←Recommendations of The Children's After-Hour

Even if you haven’t read Lillian Hellman’s original play, you’ll enjoy this beautiful short piece that builds and expands upon the themes of its predecessor. The relationship between the mother and daughter is incredibly well written, and despite only having ten pages to do so, Schwartz manages to explore a whole spectrum of queer anxieties, hopes, and dreams.

A beautiful piece. I love the way the mother/daughter characters interact in this brief snapshot of life. Hinting at heavier themes while still maintaining a strained relationship beat and ending the piece on an emotional and soul searing beat.

What a great 10-minute snapshot into the post story of The Children's Hour. This is an intriguing scene that presents just the right amount of information to keep the reader/viewer engaged and curious as the scene unfolds. The combined conflict, innocence and honesty of the final moments of this play provides a powerful message. Enjoyed reading this!

Dissertations could be written about this play.

Schwarz's wisely chooses Rosalie Wells as her subject, rather than tormentor Mary Tilford, who would only regret getting caught. Rosalie, vulnerable and sensitive, owns the consequences of her actions, even though they were coerced, and questions why the lies themselves were so damaging when they were only about love. She's a child; greater implications escape her.

Schwarz perfectly captures the homophobia of the time, casual condemnation even as Rosalie's mother attempts fair judgment. Complex cycles of victimization are on vivid display. Schwarz inlays a faint hope that lessons in acceptance can be learned.

I got to play Dr. Joe Cardin in the original at a local theatre, so I was very interested in this continuation. "The Children's After-Hour" provides an intriguing continuation of the story, offering fresh perspectives on the characters and themes of Lillian Hellman's original play. Fans of "The Children's Hour" will appreciate the effort to delve deeper into the aftermath and emotional consequences of the original drama.