A Brief Plot Synopsis

ACT I

Scene 1 – June, 1831

                The audience meets Nathaniel Duncan, the builder of a brand new house, and his friends.  His fiancée, Lucinda Bartlett, has felt a bit neglected since Nate began working on the house, but she has made a commitment to her new life.  Lucinda’s sister and former beau, Charles Quincy, however, want to bring Lucinda back to the city. Charles reveals a secret designed at breaking the couple apart, and Nathaniel's devotion is tested. 

Act I, Scene 2 – May, 1864

                In the midst of the American Civil War, the ladies of the neighborhood are preparing for the return of Adam Wesley.  He and Elizabeth Mason, the daughter of the house’s current owner, will marry when he returns.  When Adam gets back home, however, things don't turn out as originally intended. 

ACT II

Scene 1 – Christmas Eve, 1932

                Elizabeth still lives in the house.  To make ends meet and to save the house during the Great Depression, she has divided it into apartments.  The tenants who occupy the central parlor room are Robert and Ona Watson, a working-class family.  It’s Christmas Eve, and the tenants are gathering for a Christmas party.  A comedy of errors ensues that starts with burning the Christmas cookies and then moves from bad to worse.

Scene 2 – October, the present

                The house has been empty and neglected for many years.  Mike and Kristina, a couple from out of town who are trying to repair a broken marriage, have come with their crazy real estate agent to look at the house.  Mike and Kristina must decide if both the house and their marriage are worth saving.

The Characters (in order of appearance)