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Two Blind Mice
Otterbein University
The Office of Medicinal Herbs of the Department of Agriculture in Washington, manages to persist because no one realizes that it was abolished years ago, but no official steps have been taken to close it. Two nice old ladies run this department, but never answer the phone for fear of discovery. The are really interested in helping people, and are too scrupulous to cash the salary checks which are automatically sent to them. They manage to exist by renting parts of their office to a pants presser and a dance teacher, and by collecting fees from a parking lot nearby. In the words of the Daily News, they are "taken over by a newspaper reporter who transforms their hideaway into a top-secret bureau, staffed with Army, Navy, and State Department people who never know exactly what they are doing but believe they are developing a new science of herbal warfare which is the deadliest yet. There's a love story about the reporter, his ex-wife and the ex-wife's new fiance-and if you know your theatre you know who wins." The journalist enjoys mystifying people, particularly literal-minded Government employees. This farcical play is not only an entertaining, but is full of caustic and amusing satire on bureaucracy, stupidity and red tape.
https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?index=0&key=2184
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Craig's Wife
Otterbein University
A scathing and insightful work by one of the masters of American drama. Mrs. Harriet Craig, a woman of controlling will and vanity, succeeds in driving away her husband, friends, and anyone close to her, all for the sake of her pride. A tense and biting satire on the darker side of human nature from the celebrated author of The Silver Cord and They Knew What They Wanted.
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Blithe Spirit
Otterbein University
The smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stages, this much-revived classic from the playwright of Private Lives offers up fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, re-married but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who is called up by a visiting “happy medium,” one Madame Arcati. As the (worldly and un-) personalities clash, Charles’ current wife, Ruth, is accidentally killed, “passes over,” joins Elvira, and the two “blithe spirits” haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity.
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Winterset
Otterbein University
Mio, believing that his father was innocent of the crime for which he was executed, pursues his long search for proof of his innocence. Following new evidence, his path crosses that of Miriamne, a strange creature who lives with her family in the shadow of a towering bridge. The young people are drawn together through the tragedy of Mio's father, and the boy's bitterness prevents each from giving himself wholly to the other. Mio must first recover his self respect and the right to love. His problem is complicated when it is learned that Miriamne's brother, Garth, might have testified at the trial and cleared the accused man, but feared to do so because his own life would have been endangered. In the midst of Mio's efforts, there appears the figure of the unbalanced judge, who sentenced the victim, in search of new evidence to convince him that his decision was just. Miriamne, loyal to her family and in spite of her love for Mio, helps Garth conceal a murder the discovery of which would have saved Mio's faith, even life itself. From this tense situation, the young lovers step out into the night, to live what little is left of their short lives together.
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The Bat
Otterbein University
In this popular American mystery play, incident is piled on incident with skill and plausibility, and it is impossible to know who the real criminal is until the final curtain. This thriller revolves around Cornelia Van Gorder, a maiden lady of sixty, who rents the summer home of a banker reported killed in Colorado. She is warned that mysterious things are happening but she refuses to move. Then it is discovered that a large sum is missing from the dead man's bank and it is suspected that, far from being dead, he stole the money, hid it in a secret chamber in his house and is only waiting for a chance to sneak back to get it. Four others are after the money: the bank cashier who is wrongfully accused of taking it, a detective engaged by Miss Van Gorder to clear up the mystery, a doctor friend and supposed confederate of the missing banker and The Bat, a notorious thief who has long eluded the police. This genuine thriller is guaranteed to divert any audience.
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The Student Prince
Otterbein University
The Student Prince sings its way serenly down the years as the show that epitomises pure romance. The Prince, Karl Franz, is sent to University at Heidelberg to finish his studies. There, among fruit blossom and fellow students, he meets and falls deliriously in love with the daughter of the innkeeper, Kathie.
https://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_s/student_prince.htm
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The Heiress
Otterbein University
The background of the play is New York in the 1850s and the basic story tells of a shy and plain young girl, Catherine Sloper, who falls desperately in love with a delightful young fortune hunter. Catherine's lack of worldliness prevents her from realizing that the young man proposing to her is not entirely drawn to her by her charm. Catherine's father, a successful doctor, sees through the fortune hunter and forbids the marriage, but his daughter proposes an elopement that fails to materialize because the young man knows most of her expected fortune will go elsewhere if he marries her. Catherine retires into a little world of her own. But the fortune hunter turns up once more and again proposes to her. For a moment, Catherine leads him to believe that she will accept him, but when he calls by appointment, she locks the door, blows out all the lights and allows him to realize that she will not be fooled for the second time.
