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The Female Edison by Lindsay Price play script cover

The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

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 F22 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 F, 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 [F] 238 lines
Inventor. Adult. Worked in factories and many jobs where she used her hands (repairs, furniture upholstery)
MATTIE [F] 162 lines
Margaret at 12 years old. Tough. Spirited.
ACT ONE
Margaret's Family
HANNAH [A] 41 lines
Margaret’s mother, factory worker
JIM [A] 42 lines
Margaret’s brother, Weaving Room #3 Assistant Overseer
CHARLIE [A] 44 lines
Margaret’s brother, factory worker
Factory Operatives
HARRIET [A] 23 lines
MARY [A] 10 lines
SARAH [A] 17 lines
ELIZA [A] 8 lines
LUCY [A] 13 lines
FRANCES [A] 17 lines
GEORGE [A] 9 lines
HENRY [A] 11 lines
SAMUEL [A] 11 lines
5 ADDITIONAL OPERATIVES FOR GROUP SCENES [A]
Factory Management
BAKER, Jacob [A] 21 lines
Weaving Room #2 Overseer
GREEN, Daniel [A] 26 lines
Foreman of Repairs
LIGHTBODY, Eugene [A] 4 lines
Superintendent of Weaving
STICKNEY, William [A] 33 lines
Weaving Room #2 Assistant Overseer
PIERCE, James [A] 3 lines
Mill Manager #4
ACT TWO
CHARLES [A] 45 lines
Machinist. Inventor.
KNOX, John [A] 29 lines
Factory Supervisor.
CANTWELL, David [A] 23 lines
Patent Lawyer.
GRAHAM, Wil [A] 5 lines
Machinist
ABBOT, Lewis [A] 7 lines
Machinist
DUNCAN, Arthur [A] 6 lines
Acting Commissioner
PATENT OFFICE CLERK [A] 1 line
Duncan’s clerk.
Factory Operatives
EMMA [A] 36 lines
GRACE [A] 33 lines
RUTH [A] 19 lines
ELLIE [A] 33 lines
ALICE [A] 24 lines
4 FEMALE INVENTORS [A] 4 lines
Should come from cast of actors
Groups
19TH CENTURY GROUP [A] 23 lines
INVENTORS GROUP [A] 12 lines
INVENTION GROUP [A] 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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