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DEAR MOTHER & ALL is based on the actual letters between an 19 year old boy, his family, friends and relatives in Massillon, Ohio during a few months in 1918 while he served as a Marine in World War I, and again when his body came home from France in 1921. The play's structure is meant to counterpoint how one ordinary boy's experiences, life and death affected all of those who knew him as parent, sister, relative, friend, schoolmate and boyfriend. Often humorous as well as poignant, this play is written for a cast which may easily be doubled* or tripled* for smaller equity casts or enlarged to accomodate larger community, high school or university productions.
Though not a musical, the playwright recommends songs of the period to underscore the play's social, political and personal themes and action. This script is already written to accomodate the inclusion of live or taped music.
Cast List
Lena Brown Mother Charles Brown Father Ethel Brown 25, oldest sister Charles Vernon Brown (Chas) 19, son Dorothy Brown (Dofe) 21, middle sister Young Helen Brown 16, youngest sister Old Helen Brown 70's Grace Hering Vernon's Girlfriend Helen Scott* Classmate Henry Jones Young neighbor boy Ralph Bowers* Friend Chester Potts Best friend and fellow Marine Roy Hartung* Friend Marie Haas* Young girl with the big hat Marine Officer* Murray Spidle* Aviator Sunday School Girl* Mortimer Duffield, MD* Lena's brother Phebe Long* Lena's sister Miriam Johnson* Neighbor Reverend Grant Perkins* MethodistMinister Soldiers* as needed Nurse* as needed
The action of the play, which takes place between the spring of 1918 and the winter of 1921, always takes place simultaneously in the Brown family kitchen and wherever Vernon's life takes him. Production requrirements should be kept simple and casting may be diverse.
Playwright's Note: Willing to rewrite this script for a smaller cast.
1993 Youngstown State University, OH , Readers Theatre
1989 Lincoln Theatre, Massillon (OH)
1989 NORTHERN OHIO LIVE MAGAZINE, Museum winner ( for collaboration)
1988 Ohio Arts Council/ Humanities Council (commission)
The Massillon Evening Independent |
For an excerpt of this play click this link DEAR MOTHER AND ALL
© 1998 Halem Studios
Last updated September 1998
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