Emilie
by Lauren Gunderson

Name: Emilie
Brand: Lauren Gunderson
SKU: 9780573697821
Rating: 4.23 (130 reviews)

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

90 mins18th CenturyReduced Casting (Doubling Possible)Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)Bare Stage/Simple SetPeriod CostumesAmerican Historical Comedy

What readers are saying

Readers love the intelligence and wit of the play, praising its unique character study and clever dialogue. Many appreciate how it blends historical themes with modern language, making it accessible and engaging. The play's exploration of Emilie's relationships and intellect has left a strong impression on audiences.

Witty dialogueEngaging historical contextUnique character studyClever and thought-provokingSome parts hard to understand

Synopsis

Tonight, 18th century scientific genius Emilie du Châtelet is back and determined to answer the question she died with: love or philosophy, head or heart?

Emilie defends her life and loves and ends up with both a formula and a legacy that permeates history.

ThemesDu Châtelet, Gabrielle Emilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil , 1706-1749 MLCS 2011/41086 (P)Relations with womenVoltaire , 1694-1778

Press Reviews

"Gunderson possesses an antic imagination that seeks to invent its own rules. As soon as we’re drawn in, she shakes us and whisks us 10 or 15 paces ahead."
— Los Angeles Times

"The ambitious, non-linear experiment is a highly theatrical romp that literally crackles with electricity."
— LA/OC Examiner

"The best play I have read in a very long time."
— Robert Schenkkan, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
EMILIE DU CHÂTELET Forty, dressed in no particular era, confident and curious.	—	—	Forty, dressed in no particular era, confident and curious.
VOLTAIRE (V) Fifty, dressed immaculately in 18th-century fashion, charming, boyish.	male	—	Fifty, dressed immaculately in 18th-century fashion, charming, boyish.
SOUBRETTE A young woman, mid-20s, also plays	female	mid-20s	A young woman, mid-20s, also plays
EMILIE as well as	—	—	as well as
MARY-LOUISE , simple and stupid, and	—	—	, simple and stupid, and
DAUGHTER , direct and strong.	—	—	, direct and strong.
GENTLEMAN A handsome man, thirties, plays:	male	—	A handsome man, thirties, plays:
JEAN-FRANÇOIS , young and doting and sincere;	—	—	, young and doting and sincere;
THE MARQUIS , serious but warm, very formal;	—	—	, serious but warm, very formal;
MAUPERTUIS , sexy and academic; and	—	—	, sexy and academic; and
MARAIN , snide and proud.	—	—	, snide and proud.
MADAM A slightly older woman, fifties, also plays	female	—	A slightly older woman, fifties, also plays
MOTHER , serious and wounded and	—	—	, serious and wounded and
MADAM GRAFFIGNY , obnoxious and rich.	—	—	, obnoxious and rich.