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Antigone
Otterbein University
Based on a Greek myth, Sophocles' Antigone embodies a timeless portrayal of the conflict between good and evil. The play portrays this struggle through a single incident but actually it represents all rebellion against oppression. Creon stands for inhuman forces--the reign of terror imposed by an dictatorship. Opposing him is Antigone, who rebels against the blasphemy of the unburied dead. By doing so, she cries out against Godlessness and indecency.
It is interesting to note that Anouihl's adaption of Antigone in 1943 symbolizes the German occupation of France--the new order with its promise of prosperity and happiness in exchange for surrender of the French spiritual independence.
Each age is entitled to its own Antigone--needs her, for every age has its Creon who must be defied.
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Mister Angel
Otterbein University
Stacy and Lydia Bolton, a husband-and-wife team of actor-producers, have everything except children. They are always on tour and children have to wait. They have just chosen a new play by their friend Daphne, with a magnificent role for Lydia. But Little Item, a girl angel, has been waiting for ten years to be born to Lydia, and if the Boltons haven't decided to have her yet they never will. So the angel Charles and his assistant, Gloria, are sent to Earth to bring Little Item back. But Item won't go. Charles, disobeying orders, decides to make another effort. Knowing the Boltons are always looking for "angels" to back their shows, Charles becomes Slim, a wealthy rancher, and he arranges to have Lydia find a six-month old baby abandoned in a phone booth. Unable to find its parents, Lydia takes the infant home and becomes a doting mother. When Daphne arrives she and Stacy proceed to work on Lydia, whose notions on domesticity drive them crazy. Daphne sets out to divert Slim's attention to herself, and Stacy is jealous of the rancher. Trouble looms when it is learned that Slim has no money, no ranch and resembles a fugitive who is wanted by the police. Two detectives appear, identify him, handcuff and prepare to take him away, but Lydia refuses to think ill of him. Just as he is about to be dragged off, Charles declares he is an angel! But he is being punished for insubordination, and his powers don't work. Now Little Item intercedes with the celestial authorities. Item is successful, and Slim disappears in a flash of lightning. Matters come to a climax when Gloria take a hand. The missing mother of the child is found and claims it from the Boltons. Lydia is heartbroken, and even Stacy is upset. Item realizes she will at last be born, and Charles goes back to heaven, mission accomplished.
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The Circle
Otterbein University
Rich in humor, conflict and depth, The Circle follows Lady Kitty, who had given up a stuffy life with her titled husband to run away with a young adventurer, as she watches her niece, Elizabeth about to make the same mistake 20 years later.
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The Shrike
Otterbein University
Jim Downs is brought to the psychiatric division of City Hospital after a suicide attempt. With the help of his estranged wife, who is with him night and day, he recovers. But this does not mean he is free to go home. His estranged wife conspires to keep Jim in the hospital until he renounces his girlfriend and agrees to go back with her. In the process, Jim is faced with well-meaning but inept institutional psychiatrists, who themselves have become victims of deadly routine. Through one test after another he is made to prove his sanity, until he almost loses it. Realizing the power of institutional law, Jim proceeds to give the "right answers," until he is finally released in the custody of his wife. Finally free, Jim knows that by compromising his integrity he has simply chosen the lesser of two evils.
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Knickerbocker Holiday
Otterbein University
In 1647 New Amsterdam (now known as New York) a rebellious young man, Brom, falls in love with the Town Councillor’s daughter, Tina. The Town Councillor tries to have Brom hanged but Brom is saved by the arrival of Peter Stuyvesant, the new Governor. When Stuyvesant turns into a dictator, Brom protests and is sent back to jail. Stuyvesant then tries to bring the country into a war. However, he abandons his plan when it is pointed out that history looks more kindly upon peace-makers than war-mongers. Meanwhile, Brom escapes from jail and all ends well.
https://stageagent.com/shows/musical/2183/knickerbocker-holiday
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The Juggler of Notre Dame
Otterbein University
Barnabe, a traveling circus performer, a juggler, was very happy in his work. However, misfortune befalls him, and he suffers from cold, and lack of food and shelter. A Monk befriends Barnabe, and takes him to the monastery. The climax of Barnabe's story in the monastery occured on a certain Christmas morning.
