THE FIDELITY CLAUSE

FULL-LENGTH PLAY (1 HOUR, 45 MINUTES). When an interviewer prods playwright Owen Griffith to defend his well known belief in open relationships, the video goes viral. When he and wife Valerie discuss the video with friends Norbert and Janine, Norbert brags about the “fidelity clause” included in their pre-nuptial agreement. Soon both marriages fall apart; Owen gets involved with Janine and becomes a big...
FULL-LENGTH PLAY (1 HOUR, 45 MINUTES). When an interviewer prods playwright Owen Griffith to defend his well known belief in open relationships, the video goes viral. When he and wife Valerie discuss the video with friends Norbert and Janine, Norbert brags about the “fidelity clause” included in their pre-nuptial agreement. Soon both marriages fall apart; Owen gets involved with Janine and becomes a big proponent of fidelity; Norbert tries to win Janine back; and Valerie seeks companionship in a surprising place. In the end, Owen’s relationship bliss is tempered when Janine’s past starts to catch up with her, and his newfound commitment is put to a test.

The genesis of THE FIDELITY CLAUSE was a 10-minute play called THE BRAZILIAN DILEMMA (First Prize, McLean Drama Company, Washington, DC, 2013; produced by The Collective NY, 2013 & 2015; published by The Collective NY, 2013;), which was then produced as a film by Collective NY Films (released on Amazon Prime Video, 2019). The full-length play was developed at the Pulse Ensemble Theatre Playwrights’ Lab in New York. A short excerpt, titled COFFEE BREAK, was presented in a podcast by Panglossian Productions, Williamsburg, VA, 2018, and in a staged reading at TAKE TEN: An Evening of 10-Minute Play Readings by the Dramatists Guild Playwrights Group at The Players Club, 2018.
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THE FIDELITY CLAUSE

Character Information

  • Owen Griffith
    45,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Famous playwright. Verbose. Pompous. Self-involved. Oversexed. Married to Valerie Clarkson.
  • Janine Fiorato
    40,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Owner of a corporate public relations firm. Practical. Sexy. Sincere, but a little calculating and secretive. Married to Norbert Metz.
  • Valerie Clarkson
    55,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    An international management consultant. Sophisticated. Witty. Wealthy. Generous. Married to Owen Griffith.
  • Norbert Metz
    42,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    A lawyer. Competitive, punitive, and calculating, but sometimes generous and devoted. Married to Janine Fiorato.
  • ACTOR #5: Linda and Gretchen
    Linda - 37; Gretchen - 32,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    LINDA: Owen’s mistress. Insecure. Jittery. Stressed-out. Sexually needy.
    GRETCHEN: Guest at party. Attractive and flirtatious.
  • ACTOR #6: Interviewer; Josh; Bobby.
    Interviewer - any age; Josh - any age; Bobby - 33,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    INTERVIEWER: TV show host. A bit goofy, dense, and obnoxious.
    JOSH: A waiter. Solicitous. Observant.
    BOBBY: An actor. Hunky. Flirtatious.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    10-minute excerpt (COFFEE BREAK) presented by the DGPG Writers at The Players Club, New York City
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    10-minute excerpt (THE BRAZILIAN DILEMMA) presented in a staged reading by McLean Drama Company, Washington, DC
    ,
    2013

Production History

  • Community Theater
    ,
    10-minute excerpt (COFFEE BREAK) presented as a PODCAST by Panglossian Productions, Williamsburg, VA
    ,
    2018
  • Professional
    ,
    10-minute excerpt (THE BRAZILIAN DILEMMA) produced as a film by Collective NY Films
    ,
    2018
  • Workshop
    ,
    10-minute excerpt (THE BRAZILIAN DILEMMA) presented by The Collective NY
    ,
    2015
  • Workshop
    ,
    10-minute excerpt (THE BRAZILIAN DILEMMA) presented by The Collective NY
    ,
    2013

Awards

Winner
,
10-minute excerpt (THE BRAZILIAN DILEMMA) awarded First Prize
,
McLean Drama Company, Washington, DC
,
2013