(For production by Professional Groups, College/University Groups, Community Groups, High Schools)
“War does funny things to a man, but what does it do to a woman?”
With their loved ones off to war, the five women in “A String of Pearls” have battles of their own to face while waiting out World War II on the home front. They must learn to live on hope, wit and courage, and as the war touches them in different ways, they discover their own and each others strengths and frailties–sometimes painfully, often humorously. The setting of the play is a modest but warm New York Brownstone. Here the women meet each week for their game of bridge that provides a momentary escape from the fears and uncertainties of war. Far from the front lines, they survive their own battles of anger, betrayal, fear and weakness with the bravery and faith of soldiers and the tolerance and compassion of friends. They are strong women from different backgrounds who endure on the home front as best they can and find a new and mature courage as they take charge of their own lives, finally, emerging not as victims of war, but victors of life. The play is a valentine to the women of the era. Audiences at every performance have unanimously loved it. The theme of this play could be: War wives endure on the home front as best as they can. This play allows the audience a few glimpses into the lives of these women as they meet over the course of several years to play bridge as well as to laugh and weep together over the events that life and war bring to them. It is a depiction of women who do the best they can to deal with the disappointments thrown in their paths. This is a play about adults who each come to have a claim on our attention.
PLAY DETAILS:
- 5W
- One Interior.
- About 2 hours.
- ORDER #3072.
REVIEWS:
“A fine comic, psycho-melodrama about the effect of war on the women who stayed at home…crystal cleaar characterizations and ear for capturing dialog…a master at the one-liner.” — Lawrence Enscoe, Burbank Daily News
“This is an adult play (in spirit, not X-rating) about adults who have a claim to our attention…tolerance and understanding are what “String of Pearls” is about…a very good example of what a small theatre can do with few funds…when you hear people using the ubiquitous phrase, ‘dedication to craft’, the work in ‘String of Pearls’ is what they’re talking about.” — Robert Koehler, LA Times
“An interesting, entertaining and at times moving depiction of women who do the best they can to deal with the disappointments thrown in their paths…” — Christi C. Babbitt, Deseret News
“The power of the new play ‘String Of Pearls’ lies in the striking characterizations and performances of the women involved…One might expect to see a play of this quality at a much larger theater…humorous, sensitive and extremely entertaining.” — Randi Lesser, L.A. Review
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- The PERUSAL PAGES file is in PDF format and contains the first two acts of this four act play: StringOfPearlsPERUSAL
- PRINT BOOK: Two Plays for Women by Elizabeth Hansen Volume 6 of the Playwrights on the aPage series is available at an economical price so you can peruse then for possible production, or just personal reading. PURCHASE LINK
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
PURCHASE REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Do not purchase rehearsal materials or pay for royalties until you have performance clearance.)
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- Script in PDF format — Order #3072a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
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- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3072d : $75
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- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3072e : $65
PRODUCTIONS:
- 2022 — As an AUDIO Mini-Series, “Pearls” has been expanded to 2 Seasons on Dramafy.com
- Brigham Young University — 1996
- Arvada Center for the Arts — 1991
- Gypsy Playhouse, Burbank — 1989
- T.O.M.I. Theatre (Off-Broadway) — 1983
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
A String of Pearls
a play by
Elizabeth Hansen
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“A String of Pearls is presented through special arrangement with Premiére Theatrical Licensing on behalf of Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
ANOTHER PLAY BY ELIZABETH HANSEN
- Tangents (7W)
Available exclusively from