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The Biggest Thief in Town
Otterbein University
In a small town, the undertaker and the doctor plan to steal the body of the town's wealthiest citizen. That gentleman, a crook, has just passed out of the picture and the undertaker, who has led a quiet and honest life to date, sees no reason why he should not get a well paying job. So the undertaker and doctor enter the home of the deceased and proceed to take his body back to the shop. The undertaker and his friend picture a rosy future until the corpse comes to life and regains consciousness. The old gentleman is left on the sofa in the undertaker's office, where he proceeds to reveal the fact that he will die penniless, leaving his affairs in such condition as to make legal trouble for his successors. The undertaker, who has bought an option on the only bronze casket west of New York, sees himself stuck for a goodly sum, and is not unwilling to allow the job of attending to the deceased financier (he has since actually died) to go to a rival. When he is on the point of unloading the casket on his rival, he gets a temporary case of conscience and agrees to sell the casket for what he paid for it. His rival evidently thinks he is deceiving him when he reports that the millionaire has died penniless. So he hangs up the phone with the parting shot: "It's your funeral!" A pleasant romantic interest is sustained by the undertaker's daughter and a young dancer, who have become engaged and plan to carve out a career for themselves as professionals.
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The Lady's Not for Burning
Otterbein University
Thomas Mendip, a discharged soldier, weary of the world and eager to leave it, comes to a small town, announces he has committed murder and demands to be hanged. A philosophical humorist, Thomas is annoyed when the officials oppose his request, even believing he is not guilty of the crime he suggests. Shortly afterward, a young woman, Jennet, is brought before the Mayor for witchcraft, but for some strange reason she has no wish to be put to death! Thomas tries, in his own way, to prove to the official how absurd it would be to refuse to hang a man who wants to be hanged, and at the same time to kill a woman who is not only guiltless, but doesn't want to die. Jennet enjoys the banter, and soon sees the merit in Thomas the man. The Mayor's family members, clerks and officials gather for an impending wedding and seem to be stuck with the dilemma of two uninvited people—who may or may not be hanged in the morning—who must be included in the pre-nuptual activities. Through the party and the night, the intended bride slips off with the orphan clerk, two brothers fight over the bride and later become bored over her, the Mayor gets the vapors, Jennet becomes the guest of honor and poor Thomas falls helplessly in love. Luckily, Jennet has fallen for him too; and when the so-called murder victim is found alive and inebriated, Thomas can't be hanged. The family, having grown fond of Jennet, and with no proof of her witchcraft, leaves the question of hanging until morning, but Justice Tappercoom indicates he will turn a blind eye if she escapes. Jennet convinces Thomas that a life with her is worth putting off his hanging, and they run away together as dawn rises.
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The Crucible
Otterbein University
The story focuses upon a young farmer, his wife, and a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife's arrest for witchcraft. The farmer brings the girl to court to admit the lie—and it is here that the monstrous course of bigotry and deceit is terrifyingly depicted. The farmer, instead of saving his wife, finds himself also accused of witchcraft and ultimately condemned with a host of others.
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Time Out For Ginger
Otterbein University
According to the Herald-Tribune: "[The story] starts us out with a fairly staid banker who needs some sort of creative release and finds it in lecturing to local high-school classes on the need for self-fulfillment…It quickly develops however, that one of [the banker's] daughters—the youngest of three—has been very much impressed by her father's exhortations. She has further decided that her own true fulfillment can best be realized by going out for the football team." Any number of complications result: The father's job is jeopardized because the bank president doesn't approve; the girl's elder sisters insist that their social life has been blighted—especially the sister whose boyfriend is captain of the football team; and the girl football player herself finds that playing football and being a girl aren't always compatible, particularly when her own boyfriend disapproves of what she's doing. After any number of riotous mishaps, the play ends on a happily tender note with the whole family going out to see one of the other sisters in the high-school play, as Ginger is escorted by her reconciled boyfriend.
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The Importance of Being Earnest
Otterbein University
The Importance of Being Earnest, written in 1895, was originally a three-act drama. It has recently been condensed into the one-act version. Mr. Wilde, using subtle humor to near perfection, wrote the play as a satire on the English aristocracy. Today it is recognized as an outstanding melodrama of the modern theatre.
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As You Like It
Otterbein University
We celebrate the best of Shakespeare with laughter...music...dances...romance...comedy at all levels. The story of how the banished Duke, Rosalind, Orlando and others find happiness through love is one of the most delightful of all Shakespearean tales. The wit of the clown, Touchstone, the philosophy of "All the world's a stage...", the music of "It was a lover and his lass...", the earthy needs of the country people, the romantic honesty of young lovers in tune with nature...all can be found in As You Like It.
