Night Off; or A Page From Balzac

There are a number of subplots going on in this play. The Professor has unearthed a play that he wrote back in his University days. He has read it to his housekeeper while his wife was away at the expensive spa ... she disapproves of the theatre ... and said housekeeper was so fascinated by it that when a travelling dramatic troupe manager lobs into town, the Professor is receptive to the manager's manipulative and unscrupulous offer to put on his play.

Meanwhile, one of the Professor's daughters (Angelica) has chanced across a page from Balzac which states "Every bride that lives if she could but know the past and secret life of her husband would renounce him even at the steps of the altar.". Her husband, a real Boy Scout of a man, gets sick and tired of her pestering him to "reveal his sordid past" to her, and substitutes the actual past of his visiting University buddy, so that she'll leave off. His wife is then so enraptured by her vanilla husband's supposed womaniser past that ... - Summary by Son of the Exiles

Cast list:

PROFESSOR JUSTINIAN BABBITT, Professor of ancient history in the Camptown university: ToddHW

HARRY DAMASK, his son-in-law: realisticspeakers

JACK MULBERRY, in pusuit of fortune, under the name of Chumley: Adrian Stephens

LORD MULBERRY, in pursuit of Jack: Alan Mapstone

MARCUS BRUTUS SNAP, in pursuit of fame and fortune under various legitimate aliases: Greg Giordano

PROWL, usher at the university: James R. Hedrick

MRS. ZANTIPPA BABBITT, Professor of conjugal management in the Professor's household: Sonia

NISBE, the youngest "imp" of the household: Jenn Broda

ANGELICA DAMASK, the eldest: Matea Bracic

SUSAN, the "brassiest": Michele Eaton

MARIA, servant at Damask's: Adrienne Prevost

Stage Directions: TR Love

Editing: ToddHW