Another short play by from 10 Short Plays.
The Case of the Crushed Petunias by Tennesee Williams. This is the second play in the book and it reads like a Tennessee Williams parody. It was written 1948 and is dedicated to Helen Hayes. The Play is about Dorothy Simple who live in Primanproper, MA and runs The Simple Notions Shop. She is 26, very attractive and "has barricaded her house and her heart behind a double row of petunias". Oh Tennessee! I do declare!
Something is amiss, however, when Dorothy discovers that someone has crushed her petunias during the night, She finds a policeman and complains. Her shop is then visited by the Young Man. It transpires that he is the culprit, but he did to free Dorothy from the shackles of complacency and fear that she has "barricaded" herself behind. She is tempted by him. He arranges to meet her that night on Highway 71 and take her away to a life of adventure. He leaves and Dorothy mulls over the idea of freeing herself. A visit from Mrs. Dull solidifies her choice to run away. She closes the shop and asks that policeman how to get to Highway 71. He warns her how dangerous and immoral that place is but she takes her risk and goes off. End of play.
This is a fun little play. VERY little. In many ways. It is, however, not without it's charms. The language is sweet and slightly melodramatic in that gentle Williams way. I found the Young Man's exhortations to "Live! Live! Live!" fondly reminiscent of Auntie Mame. A fun read and likely a fun little show to perform.
See ya soon.
The Case of the Crushed Petunias by Tennesee Williams. This is the second play in the book and it reads like a Tennessee Williams parody. It was written 1948 and is dedicated to Helen Hayes. The Play is about Dorothy Simple who live in Primanproper, MA and runs The Simple Notions Shop. She is 26, very attractive and "has barricaded her house and her heart behind a double row of petunias". Oh Tennessee! I do declare!
Something is amiss, however, when Dorothy discovers that someone has crushed her petunias during the night, She finds a policeman and complains. Her shop is then visited by the Young Man. It transpires that he is the culprit, but he did to free Dorothy from the shackles of complacency and fear that she has "barricaded" herself behind. She is tempted by him. He arranges to meet her that night on Highway 71 and take her away to a life of adventure. He leaves and Dorothy mulls over the idea of freeing herself. A visit from Mrs. Dull solidifies her choice to run away. She closes the shop and asks that policeman how to get to Highway 71. He warns her how dangerous and immoral that place is but she takes her risk and goes off. End of play.
This is a fun little play. VERY little. In many ways. It is, however, not without it's charms. The language is sweet and slightly melodramatic in that gentle Williams way. I found the Young Man's exhortations to "Live! Live! Live!" fondly reminiscent of Auntie Mame. A fun read and likely a fun little show to perform.
See ya soon.
RSS Feed