PLAY
1. A Matter of Husbands
by Ferenc Molnar
Summary
"A
Matter of Husbands" by Ferenc Molnar is a dark and twisted one-act play
that revolves around the complicated relationship between an Ernest Woman and a
Famous Woman. The plot unfolds as the Ernest Woman suspects her lawyer husband
of having an affair with the Famous Woman. Seeking answers, she confronts the
Famous Woman, who then spins an elaborate tale claiming the affair is a staged
act by the husband to gain more affection from his wife. The Famous Woman
successfully convinces the gullible Ernest Woman of the fabricated story, and
the play culminates with a surprising revelation: the husband was hiding in the
closet the entire time.
The
play requires only two female actresses, both of whom must possess strong
comedic skills to portray the over-the-top and dramatic nature of their
characters. The relationship between the two characters needs to evolve
throughout the play, and the performers must be comfortable with each other to
effectively bring out the dark humor.
The
characters in the play are not particularly likable; the Ernest Woman is
portrayed as ditzy and gullible, while the Famous Woman is wicked and twisted.
The dynamics between these personalities create a tension-filled atmosphere
that keeps the audience engaged.
The
set design should be modest yet realistic, providing a suitable backdrop for
the unfolding drama. Basic and standard lighting will suffice to maintain focus
on the interactions between the two actresses. The play's blocking could add an
additional layer of comedic humor, enhancing the overall experience for the
audience.
Costuming
plays a crucial role in introducing the characters even before they speak. The
Famous Woman should be dressed in an elegant floor-length gown with matching
gloves and a fur coat, symbolizing her sophistication and allure. On the other
hand, the Ernest Woman should wear a frumpy dress with white shoes and socks
sticking out, reflecting her naive and unsophisticated nature.
Given
the constraints of a one-act play, character development is limited. Therefore,
the choice of costuming becomes essential in conveying important traits and
aspects of the characters' personalities.
In
summary, "A Matter of Husbands" by Ferenc Molnar is a twisted one-act
play that delves into the complexities of relationships and deception. The
story revolves around an Ernest Woman's suspicion of her husband's infidelity
with a Famous Woman. The play's dark humor is driven by the Famous Woman's
manipulation and the Ernest Woman's gullible nature. With minimal set
requirements, basic lighting, and a focus on strong comedic performances, this
play promises to engage and entertain the audience, offering a glimpse into the
intriguing world of deceit and wickedness.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous
Actress?
In
"A Matter of Husbands," an Earnest Young Woman approaches The Famous
Actress to request the return of her beloved husband, whom she deeply loves.
Suspecting an affair, she confronts The Famous Actress and learns that her
husband has indeed been involved with her. The play delves into the complex
dynamics between the characters as The Famous Actress weaves a tale of
deception, claiming the affair is a ruse to gain more affection from the wife.
However, the truth is eventually revealed when it is discovered that the
husband was hiding in the closet the entire time. The play explores themes of
deception, manipulation, and the complexities of relationships, while the two
strong female characters showcase their comedic and dramatic prowess in this
twisted one-act drama.
b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the
indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous Actress?
In
"A Matter of Husbands," an Earnest Young Woman becomes suspicious of
her husband's actions when she discovers he sends flowers to The Famous
Actress. Learning this from a florist, her doubts intensify. Later, she
stumbles upon a love letter her husband leaves behind, confessing that he is
unable to call The Famous Actress and beg for forgiveness, offering her
thousands of kisses. The revelation shakes the Earnest Young Woman, leading her
to believe that her husband is engaged in an affair with The Famous Actress.
Seeking answers, she confronts The Famous Actress, who cunningly weaves a tale
of a staged act, where the husband is trying to gain more affection from his
wife. However, a surprising twist occurs when the husband is found hiding in
the closet, unveiling the truth behind the complex web of deception and love.
c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous
Actress? How?
In
a basic conversation between the Earnest Young Woman and the Famous Actress,
the latter successfully convinces the former of her husband's alleged affair.
The Famous Actress claims that the husband engaged in the love affair with her
as a means to make his wife jealous and reignite their love. She further
explains that many actresses readily accept such proposals to help reunite
families. Through her persuasive argument, the Famous Actress manages to plant
doubts in the Earnest Young Woman's mind, leading her to believe in the
supposed staged act concocted by her husband. This twisted narrative explores
themes of deception, manipulation, and the complexities of relationships,
leaving the audience questioning the truth behind the characters' motives and
actions.
d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as
they are talking about him?
