TABLE MANNERS IN CHICAGOLAND by William Ivor Fowkes

A tale about desire and responsibility—involving a man, a disabled wife, a mistress, and miscellaneous offspring—weaves its way through three settings in the greater Chicago area.

Length = 45 minutes

TABLE MANNERS IN CHICAGOLAND was a WINNER at Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre's Nor'Eastern Play Writing Contest, Rutland, VT, 2017. It also won "Audience...
A tale about desire and responsibility—involving a man, a disabled wife, a mistress, and miscellaneous offspring—weaves its way through three settings in the greater Chicago area.

Length = 45 minutes

TABLE MANNERS IN CHICAGOLAND was a WINNER at Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre's Nor'Eastern Play Writing Contest, Rutland, VT, 2017. It also won "Audience Favorite" and "Third Prize" Awards at Catch a Star Theatrical (CAST) Players' National One Act Playwriting Competition, Beaumont, CA, 2012.

TABLE MANNERS IN CHICAGOLAND is excerpted from the full-length play, THE HUDSON FAMILY GUIDE TO TABLE MANNERS by William Ivor Fowkes.
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TABLE MANNERS IN CHICAGOLAND

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    26 Mar. 2020
    “ An intriguing play about infidelity and the agreements we make in relationships to preserve the status quo. Of course it never remains as uncomplicated. Fantastic work! ”

Character Information

With cast doubling: 5 actors. [ACTOR #1: Michael.] [ACTOR #2: Lori + Hilary.] [ACTOR #3: Quinn + Todd.] [ACTOR #4: Karen + Kate + Janet.] [ACTOR #5: Becca + Waitress.]

  • Michael
    60s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Male
    The family patriarch. Charming. A “ladies’ man.” Fit and vigorous.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Karen
    40s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    Sexy, flirtatious, and mercurial.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Quinn
    30s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Male
    Socially pushy and creepy.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Kate
    40s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    (Michael’s mistress.) Sincere, but a bit secretive.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Lori
    50s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    Well put together, but gossipy and insincere.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Waitress
    Any adult age,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Janet
    30s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    (Michael’s daughter.) A competent professional woman currently stressed out.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Becca
    20s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    (The daughter of Michael’s mistress.) Pleasant, polite, and eager to please.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Hilary
    60s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Female
    (Michael’s widow.) Wheelchair-bound. Hardened by life, but wise & gracious.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Todd
    30s,
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    ,
    Male
    (Michael’s son.) Attentive to his mother, but snobbish and selfish.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre, Rutland, VT
    ,
    2017

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Catch a Star Theatrical (CAST) Players, Beaumont, CA
    ,
    2012

Awards

Winner
,
Nor'Eastern Play Writing Contest
,
Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre, Rutland, VT
,
2017
Winner
,
Audience Favorite Award, National One Act Playwriting Competition
,
Catch a Star Theatrical (CAST) Players, Beaumont, CA.
,
2012
Third Prize, National One Act Playwriting Competition
,
Catch a Star Theatrical (CAST) Players, Beaumont, CA.
,
2012