A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Amelia (Webb)

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  1w, 1m

Alex Webb

"Brings a corner of the Civil War vividly to life [...] rich in language, history and ideas [...] tour de force. Webb's play mines an intriguing sidebar of the Civil War - several hundred women fought in the war disguised as men." - Washington Post

Amelia (Webb)

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary

Amelia is a heroic Civil War tale of one woman’s search for her husband across the battlefields of America. The story culminates at the gates of the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp. In its two-hander form, Amelia celebrates the inherent theatricality of two bodies on stage creating an epic and vast world.

History

Amelia premiered at the Washington Stage Guild in Washington, DC in January 2012 under the direction of Bill Largess.

Keywords
Performing Groups
AMELIA – Pennsylvania farmer 
ETHAN – Union soldier
MAMA – Amelia’s mother
DADDY – Amelia’s father
BEN WYATT – A neighbor
MARIE – Amelia’s former schoolmate
QUARTERMASTER – Union supply officer
CORPORAL HAWKINS – Union soldier at Gettysburg
SAWBONES – Union doctor at Gettysburg
HORSE THIEF – Confederate soldier
SAMUEL – Escaped slave
DEAD EYES – Union soldier
VERMONT – Union corpse
COLONEL – Severely wounded Union officer
MRS. SULLIVAN – Destitute Southern mother 
COLONEL BINDER – Commander of Fort Wagner
BALTIMORE – Union soldier
DRIVER – Confederate soldier
KETCHAM – Andersonville prisoner, one arm
MORTON – Raider at Andersonville
GUARD – Guard at Andersonville

The play was written for two actors, one to play Amelia, and the other actor to play all of the other parts. Here is a a breakdown of how characters could be distributed for companies that want or require a larger cast. 

WOMAN 1 - Amelia
WOMAN 2 - Mama, Marie, Mrs. Sullivan
MAN 1 - Ethan, Daddy, Corporal Hawkins, Baltimore
MAN 2 - Ben Wyatt, Quartermaster, Sawbones, Morton, Guard, Ketcham, Horse Thief 
MAN 3 - Samuel, Col. Binder, Driver, Vermont, Dead Eyes

  • Time Period American Civil War Era
  • Setting 1860, several locations
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS 

"Brings a corner of the Civil War vividly to life … rich in language, history and ideas … tour de force. Webb's play mines an intriguing sidebar of the Civil War - several hundred women fought in the war disguised as men." - Washington Post, Read More 

"After 90 minutes in a room with just two bodies on a stage, you leave with a head full of vivid pictures, indelible images of woman consumed by her purpose, and a nation consuming itself." - Washington City Paper, Read More 

"This simply presented production exemplifies the astonishing power of theatre to unexpectedly grab you and carry you off into an adventure of the soul." - DC Theatre Scene, Read More 

"Alex Webb has crafted an ingenious tale…The narrative is historical, yet relevantly feminist, emotionally brutal, yet romantic, and constantly upsetting, yet amusing." - Backstage, Read More 

"Amelia recreates Civil War history with uncanny accuracy and delivers a knockout story of young lovers caught up in one of history’s great wars." - History News Network, Read More 

"To say that it was an evening of magic is to sell it short. It was the kind of production that gave hope to the heart, joy to the soul and a sorrow leavened by admiration and wonder.” - On Milwaukee, Read More

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Alex Webb

Alex Webb
Alex Webb is a writer/actor/director. Amelia is his first play. After the world premiere of Amelia at the Washington Stage Guild, Alex was commissioned to write the book for a new Broadway musical about the Battle of Gettsyburg, which is in development. Amelia was subsequentl ...
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