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Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison

Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

Failure and fortitude are the touchstones for every inventor, but even more so for 19th century female inventors.

Margaret E. Knight invented a machine to mass produce flat bottom paper bags – the same paper bags we use today! But credit for her invention was almost stolen from her. During a courtroom proceeding, a competing inventor stated that “there is no way a woman could have invented this.”

How did Margaret persist and secure her place in the annals of invention?

An excellent class project.

Drama
Check out the full-length version of The Female Edison here.

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Running Time
About 40 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
13 Characters
1 F12 Any Gender, plus 3 groups (3/4/4)
Set
Simple set
Length
49 pages
Free Excerpt

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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

13 Characters
1 F, 12 Any Gender, plus 3 groups (3/4/4)

Aside from Margaret, directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

MARGARET [F] 147 lines
Inventor. Spirited, stubborn, tough and stuck in a world that won’t let her use her mind.
CHARLES ANNAN [A] 44 lines
Machinist. Inventor.
JOHN KNOX [A] 29 lines
Factory Supervisor.
DAVID CANTWELL [A] 23 lines
Patent Lawyer.
WIL GRAHAM [A] 5 lines
Machinist
LEWIS ABBOT [A] 7 lines
Machinist
ARTHUR DUNCAN [A] 6 lines
Acting Commissioner.
PATENT OFFICE CLERK [A] 1 line
Duncan’s clerk.
Factory Operatives
GRACE [A] 33 lines
EMMA [A] 36 lines
RUTH [A] 19 lines
ELLIE [A] 33 lines
ALICE [A] 24 lines
FOUR FEMALE INVENTORS [A] 4 lines
From cast of actors
Groups
19TH CENTURY GROUP [A] 23 lines
INVENTORS GROUP [A] 12 lines
INVENTION GROUP [A] 57 lines

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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

The Female Edison
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Theatrefolk Featured Play: The Female Edison

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. The Female Edison by Lindsay Price is an incredible ensemble piece with something for everyone! Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big...
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