2 Men; 5 women

Men: ages 25-45

Dudley

smooth, fifties executive; full of himself; chauvinistic; very pc

Stage Manager

TV technician; officious; wants to do his job quickly, efficiently; not sure if beauty contests are his idea of where he wants his career to be

Women: ages 28-40

Babs

best friend of Mrs. Los Angeles; fiery, feisty and clearly dissatisfied with the role of "homemaker" that she must follow; divorced and reacting to all that meant in the fifties

Mrs. Los Angeles

perfect" housewife of the fifties; compliant and sweet with the "perfect" marriage; spirit is suppressed; torn between being what society wants her to be and what her inner self is telling her she wants to be; doesn't want to earn respect for the way she irons a shirt

Mrs. Modesto

very genuine character; loves her role as a homemaker; her smiles are never forced; life centers around her family

Mrs. San Bernadino

somewhat ruthless competitor; famous for her desserts; famous for housekeeping shortcuts; has a penchant for organization

Mrs San Francisco

famous for her artistic meals; always composed; speaks with soft, muted tones; has a dominating husband

None of these characters can be played as caricatures; they cannot be played as cute or stupid. The author's intent was to illustrate the anti-feminist movement of the country after World War II when women who had "done everything" during the war at home and in the military, were expected to return to their place in the kitchen and live up to the expectations of the media, society, etc. (Look at the magazine ads and tv and radio commercials of the period). It is not a denouncement of marriage or the CHOICE to be a "housewife".

This Play has to show where women were, where they are and where they are going. Women today are still being shaped by the expectations of society.

For more information please feel free to contact the director Judi Wobensmith