All My Darlings

A warm-hearted story of a family of twelve children (only a few of whom appear in the play), whose father feels that he is not setting aside enough money for their future security. Dad decides to sell the comfortable, much loved old home, in which they have lived for many years, in order to raise investment money. His family vociferously opposes this decision. Even the swarm of bees that have taken up residence in the living room wall seem to resent it. To the children such a move would mean a painful end to the old friendships and opportunities to distinguish themselves in various school activities; in the case of Tony, the twelve-year-old, it would mean a heart breaking separation from his pet horse, Connie. To the Mother it would mean a betrayal of faith, both in Divine Providence and in the Father's story-writing talents which so far, to Mother's annoyance, he has exercised only moderately. Mother also insists that Dad's preoccupation with the future has blinded him to present blessings. The solution to the family's dilemma gives rise to strange and unexpected reactions in everyone including Dad himself, a perplexed veterinarian, and Mr. Van Ettig, the highly volatile real estate agent.