy / 7w, 8m, 20 any gender (youth)
Stephen Gregg
The romance, betrayal, longing and joy of six of O. Henry’s best short stories intertwine at the Vallambrosa rooming house, where Della Leeson lands after she’s abandoned by her new husband and quickly gets pulled into the lives of the other quirky residents. Full of whimsy and eccentric characters, this dramatic comedy showcases the beloved writer’s work at its most human.
The romance, betrayal, longing and joy of six of O. Henry’s best short stories intertwine at the Vallambrosa rooming house, where Della Leeson lands after she’s abandoned by her new husband. Della slowly builds a life for herself in New York City: finding a community, overcoming tragedy,and falling in love. O. Henry’s twists take Della in unexpected directions, pulling her into the lives of the Vallambrosa’s other quirky residents. Full of whimsy and eccentric characters, O. Henry’s Guide to the Present showcases the beloved writer’s work at its most human.
O. Henry’s Guide to the Present premiered in Olathe, Kansas at Olathe South High School on 16 November 2022.
O. HENRY – A writer.DELLA – Nineteen, new to New York City, a bride.WILLIAM – Thirty-seven, in prison.PASSERSBY – Ignoring William.DEPARTMENT STORE CLERK – Selling decorative combs.OSCAR – Della’s husband.CRANKY PASSENGER – On a rubberneck auto.EXCITED PASSENGER – On a rubberneck auto.TOUR OPERATOR – Of a rubberneck auto.HARRIET WILLIAMS – On her honeymoon.JAMES WILLIAMS – On his honeymoon.RILEY – A police officer.DONOVAN – A police officer.LAWYER TOLMAN – The executor of a will.LAWYER SHARP – The co-executor of the will.GILLIAN – Beneficiary of the will, resident of the Vallambrosa rooming house.HELEN – At ages thirty-eight and eighteen, owner of the Vallambrosa.TRUMAN – A prison guard.MISS STEVENS – A communist calligrapher, resident of the Vallambrosa.SUE – An artist, resident of the Vallambrosa.JOHNSY – An artist, resident of the Vallambrosa, Sue’s roommate.BEHRMAN – Sixty, an artist, resident of the Vallambrosa.THE WIDOW MAYO – Helen’s mother.JOHN DELANEY – Twenty, an unsuccessful suitor. Later, plays MR. ALSEF.FRANK – Newlywed. Later plays RAMONTI.MR. SKIDDER – A writer.BUSINESS PEOPLE 1-4 – Della’s prospective employers.RESTAURANT OWNER – A client of Della’s.PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERA GROCERJIMMY JACKSON – An ambulance driver.A GUEST – Not human, not welcome.DOCTOR FLECKA STORE CLERKA WIGMAKER
In O. Henry’s day, lots of important jobs were reserved for men. Lawyers, police officers, doctors and business people were mostly male. But this play is designed to be performed by an ensemble. Feel free to cast those roles with female actors. Likewise, you’re free to make the characters of Behrman and Mr. Skidder women. For a great example of how to divvy the roles, look at David Hastings’ casting for the original production, available in the script.
Vallambrosa rooming house, other NYC locations, and a prison in Ohio. 1905.
Stephen Gregg’s play This is a Test helped define a genre of one-acts when it appeared in 1988 and was the most-produced one-act play in the country for over a decade. Since then, he has published over thirty plays for secondary schools to perform, including Small Actors, One ...