The Other Wiseman:
A Festival of
Lessons and Carols
A PLAY BY GWEN ADAMS
Two Commedia dell'Arte Plays for the Modern Stage
PLAYS BY GWEN ADAMS
Puss-in-Boots &
The Return of Puss-in-Boots
A PLAY BY GWEN ADAMS
The Other Wiseman
A Festival of Lessons and Carols
Cast Size: (with doubling) 7m, 5w. May be expanded up to 19m, 10w, 4m/w, extras as needed, 1–3 infants.
Two Commedia dell'Arte
Plays for the Modern Stage
Running Time: A Fine Fiasco, 75–85 min., Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play).
Cast Size: (with doubling) 7 overall: 4m, 3w. May be expanded to 6m, 4w, 1m/w
Running Time: The Flower of Beauty, 55–65 min., Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play).
Cast Size: (with doubling) 8 overall: 5m; 3w. May be expanded to 6m, 4w, 3m/w
A Fine Fiasco: Perpetua keeps nagging her daughter Isabella to marry Pantalone: he’s a gold-digger with seven previous wives who died in mysterious circumstances. When Scaramuccia warns his sister against the marriage, Isabella loses her temper, and accepts Pantalone’s proposal. Things seem to go well at first, but Isabella’s maid Columbina grows suspicious. When Isabella discovers Pantalone’s secret, he determines to destroy her. It will take guts and some clever thinking to resolve this dark comedy.
The Flower of Beauty: Perpetua is perplexed when her son Arlecchino loses his apprenticeship, first at the bakery, and then at the butcher shop. But things begin to look up when Arlecchino apprentices with the court painter Brighella. For the king’s dreams are haunted by visions of a princess, the Flower of Beauty. Brighella despairs when the king orders him to paint a portrait of the Flower of Beauty. But Arlecchino volunteers to give it a try. When Arlecchino succeeds, the king takes him on a journey to find the princess. With her maid Columbina, the Princess Isabella is being held by enchantment in the tower of Il Dottore. When the king and Arlecchino free them, Il Dottore pronounces a terrible curse. How will they find a remedy?
Approx. Run Time: A Fine Fiasco, 75–85 min., Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play). The Flower of Beauty, 55–65 min., Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play).
Cast Size: A Fine Fiasco: 6m, 4w, 1m/w. With doubling/tripling: 7 overall: 4m, 3w. The Flower of Beauty: 6m, 4w, 3m/w. With doubling/tripling: 8 overall: 5m, 3w.
Time Period (both plays): A short time or a long time ago.
Setting: A Fine Fiasco: far away, in a place a little like Italy. The Flower of Beauty: far away, in a place a little like Italy and another place a little like Spain. Can be staged in minimalist fashion, without sets or backdrops.
Min. Royalty Rate: $50/performance with substantial discounts for Private Group Readings. Learn more about Private Group Readings and the New Underground Theater or visit our Licensing Page. Actual royalty rate for performances will be determined during application for rights.
Puss in Boots
Running time: 65–75 min., Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play)
Cast Size: (with doubling) 8 overall plus extras: 1m, 2–3w, 4–5 m/w, extras. May be expanded to 1m, 3w, 14m/w, extras.
Approx. Run Time: 65-75 min., Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play).
Cast Size: 1m, 3w, 14m/w; extras. With doubling/tripling: 8 overall plus extras: 1m, 2–3w, 4–5m/w, extras.
Time Period: A short time or a long time ago.
Setting: In a faraway kingdom for most of the play, outdoors, in, and around the Royal Palace, and at MR. GRAVEL’s castle. Act II, Scene 1 takes place at Parisol, a bakery in Paris, France.
Min. Royalty Rate: $50/performance with substantial discounts for Private Group Readings. Learn more about Private Group Readings and the New Underground Theater or visit our Licensing Page. Actual royalty rate for performances will be determined during application for rights.
The New Underground Theater
