Overview
Four young sisters are trapped for a century in a famous painting by
John Singer Sargent, arguing over which if any of them actually slept
with the Italian steward on the ocean liner that took them to Italy, and
over the relative pleasures and dangers of physical experience,
fantasy, self denial, and art. Florence believes in experience, Jane in
mystery, Mary Louisa in art, and baby Julia has had to go to the
bathroom since 1882. This loving tribute to a very great painting is an
imaginary journey into the world of the four girls imprisoned in it, and
also deals with serious questions such as whether cockroaches are
edible and why nobody would sleep with Henry James. In Green Man & Other Plays.