A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Brave Smiles... Another Lesbian Tragedy

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  5w

Lisa Kron, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey, Maureen Angelos

"Smart, satirical farce that uses laughter and touches of raunchy humor to debunk the myth of the doomed lesbian." - The New York Times

Brave Smiles... Another Lesbian Tragedy

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
In Brave Smiles...Another Lesbian Tragedy, master satirists The Five Lesbian Brothers turn their merciless eyes on the history of lesbians in theater, film, and literature. From their dismal yet erotically charged beginnings at the orphanage under the grip of a sadistic headmistress, our five heroines cross continents and a century to face their absurdly tragic ends. Along the way, they experience alcoholism, suicide, loneliness, pill popping, blacklisting, and a malignant brain tumor. Students of the lesbian art of misery will recognize gleeful skewerings of The Well of Loneliness, The Group, Maedchen in Uniform, and The Children's Hour in this rollicking, hilarious, and smart multicharacter classic.
History

Brave Smiles...Another Lesbian Tragedy premiered at the WOW Cafe in New York City in January 1992 under the direction of Kate Stafford.

Keywords
Performing Groups
MARTHA – deaf-mute, though strangely perceptive.
MILLICENT – sensitive and poetic.
WILL – tomboy butch with bravado.
BABE – athletic with good genes.
DAMWELL MAXWELL – bossy big boots.
THALIA – new girl, Jewess, sad German refugee accent.
MISS GATEAU – French cook, possible alcohol problem.
FRAU LUDMILLA VON PUSSENHEIMER – scary, embittered headmistress, Teutonic accent, forties.
MISS GRETA PHILLIPS – beautiful and bewitching teacher, mid-twenties.
BARONESS – European lower-caste royalty, loaded.
REPORTERS #1 AND #2 – fast-talking newspapermen.
PIERRE – the Parisian maître d’.
AUDREY – Audrey Hepburn-like actress who plays the role of Sharon.
SHIRLEY – Shirley MacLaine-like actress who plays the role of Bertha.
WOUNDED SOLDIER – guy with bad hole in him, the original Vin Marconi.
BUM – man with the D.T.’s.
NIPPER – Babe’s canine companion, a hand puppet.
  • Time Period 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s / WWII, 1930s, 1920s
  • Setting Several locations. 1920 - 1971
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Puppetry
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes
    • Smoking

Media

REVEIWS

"Smart, satirical farce that uses laughter and touches of raunchy humor to debunk the myth of the doomed lesbian." - The New York Times

"Parodies gay clichés about lesbian destiny with deadly accuracy." - LA Times

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Lisa Kron

Lisa Kron

Lisa Kron is a writer and performer whose work has been widely produced in New York, regionally, and internationally. Her plays include Well, 2.5 Minute Ride and The Ver**zon Play. She wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Fun Home (with music by composer Jeanine Tesori), ...

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Author

Babs Davy

Author

Dominique Dibbell

Author

Peg Healey

Author

Maureen Angelos

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