THE FIDELITY CLAUSE

by William Ivor Fowkes

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.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

THE FIDELITY CLAUSE

Character Information

This play calls for a cast of 6 actors (3 men, 3 women) playing 9 roles.
It can also be covered by a cast of 5 (2 men, 3 women) by combining the role of Norbert Metz and the roles played by Actor #6.

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

Development History

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

Production History

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

Awards

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