Play List: Theme – Seasons of the Year

Here you can find a selection of theatrical plays based around the theme of seasons of the year. Each play listed includes cast size, genre, the setting and a review. All of the plays listed have been tested with my play reading group.

Key:           

Cast Sizes - Small 2-6; Medium 7-12; Large 13+

Copies - Number of copies currently held at the NewSPAL library in Ewell

Constance Cox - Spring at Marino       

Genre: Drama (some humour)                     Cast: Mixed, Medium Copies 10

Setting: Russia, 19th Century

Landowner Nicholai welcomes guests Anna Sergievna and her young sister Katia. His much-loved son Arkady, returns home, with ill-mannered friend Eugene Bazarov, but is much changed. Thennicka, the housekeeper, has a baby boy by Nicholai, but unable to marry her they try to keep the baby's existence a secret. Kata is in love with Arkady, who spurns her for Anna, and Basarov also falls for Anna. There is a duel, and a character turnaround for Arkady and Basarov, before a tragedy.

Tennessee Williams - Suddenly Last Summer 

Genre: Drama                                             Cast: Mixed, Small Copies 11

Setting: 1930s New Orleans

The play is about the life and death of Sebastian Venable, a wealthy secretly gay poet whose brutal murder in Italy is witnessed by his cousin Catharine.

On frequent trips abroad Sebastian has used his mother to lure young men for him. Mrs. Venable kept her son’s secret safe, and now tries to silence Catharine to protect his reputation. Mrs. Venable tries to convince Dr. Cukrowicz to perform a lobotomy on Catharine so that she can never reveal the truth.

Tennessee Williams - Summer and Smoke    

Genre: Drama                                             Cast: Mixed, Medium Copies 9

Setting Mississippi, 1900-1916

The play explores the conflict between the hedonistic body and the lofty spirit. It play is focuses on the relationship between Alma Winemiller, a minister's daughter who is repressed and sensitive, and John Buchanan Jr., a wild and adventurous young doctor who lives next door. It spans several years and shows how their attraction and differences affect their lives.

Matthew Barber - Enchanted April

Genre: Romantic Comedy                            Cast: Mixed, Medium  Copies 10

Setting England and (mainly) Italy post WWII

Two London housewives pool their savings to rent a villa in Italy for a ladies-only holiday away, reluctantly recruiting a pair of difficult upper-class women to share the cost and the experience. The play explores the heartache of each of the four women caused by aging, lack of money, marital neglect.

Peter Coke - Breath of Spring

Genre: Comedy                                           Cast: Mixed, Small Copies 23

Setting England, 1960s

When maid and ex-convict Lily Thompson gifts her boss Dame Beatrice a mink stolen from the neighbour’s, Beatrice and her four friends are forced to scheme how to replace the coat without being caught. What starts out as a one-time patch up for Lily’s bad behaviour becomes a thrill for the group of five. They figure their talents shouldn’t go to waste, and having little else to do at their retired age, start planning crime sprees, running around town and stealing minks There’s an exciting conclusion where Scotland yard bangs on their door, forcing a turn of events where Lily has to come to the gang of five’s rescue

More themes, and more individual plays will be added as they are read.

If you would like me to add a play you have read, please let me know.