In
the play, "A Matter of Husbands," a surprising twist occurs towards
the end. The Earnest Woman's husband, who has been the center of suspicion and
intrigue throughout the entire play, is revealed to have been hiding in the
Famous Actress's boudoir all along. At the climax, the Famous Actress calls him
to come out, exposing his presence in her private space. This revelation
shatters the elaborate story the Famous Actress had concocted to manipulate the
Earnest Woman. The husband's secretive hiding adds a new layer of complexity to
the narrative, raising questions about his true intentions and the extent of
his involvement with the Famous Actress. The unexpected appearance of the
husband concludes the play with a mix of shock, humor, and a resolution of the
intricate web of deceit woven by the characters.
e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at
acting?
In
the play, the Famous Actress displays her remarkable acting skills while
convincing the Earnest Young Woman that her husband is manipulating her
emotions. The actress claims that the husband is playing a game, pretending to
have an affair to make his wife jealous and provoke a change in her
personality. To support her argument, the Famous Actress requests a lock of the
Earnest Young Woman's hair, which she obligingly provides. The actress suggests
that the husband possesses the lock of hair, claiming that the hairdresser
might have stolen it and given it to him. Through her cunning storytelling, the
Famous Actress tries to convince the Earnest Young Woman of a fabricated
scenario, adding to the complexity and deception woven throughout the play.
f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of
Earnest Young Woman are in love?
In
the final part of the play, a shocking revelation unfolds as it becomes
apparent that the Famous Actress and the husband of the Earnest Young Woman are
in love with each other. When Alfred, the husband, is called out of the Famous
Actress's boudoir, it becomes clear that the entire situation was a ruse to
deceive the Earnest Young Woman. The cunning manipulation and storytelling of
the Famous Actress successfully fooled the Earnest Young Woman into believing
her husband was playing a game to make her jealous. However, the truth emerges,
exposing the affair between the Famous Actress and Alfred. The play concludes
with the Earnest Young Woman realizing the deception, leaving the audience with
a sense of intrigue and emotional complexity surrounding the relationships and
motives of the characters involved.
g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.
"A
Matter of Husbands" by Ferenc Molnar is a thought-provoking one-act play
that explores the illusions created by actors both on stage and in real life.
The story unfolds with the Earnest Young Woman confronting the Famous Actress,
believing she has stolen her husband. The Famous Actress denies the accusation
and claims to know the husband only through a professional case. The Earnest
Young Woman presents evidence of flowers and love letters sent by her husband,
which the Famous Actress cleverly dismisses as a misunderstanding, weaving a
tale that her husband is playing a game to make her jealous and regain her
love. Innocently deceived, the Earnest Young Woman apologizes and leaves. The play
concludes with the revelation that the Famous Actress and the husband are
indeed in love, highlighting the complexities of relationships and the power of
illusion in human interactions.
Reference to the context
a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.
In "A Matter of Husbands," the Famous Actress is portrayed as a
young, beautiful, and celebrated actress who is the subject of envy for the
ordinary woman. Despite her innocent outward appearance, she conceals a mean
and wicked nature. The play showcases her cunning and deceitful ways as she
fabricates a story to convince the ordinary woman that her husband was not
having an affair with her. The Famous Actress manipulates the situation to make
the woman believe that her husband was playing a game to incite jealousy and
regain her affection. However, the play's climax reveals the truth that the
Famous Actress and the ordinary woman's husband, Alfred, are involved in an
immoral relationship. This dark twist exposes the complexities of human
emotions and the capacity for deception, leaving the audience with a sense of
intrigue and moral ambiguity surrounding the characters' actions.
b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an
actress.
In "A Matter of Husbands," the ordinary woman is depicted as
simple-minded and easily deceived, contrasting with the cunning nature of the
actress. Initially convinced of her husband's affair with the actress, the
ordinary woman seeks answers and confronts the actress tearfully. However, the
actress skillfully weaves a tale of her husband's supposed attempts to make her
jealous and win back her love. The gullible ordinary woman unquestioningly
accepts this explanation, showing her timid and trusting nature. As the story
unfolds, it is revealed that her husband was, in fact, present in the actress's
room, exposing the deceitful act orchestrated by the actress. This showcases
the sharp contrast between the cunning actress and the meek and easily
manipulated ordinary woman, adding complexity to the themes of deception and
trust in the play.
c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use
the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them
back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?
