The Learned Ladies

by Jennifer Goff

Freely adapted from Les Femmes Savantes by Moliere

Henriette and Clyde are young and in love, but her mother's devotion to intellectual posturing, and in particular to hackneyed poet Cornelius Weatherby Tipton III puts all of their plans in danger. Her father Chester, uncle Artie, and housekeeper Maureen are left to try to bring Phyllis and her salon to their senses before it's too late. The Learned Ladies is a delightful French comedy relocated in New York in 1939, where we find that the American upper classes and the 17th century French court have more in common than we might have thought. What defines knowledge? What defines love? What is my third question?

NOTE: This is a draft from 14 years ago - I am currently working on a significant revision.

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The Learned Ladies

Character Information

Some doubling possible

Henriette

Idealistic young ingenue who is a lot cleverer than anyone in her family gives her credit for.

Character Age

20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Amanda

Henriette's elder sister who didn't want Clyde... until he didn't want her back!

Character Age

20s-30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Clyde

Idealistic young ingenue with a Cary Grant charm.

Character Age

20s-30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Bessie

Phyllis's outgoing sister. She's the most desired woman in any room - if you ask her, that is.

Character Age

50s-60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Artie

Chester's brother - he's a sounding board for everyone's problems, and does his best to get everyone where they need to be.

Character Age

40s-60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Chester

The patriarch - a little timid, but loving and well-meaning

Character Age

50s-60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Maureen

The wise-cracking, slang-speaking housekeeper. Under no circumstances should she and Leonard (the butler) be the only characters of color.

Character Age

20s-40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Phyllis

The matriarch - in control of every room, and a little too caught up in her social status. She does not like to be questioned.

Character Age

50s-60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Cornelius Weatherby Tipton III

A TERRIBLE poet and an underhanded conman who is perfectly happy to weasel his way into any situation that might benefit him.

Character Age

20s-40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Leonard

The long-suffering butler. Under no circumstances should he and Maureen (the housekeeper) be the only actors of color.

Character Age

40s-70s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Vadius

Another TERRIBLE poet and frenemy of Tipton's. He may double with the Judge.

Character Age

30s-60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Judge

A judge - may double with Vadius

Character Age

50s-70s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man

Production History

Type Professional, Organization The Distracted Globe, Year 2010

Genre

adaptation,

comedy,

verse

Subject Matter Keywords

Moliere adaptation,

1930s,

Screwball Comedy

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

10—12

Age of Intended Audience

ages 14-17,

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters

Reviews

Ubertati

“
"I have never (never!) heard an audience become so invested in a play. I am accustomed to The Excessively Loud Individual who annoys the rest of the patrons with his demonstrative responses. The Learned Ladies was my first experience with an entire audience hooting, howling, groaning, yelling at the characters (and at each other), clapping in the middle of scenes, and laughing with abandon."
”