Leading Ladies
Encyclopedia
Leading Ladies is a theatrical comedy play by Ken Ludwig
.
, Pennsylvania in 1958, this farce
centers on two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors, Leo Clark and Jack Gable. The pair discover through a newspaper that Florence, an older ailing woman, has been unable to find Max and Steve, her sister's children who moved away to England as children in order to include them in her multi-million dollar inheritance. They decide to pose as Max and Steve to claim portions of it. When they discover that "Max" and "Steve" are actually "Maxine" and "Stephanie," they continue on, undaunted, in drag
. Leo falls for Florence's actual niece Meg, while Jack swoons over Florence's part-time aide Audrey.
Florence recovers just as the pair arrives, but they decide to keep on, both to try to outlast her health and to stay close to the objects of their interest. Leo convinces Meg, who is enamored of Shakespeare and a fan of Jack and Leo, to put on a production at Florence's estate, to give himself more of an opportunity to be with her, both as Leo and Maxine. Meanwhile, Meg's fiance Duncan grows increasingly suspicious of the "Leading Ladies."
Ken Ludwig
Ken Ludwig is an American playwright and theatre director.Born in York, Pennsylvania, Ludwig was educated at the York Suburban Senior High School, York PA Haverford College , Harvard Law School, and Trinity College at Cambridge University...
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Synopsis
Set in YorkYork, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, Pennsylvania in 1958, this farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
centers on two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors, Leo Clark and Jack Gable. The pair discover through a newspaper that Florence, an older ailing woman, has been unable to find Max and Steve, her sister's children who moved away to England as children in order to include them in her multi-million dollar inheritance. They decide to pose as Max and Steve to claim portions of it. When they discover that "Max" and "Steve" are actually "Maxine" and "Stephanie," they continue on, undaunted, in drag
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
. Leo falls for Florence's actual niece Meg, while Jack swoons over Florence's part-time aide Audrey.
Florence recovers just as the pair arrives, but they decide to keep on, both to try to outlast her health and to stay close to the objects of their interest. Leo convinces Meg, who is enamored of Shakespeare and a fan of Jack and Leo, to put on a production at Florence's estate, to give himself more of an opportunity to be with her, both as Leo and Maxine. Meanwhile, Meg's fiance Duncan grows increasingly suspicious of the "Leading Ladies."
The Alley Theatre Production
- Erin DillyErin DillyErin Dilly is an American actress. She is most noted for her portrayal of Truly Scrumptious in the 2005 musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award.Dilly was raised in...
.... Meg - Brent BarrettBrent BarrettBrent Barrett is an American actor and tenor who is mostly known for his work within American theatre. Barrett has performed in musicals and in concerts with theatres, symphony orchestras, opera houses, and concert halls internationally...
.... Leo - Christopher Duva .... Jack
- Lacey Kohl .... Audrey
- Mark JacobyMark JacobyMark Jacoby is a Broadway performer. He has achieved fame from his leading roles in Show Boat, The Phantom of the Opera and Ragtime...
.... Duncan - Jane Connell .... Florence
- Dan LauriaDan LauriaDaniel Joseph "Dan" Lauria is an American television and film actor.-Early life:Lauria, an Italian-American, was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Carmela and Joseph J. Lauria. He also lived in Lindenhurst, New York...
.... Doctor - Tim McGeever .... Butch
Divadlo Na Fidlovačce, Prague
- Czech name: V korzetu pro tetu. Directed by Petr Rychlý. The play had premiere 10 September 2009.
- Michaela BadinkováMichaela Badinková- Biography :Badinková was born in Malacky, Czechoslovakia. She studied Conservatory in Bratislava and Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Her last name is pronounced bah-dyeen-kaw-vah:.-Divadlo Na Fidlovačce:*V korzetu pro tetu .... Meg...
.... Meg - Marek Holý .... Leo
- Denny Ratajský .... Jack
- Zuzana VejvodováZuzana VejvodováZuzana Vejvodová is a Czech actress.In 2000 she graduated from Prague Conservatory. Afterwards she joined Divadlo Na Fidlovačce . She regularly performs in TV films and series. In April 2008 she was shortlisted for TýTý Award, an annual Czech television award, in one of the categories...
.... Audrey - Daniel Rous .... Duncan
- Lilian Malkina .... Florence
- Václav Svoboda .... Doctor
The Gateway Theatre, Richmond, BC
- Luisa Jojic .... Meg
- Peter Jorgensen .... Leo
- Allan Zynik .... Jack
- Tara Davis .... Audrey
- Jenifer Darbellay .... Stephanie
- William Samples .... Doctor
- Chris RobsonChris RobsonChris Robson is an English stage, television and film actor. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom.His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction....
.... Reverend Wooley