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The Female Edison by Lindsay Price play script cover

The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big but forgotten stories.

At 12 years of age, while working at a textile factory, she invented a part to improve the safety of a power loom. How did she not only get mill management to listen to her idea but implement it?

As an adult, she invented a machine to mass-produce flat bottom paper bags. This invention was eventually stolen from her so she hired a lawyer to take the case to court. The defense was that “there is no way a woman could have invented this.” How did Margaret persist and secure her place in the annals of invention?

Drama

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 70 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
24 Characters
2 F 22 Any Gender
Set
Simple set
Length
79 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.

24 Characters

  • 2 Females
  • 22 Any Gender

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

  • MARGARET Female 238 lines
    Inventor. Adult. Worked in factories and many jobs where she used her hands (repairs, furniture upholstery)
  • MATTIE Female 162 lines
    Margaret at 12 years old. Tough. Spirited.

ACT ONE

Margaret's Family

  • HANNAH Any gender 41 lines
    Margaret’s mother, factory worker
  • JIM Any gender 42 lines
    Margaret’s brother, Weaving Room #3 Assistant Overseer
  • CHARLIE Any gender 44 lines
    Margaret’s brother, factory worker

Factory Operatives

  • HARRIET Any gender 23 lines
  • MARY Any gender 10 lines
  • SARAH Any gender 17 lines
  • ELIZA Any gender 8 lines
  • LUCY Any gender 13 lines
  • FRANCES Any gender 17 lines
  • GEORGE Any gender 9 lines
  • HENRY Any gender 11 lines
  • SAMUEL Any gender 11 lines
  • 5 ADDITIONAL OPERATIVES FOR GROUP SCENES Any gender

Factory Management

  • BAKER, Jacob Any gender 21 lines
    Weaving Room #2 Overseer
  • GREEN, Daniel Any gender 26 lines
    Foreman of Repairs
  • LIGHTBODY, Eugene Any gender 4 lines
    Superintendent of Weaving
  • STICKNEY, William Any gender 33 lines
    Weaving Room #2 Assistant Overseer
  • PIERCE, James Any gender 3 lines
    Mill Manager #4

ACT TWO

  • CHARLES Any gender 45 lines
    Machinist. Inventor.
  • KNOX, John Any gender 29 lines
    Factory Supervisor.
  • CANTWELL, David Any gender 23 lines
    Patent Lawyer.
  • GRAHAM, Wil Any gender 5 lines
    Machinist
  • ABBOT, Lewis Any gender 7 lines
    Machinist
  • DUNCAN, Arthur Any gender 6 lines
    Acting Commissioner
  • PATENT OFFICE CLERK Any gender 1 line
    Duncan’s clerk.

Factory Operatives

  • EMMA Any gender 36 lines
  • GRACE Any gender 33 lines
  • RUTH Any gender 19 lines
  • ELLIE Any gender 33 lines
  • ALICE Any gender 24 lines
  • 4 FEMALE INVENTORS Any gender 4 lines
    Should come from cast of actors

Groups

  • 19TH CENTURY GROUP Any gender 23 lines
  • INVENTORS GROUP Any gender 12 lines
  • INVENTION GROUP Any gender 56 lines

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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

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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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