In "A Matter of Husbands," the argument suggests a recurring pattern
in men associated with theater having ordinary, simple-minded, and easily
deceived wives. The play's portrayal of Alfred, the husband, hiding in the
actress's room aligns with this pattern, supporting the notion that men use
cunning actresses to incite jealousy in their estranged wives and win them
back. This highlights the manipulation and deception at play, where husbands
take advantage of their wives' trusting nature to orchestrate elaborate schemes
to regain their affection. The theme sheds light on the complexities of
relationships and the power dynamics between partners. It also delves into the
portrayal of women, illustrating how societal perceptions of women's traits can
be exploited for personal gain. Ultimately, the play offers a thought-provoking
perspective on human behavior and the lengths people go to for love and
reconciliation.
d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?
In
"A Matter of Husbands," the Famous Actress skillfully manipulates the
Earnest Young Woman by creating a false narrative. She claims that there must
have been a misunderstanding between the Earnest Young Woman and her husband.
The actress convinces her that the husband was merely playing a game to make
her jealous and rekindle their love. The gullible Earnest Young Woman falls for
the actress's cunning tale and realizes her mistake. Filled with remorse, she
apologizes for her accusations. This twist highlights the power of manipulation
and deception, as the Famous Actress successfully turns the situation in her
favor and makes the Earnest Young Woman question her own perceptions. The play
explores the complexities of human emotions and the ease with which people can
be swayed and deceived, leaving the audience with a thought-provoking
reflection on the nature of trust and vulnerability in relationships.
e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the
stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of setting
play in A Matter for Husband?
In the exotic and suggestive drawing room of the famous Hungarian actress, the
Earnest Young Woman anxiously awaits, seated nervously on a gilt chair. Clearly
having waited for a while, she studies the room's furnishings repeatedly and
gazes with a mix of impatience and fear at the curtained door. Finally, the
Famous Actress emerges from the boudoir, entering through the same door. The
stage is set for a crucial dialogue between the two characters, where the
Famous Actress will attempt to manipulate and deceive the Earnest Young Woman regarding
her husband's alleged affair with the actress. The contrasting emotions and
tension between the characters create an intriguing atmosphere, setting the
stage for the unfolding drama and exploration of human relationships and
deception.
f. What do you think about the ending of the play?
In the play "A Matter of Husbands," the ending is skillfully crafted
and justifies the events that unfold throughout the story. The writer adeptly
resolves all the mysteries and perplexities surrounding the characters. The
film actress and the lawyer are content with how things transpire, as they
manage to overcome the hurdles between them, convincing the young woman that
their alleged affair was merely a drama to evoke her jealousy. In the end, the
young woman is pleased with her husband, and the film actress and the husband
seem to live together without hindrance. However, the irony lies in the fact
that the film actress tells the young woman that her husband truly loves her,
when in reality, he is deceitful and unfaithful. The ending portrays a sense of
resolution and happiness for some characters but also highlights the
manipulation and suffering of innocent individuals at the hands of cunning
people.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.
My
Favorite Actress
Angelina
Jolie is a renowned and iconic actress known for her immense talent, striking
beauty, and humanitarian efforts. Born on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles,
California, she comes from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment
industry, with her father being actor Jon Voight. Jolie's career took off in
the late 1990s with standout performances in films like "Gia" and
"Girl, Interrupted," for which she won an Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actress. She continued to captivate audiences with her exceptional
acting skills and versatility in roles, from action-packed films like
"Tomb Raider" to powerful dramas like "Changeling" and
"A Mighty Heart."
Beyond
her acting prowess, Angelina Jolie is also widely recognized for her
philanthropic work and dedication to humanitarian causes. She has been a
Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) since 2001, advocating for refugees and displaced individuals
worldwide. Her commitment to humanitarian efforts extends to co-founding the
Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and working tirelessly to
address global issues such as women's rights, education, and healthcare in
vulnerable communities.
Jolie's
influence reaches beyond the silver screen, as she is an influential figure in
the realms of fashion and beauty. Her timeless elegance and signature bold red
lips have earned her a spot as a style icon. Moreover, she has ventured into
filmmaking, directing several critically acclaimed films, including "In
the Land of Blood and Honey" and "First They Killed My Father."
In
her personal life, Angelina Jolie is a dedicated mother of six children, three
of whom are adopted from different parts of the world. Her commitment to
creating a diverse and loving family reflects her deep sense of empathy and
compassion.
Throughout
her career, Angelina Jolie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment
industry and humanitarian efforts. Her talent, beauty, and advocacy work have
made her a respected and admired figure worldwide, and her influence continues
to inspire and make a positive impact on various global issues.
Best of Luck
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