“The Jealous Mistress”

Hruby, Norbert J. (American playwright, retired second president of Aquinas College, 1918-____), “The Jealous Mistress,” a bare-stage 48-minute melodrama in English in several scenes, set in a small college town, the present,

2m2f

; © 2003 by Norbert J. Hruby; • in Norbert J. Hruby’s The Jealous Mistress (Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A.: The Author, 2003); • script/rights available from Norbert J. Hruby, 245 Briarwood SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506, U.S.A., telephone (home) 616-459-1149, e-mail nordolor@iserv.net. • Cited by Norbert J. Hruby, via ftp, November 28, 2003; Hruby says,

§ Dramatis Personae Al (m), 65, recently retired long-time president of a small liberal arts college; Conrad (m), 35, Al’s successor as president of the college; Abigail (f), 65, Al’s wife, battle-scarred; Terry (f), 35, Conrad’s wife.

§ Synopsis “Al, reluctant to give up the reins, is abetted by the board of trustees which makes him ‘chancellor’ and installs him in an office outside the door of the new president’s office, a bizarre background for the events. The two wives solve the problem by the most effective means at their disposal: Terry leaves her husband with the support of Abigail, who proves one more time what a great First Lady she has been by forcing Al to come to terms with his retirement. The couples reconcile. The college achieves salvation despite the bungling of the board.

§ Comment “The ‘jealous mistress’ of the title is the college. • The bare stage minimizes scene shifting or breaks in the action. Furniture and props determine the site of the action.”

§ Themes ambiguity, clarity, succession of power.



See also Norbert J. Hruby's

• "Ashes to Ashes," a 10-minute peace play (tragedy) in English, set in a living room of suburban American home, the present (because it is!), 2m1f
• "Fungo," a 13-minute comedy in English, set in the office of The Stylus literary magazine, on two Mondays, two months apart, 2m1f
• "Hegemony," a 10-minute bare-stage satirical comedy in English, five years from now, 2m1f
• "Home for the Holidays," a 10-minute comedy in English, set in a suburban home, U.S.A., May, 2004, 1m3f
• "Karl's Kristmas Karol," a 10-minute satire in English, set a residence in a suburb of Washington, D.C., Christmas Eve, 2004, 2m1f or 3m
• "Matching Gift," a 25-minute comedy in English, set in the office of a college president, 2003, 2m2f
• "Peggy: The Life and Times of Mrs. Benedict Arnold," a 60-minute bare-stage drama in English, set in the Arnold home, England, 1803, 1f
• "Pen Pals," a 30-minute drama in English, set in a convent/prison, 2003, 2m2f
• "A Sonnet from the Portuguese," an 11-minute satire in English, set in a residence in a university town, 2003, 3f

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Page mounted December 7, 2003, and updated December 9, 2003, March 22, May 17, 18, November 30, 2004, October 13, November 10, 2005, by the Webmaster.

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