The Great Gaffe by Jennifer O'Grady

Published in THE BEST TEN-MINUTE PLAYS 2016 (Smith and Kraus)

(10 Min) Pulitzer-Prize-winning novelist Edith Wharton gives a tea party for F. Scott Fitzgerald, struggling young author of THE GREAT GATSBY, with disastrous results.
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The Great Gaffe

Recommended by

  • Eric Duhon:
    23 May. 2021
    “ What a humorous and, at the same time, entirely tragic piece about two historical figures crashing into each other! I love the use of repetition and the way the dialogue flows. A brilliantly brief commentary on the people who have "made it" and the ones who believe they never will. ”
  • Gyda Arber:
    31 Jan. 2021
    “ This is adorable! A fun dive into some literary legends. Great! ”
  • Toby Malone:
    6 Aug. 2020
    “ A quippy, to-the-point recreation of a tea engagement between literary titans gleaned from a single, caustic line in Wharton's diary. Terrific work. ”
View all 11 recommendations

Character Information

(Note: The real Teddy Chanler was a man but this Teddy can also be played by a female or nonbinary actor.)

  • Scott Fitzgerald
    28
    Author of THE GREAT GATSBY.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Edith Wharton
    63
    Pulitzer-Prize-winning novelist.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Teddy Chanler
    23.
    A music student and Wharton family friend.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Caravan Productions
    ,
    2020

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Ouachita Baptist University (AR)
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Monster Box Theatre (MI)
    ,
    2016

Awards

Selection
,
Publication--The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2016
,
Smith and Kraus