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Mrs. Boston's Tea Party
a play a pied
(to be followed on foot)


THE TIME: 1911

THE SETTING: The ostentatious home of the recently widowed Alice Boston; Anytown USA

THE STORY: Rich and recently widowed, Alice Boston risks losing her name, home and fortune if a local judge rules her marriage of thirteen years invalid due to a "technicality." The judge presiding over the case happends to be married to the grande dame of polite society in the district. Mrs. Boston hopes favorably to impress the judge's wife, Geraldine Von Weisbaden, by throwing a small tea party in her honor — the idea being that Mrs. Von Weisbaden will then persuade her husband to rule on Mrs. Boston's behalf.

THE CHARACTERS:

Alice Boston— wealthy widow with a checkered past, the lady of the house. "My husband used to bring me gifts from exotic far away lands. I miss the gifts."

Helen Worthington— Beautiful, devoted, hardwroking housemaid. "Work is all I can bear. It is the only thing that covers the pain."

Andrew Worthington— Restless, headstrong thespian and reluctant Boston butler. Helen's brother who yearns for the greasepaint, but now works in kitchen grease and house paint. "All the world's a circus and we but claowns."

Geraldine Von Weisbaden— Recognized grande dame of high scoiety and wife of a prominent judge. "Reproach comes to us all Mrs. Boston. Bear it nobly and be a better person for it."

Jean Beanville— A social climber with ne'er an original thought. Behind her bland exterior exists a truly rotten egg. "That's pronounced Bee-on-vee (hack choke cough sneeze)"

c.h. hastings— An enigmatic and successful young playwright from New York. No matter what you say, if you say it with authority, people will listen... and believe!"

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