Scarlet Expectations of a Drowned Maiden and Two Greek Queens
by Robert Wing
A talk show welcomes some of literature's most memorable women who just can’t seem to get it right when it comes to men.
About 40 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
12
1 M | 7 W | 4 Any Gender
Simple set
28 pages
On today’s episode of The Dee Dee Show, legendary TV talk show host Dee Dee Dane welcomes women who just can’t seem to get it right when it comes to men. But, Dee Dee’s guests aren’t just any women. These relationship-challenged women are none other than some of literature’s most memorable characters: Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter, Ophelia from Hamlet, Miss Havisham from Great Expectations, Penelope from The Odyssey and Medea from, well, Medea.
It is a farcical and funny meeting of minds that makes today’s episode very special indeed.
Characters
12
1 Man, 7 Women, 4 Any Gender
Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.
-
Dee Dee Dane
[W]
44 lines
- The greatest talk show host of all time! Legions of fans admire and model their lives after her.
-
Penelope
[W]
20 lines
- The wife of Odysseus. She waited patiently for her husband to come home. She is a model of patience and sacrifice…or is she?
-
Medea
[W]
23 lines
- When her husband, Jason, told her he wanted custody of the kids, she said “Sure, no problem. Which pieces?”
-
Hester Prynne
[W]
23 lines
- Her man, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, lets Hester spend her life paying for a crime that he was as equally guilty of – and she enjoys it!
-
Miss Havisham
[W]
24 lines
- Her man left her at the altar and she spends the rest of her life in that instant of abandonment.
-
Ophelia
[W]
22 lines
- Between her father and her boyfriend Hamlet, she doesn’t have a chance.
-
Arthur Dimmesdale
[M]
20 lines
- He really should have thought first before agreeing to appear on the show.
- Commercial Narrator [A]
- Two Monologues
-
Player One / Mother / Woman
[W]
0 lines
-
Player Two / Kid / Butterfly
[A]
0 lines
-
Player Three / Kid
[A]
0 lines
-
Player Four / Kid
[A]
0 lines
- Subgenres
- Fantasy Parody Adaptation
- Settings
- Abstract setting Present day
- Dress
- Contemporary costumes Elaborate costumes Fantasy costumes Period costumes
- Audience
- Pre-teen Teen
- Features
- Mime Character study
- Set
- Simple set Interior set
- Themes
- Body image Friendship Illness/Health Love Relationships Individuality Obedience Morality Women's issues Gender issues Peer pressure Self-image
- Cross-Curricular Uses
- English Greek
- Other uses
- Competition Audition material Class work Scene work
Prop List
Bag of chips, Comic book, Clothes pin, Bouquet of flowers, Ring
Production Photos
Multimedia
Related Titles
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.
All others must pay at the time of ordering.
Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.
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.
Scarlet Expectations of a Drowned Maiden and Two Greek Queens
by Robert Wing
About 40 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
12
1 M | 7 W | 4 Any Gender
Simple set
28 pages