The Gallery Of Missing Husbands (Excerpt)

Synopsis:

Set in the early 20th century, the piece dramatises the social issue of Jewish men deserting their families during the era of mass migration from Eastern Europe to North America, focusing on the operations of the National Desertion Bureau in New York, an agency established in 1911 to track down runaway husbands and enforce familial responsibilities.  We view this issue through the lens of a single narrative, involving Eva, a deserted wife with four small children and barely any English, and Eva, the woman from the Bureau who doggedly pursues Eva’s delinquent husband, Jakub.

Character Breakdown:

The pod-play is an 10-hander:  5 females, 5males.
EVA  22 / WOMAN 1 – one actor.
MINA  28 / WOMAN 2 – one actor.
MICHAEL 31
ISAAC 30
SOL 35 / GUARD / SHALOM – one actor.
IRENE  20 / ATTENDANT / WOMAN 3 – one actor.
JAKUB  2
YEHUDA  34 / BUREAU EMPLOYEE – one actor.
MADAME VARGA 45 / WOMAN 4 – one actor.
MISS KENNEDY 40 / WOMAN 5 – one actor.

Running-time:  80 minutes.

Production History:  Not yet produced.

Excerpt available to download for free.