John Singer Sargent and Madame X
by Rosary Hartel O'neill

Name: John Singer Sargent and Madame X
Brand: Rosary Hartel O'neill
SKU: 9780573697630

John Singer Sargent and Madame X Book Cover — John Singer Sargent and Madame X Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins Victorian (British and American) Reduced Casting (Doubling Possible) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes Comedy

Synopsis

John Singer Sargent And Madame X was heralded by invitation at the Actors Studio, NYC.

John Singer Sargent, an up-and-coming American artist, is eager to collaborate on a portrait that would catapult him and Madame X, the most beautiful woman in Paris, to the pinnacle of society.

But he falls in love with her and she tries to destroy him.

Which pathway will he go down?

Will he try to create the perfect painting or placate his lover?

With its revelations about Madame X’s identity and an eyebrow-raising cast of characters, including Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Sarah Bernhardt and Dr. Samuel Pozzi (Madame X’s notorious gynecologist/lover), this play exposes the tale of beauty, infatuation, obsession and betrayal that lies behind Sargent’s masterpiece painting, Madame X. It is based on a true-life story and set in the glamorous Belle Époque period of Paris and England.

Voluptuous characters and riveting changes of place can be created on a bare stage by shifts in lighting and/or costume pieces.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Judith Gauthier Late 30s; French art critic; beautiful. She champions artists and underdogs and admires Sargent.	female	30s	Late 30s; French art critic; beautiful. She champions artists and underdogs and admires Sargent.
Claude Monet Middle aged; established landscape artist. A powerful art critic and teacher, he is working to improve his sensitivity to his students’ struggles.	male	—	Middle aged; established landscape artist. A powerful art critic and teacher, he is working to improve his sensitivity to his students’ struggles.
Amelie Gautreau 24; “Madame X;” exquisite. The most beautiful woman in Paris, she is from New Orleans and yearns for love.	female	—	24; “Madame X;” exquisite. The most beautiful woman in Paris, she is from New Orleans and yearns for love.
Dr Samuel-Jean Pozzi (Dr. Dieu) 30s; nicknamed Dr Dieu (God) because of his promiscuity and the fame of his gynecology; dashing good looks. He collects artists and destroys their souls and is enamored of Amelie Gautreau.	male	30s	30s; nicknamed Dr Dieu (God) because of his promiscuity and the fame of his gynecology; dashing good looks. He collects artists and destroys their souls and is enamored of Amelie Gautreau.
Sarah Bernhardt 30s; the most famous actress in France; has a mother complex and a sexual history with Dr. Pozzi.	female	30s	30s; the most famous actress in France; has a mother complex and a sexual history with Dr. Pozzi.
Emily Sargent 24; a delicate girl with a childhood deformity. She is John Sargent’s sister who follows him about and lives off his fame.	female	—	24; a delicate girl with a childhood deformity. She is John Sargent’s sister who follows him about and lives off his fame.
Henry James Middle-aged; austere English novelist and critic; champions Sargent for his talent and is one of his greatest admirers.	male	—	Middle-aged; austere English novelist and critic; champions Sargent for his talent and is one of his greatest admirers.
Oscar Wilde 29; dapper London poet; dressed in dashing urban attire. He believes in Sargent and the beautiful of Paris and is always available for a clever remark.	male	—	29; dapper London poet; dressed in dashing urban attire. He believes in Sargent and the beautiful of Paris and is always available for a clever remark.
John Singer Sargent 28; handsome; a good athlete; formally dressed American; a bit naïve, he is courageous and daring and will defy everyone to protect his painting; no experience in love.	male	—	28; handsome; a good athlete; formally dressed American; a bit naïve, he is courageous and daring and will defy everyone to protect his painting; no experience in love.