The Children's Hour

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The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/14/05 at 6:27pm

My high school drama director just announced that our next play was going to be 'The Children's Hour'.
I've looked up several summaries of the show, and it sounds wonderful, but since my local library does not have a copy of the script, i can't peruse the story fully.
So, i am asking you wonderful people what you think of the show, what some of the best parts are, what kind of monologue i should look for, and if the script is something that would be easy to find at my local Barnes and Noble.
Thanks in advance!

"Umm...A1 is a steak sauce."

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/14/05 at 6:30pm

You're probably going to have to go to a library or website to get a copy of that. You might be able to find a collection of Hellman plays at Barnes and Noble that would have it.

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/14/05 at 6:34pm

An odd choice for a high school, it's a bit melodramatic and probably a little dated at this point (it's 70 years old). Also it was one of the first major plays to deal with gay themes which makes it something of a daring choice for a high school even so many decades after it was written.

It has lots of great roles for women, though (the plot concerns a spiteful student at a girls' private school who accuses two female teachers of having a lesbian affair). The teachers -- Karen Wright and Martha Dobie -- and the student -- Mary Tilford -- are probably the best roles in the play.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/14/05 at 6:35pm

I was in the play this year. I think the best parts are probably Martha, Mrs. Tilford(if played really well can be fun), Mary, and Martha's aunt(sorry I forget her name at the moment).

I think over the course of the time though I started disliking the play, but it can be very well done. I recommend using a dramatic monologue that can show off a lot of character because it's a dramatic piece.

"The weight of this sad time we must obey, Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most; we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long"-Edgar in King Lear

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/14/05 at 6:38pm

Just remember that there a two different scenarios. Check out the movie "These Three" (1936), which deals with a heterosexual love triangle. The play and 2nd film version of "The Childrens Hour" deals with a lesbian theme between Karen Wright and Martha Dobie. Tough for a High School to express I would presume, but the times are a changin'. It is a very powerful and shattering story of love either way.

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." -- Author Unknown

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 06:38 PM

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/14/05 at 6:45pm

Congratulations for attending a school willing to tackle this kind of difficult work - it must be very exciting for you.

Now - here is the most important thing - it is about a lie told by the schoolgirl who is seeking revenge. The implication of her lie is that she has witnessed a lesbian relationship between the teachers. It is not, in any way, about a lesbian relationship. One of the teachers, Martha, begins to question her feelings for the other, Karen, after this lie is revealed and, well, tragedy follows.

"Love Life. Live." Michael Bennett

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/16/05 at 11:25am

First of all, I commend your school for taking on such a dificult and challenging piece.

Secondly, I caution you on your research. I recenty auditioned for Children's Hour and selected the Lillian Hellman anthology available at Barnes and Noble. I found major changes in the edit to the script now being used by Dramatists (I think Dramatists has the stage rights but I could be wrong!) for the stage version. The stage version has a lot of condensed dialogue and flows so much better.

Thirdly, please keep us posted on how you do!

BLAH BLAH BLAH

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/16/05 at 11:30am

I have the full script pm me

When someone blunders, we say that he makes a misstep. Is it then not clear that all the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill our history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill in dancing. - Moliere

re: The Children's Hour

Posted: 6/16/05 at 11:33am

The aunt is Lily Mortar, nice over the top part, slightly comedic until you realize the damage she has done. Isn't it Karen's aunt, not Martha? (I didn't get the part, but I did stage manage. Obviously, I was going for Joseph.)

I think Rosalee, if I remember the name right, is fairly challenging too. Karen is difficult but the character's natural standoffishness doesn't translate as well on stage. It calls for more subtle characterization for the actress than Martha's in-your-faceness. (in-your-faceness?)

BLAH BLAH BLAH

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