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Brigadoon
Otterbein University
When New Yorkers Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas get lost on a vacation in the Scottish Highlands, they stumble into Brigadoon. Brigadoon is a mythical village that, they learn, appears for a single day once every hundred years. At first, Tommy and Jeff are mystified by the villagers’ 18th century garb as they go to market, but they are soon charmed by romantic liaisons: Tommy, who is engaged back in New York, falls terribly in love with headstrong Fiona, while Jeff enjoys a harmless flirtation with Meg Brockie. It is only when Harry Beaton, the rejected suitor of Fiona’s sister, Jean, tries to leave Brigadoon that the two men realize the complicated truth: at the end of the day, this town will disappear into the mist for the next hundred years –- and if anyone succeeds in leaving Brigadoon, the town and the people in it will be lost, forever. Tommy is forced to choose between returning to the world that he knows and his New York fiance — or taking a chance on life and love in a mysterious new place. Including such famous hits as “Heather on the Hill” and “Almost Like Being in Love,” Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon has music that will sweep you off your feet and a whimsical story that is a tribute to the power of true love.
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Born Yesterday
Otterbein University
The vulgar, egotistic junkman Harry Brock has come to a swanky hotel in Washington to make crooked deals with government big-wigs. He has brought with him the charming but dumb ex-chorus girl Billie, whose lack of social graces embarrasses even Harry. Billie must be taught some of the amenities, and a few basic bits of information. The young, idealistic magazine reporter Paul Verrall, who has been investigating political skullduggery and is interested in Brock's activities, agrees for a salary, to educate Billie. He finds Billie has a natural honesty and a frank streak in her, and she begins to learn about history, politics, and what Harry really is and what he wants. At a dramatic moment she rebels against being merely a tool in Harry's crooked schemes and refuses to sign the documents which she has come to learn are part of an ambitious effort to defraud the public. This precipitates a crisis, as Billie readies to leave Harry for a new life of her own. Harry's reaction takes the only form he knows: physical violence. Billie now knows that she can no longer have anything to do with Brock, and realizes she and Paul have fallen genuinely in love. Just before she leaves Harry, she helps Paul get hold of incriminating documents of Harry's which will result in scandal and disaster. At the end, Paul and his promising pupil turn their backs on the anti-social and anti-democratic Brock and strike out on their own.
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Angel Street
Otterbein University
A Broadway hit first produced on the West End under the title Gaslight and filmed twice,Angel Streettells the story of the Manninghams, who live on Angel Street in 19th century London. As the curtain rises, all appears to be the essence of Victorian tranquility. It is soon apparent, however, that Mr. Manningham, a suavely handsome man, is slowly driving his gentle, devoted wife, Bella, to the brink of insanity with an insinuating kindness that masks more sinister motives. While he is out, Mrs. Manningham has an unexpected caller: amiable, paternal Inspector Rough from Scotland Yard. Rough is convinced that Mr. Manningham is a homicidal maniac wanted for a murder committed fifteen years earlier in this very house. Gradually, the inspector restores Bella’s confidence in herself and, as the evidence against Manningham unfolds, the author has built and sustained some of the most brilliant, suspenseful sequences in modern theatre.
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Barretts of Wimpole Street
Otterbein University
The scene is Elizabeth Barrett's room. Here she lives with her father, sisters and brothers. Never too healthy, she has been kept prisoner by her domineering father, who rules his family with unbelievable severity. Her brothers and sisters are reconciled to their father's tyranny, but Elizabeth has in her a spark of rebellion. This is set off by the romantic young Robert Browning, who has known her through her poetry. He bursts upon the Barrett household and in the first scene with Elizabeth proclaims his deep love for her. When Elizabeth realizes that she is attracted to the young poet, the world becomes a different place. She sees that her father's solicitude is mere selfishness and that she need not look forward to an invalid's life, deprived of all natural love and happiness. Robert inspires her with a desire to get away. His zest for life and devotion to Elizabeth bring the young woman to the point where she is ready to marry him and run away to Italy. Her father tries to keep her with him, but nothing prevails, and the lovers leave Wimpole Street to embark on their life together.
https://www.samuelfrench.com/p/6615/the-barretts-of-wimpole-street
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The Rainmaker
Otterbein University
At the time of a paralyzing drought in the West we discover a girl whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her potential future as an old maid as they are about their dying cattle. For the truth is, she is indeed a plain girl. The brothers try every possible scheme to marry her off, without success. Nor is there any sign of relief from the dry heat, when suddenly, from out of nowhere, appears a picaresque, sweet-talking man with quite the sales pitch. Claiming to be a “rainmaker,” the man promises to bring rain, for $100. It’s a silly idea, but the rainmaker is so refreshing and persistent that the family finally consents, banging on big brass drums to rattle the sky. Meanwhile, the rainmaker also turns his magic on the girl, and persuades her that she has a very real beauty of her own. She believes it, just as her father believes the fellow can actually bring rain. Rain does come, and so does love. An excellent play for all groups.
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