A witty, fast-paced comedy in one act about love, vanity, and a sharp corral of old and new money in Dublin.
In this brisk theatrical sketch, Lola Fulton, a loud, ambitious actress, arrives with plans to squeeze a fortune from a fellow who once adored her. When his mother, a plainspoken Connaught woman, appears, the stage is set for a clash of pretensions and perspectives—from bright revues to quiet family loyalties. The two women, a shrewd professional and a grounded parent, collide with humor and pathos as characters trade barbs and defenses.
The scene moves through a tense but comic interlude centered on reputation, money, and the urge for a better life. The book’s dialogue balances sharp wit with moments of warmth as the people navigate desire, pride, and the expectations of others.
- Meet Lola, a glamorous performer who uses charm and wit to test a potential fortune.
- Watch a mother’s honest, down-to-earth perspective challenge showy pretensions.
- Enjoy brisk banter that reveals class, ambition, and the rhythms of Dublin life.
- Experience a one-act comedy that blends humor with glimpses of tenderness and resilience.
Ideal for readers who enjoy character-driven stage comedy with lively dialogue and a touch of Irish colors and social humor.
BERNARD K. DUFFY is Professor of Speech Communication at California Polytechnic State University. He is coeditor, with Halford Ross Ryan, of "American Orators of the Twentieth Century: Critical Studies" and "Sources and American Orators before 1900: Critical Studies and Sources" (both Greenwood Press, 1987) and, with Ryan serves as adviser for Greenwood's "Great American Orators" series. His articles have appeared in various journals relating to rhetoric, philosophy, and history.