A Crooked French Affair Poster

A Crooked French Affair

Hilariously Irreverent Comedy. Ideal for community theatre. 6F/4M. PG13.



Synopsis

Perry, a wannabe playwright/director has written his first play, A Crooked French Affair, ostensibly a dramatic romance set in the royal court of Louis the 15th. When he pitches his play to the dysfunctional Board of Directors of the Pity Falls Community Playhouse, it throws them into a conniption fit. Against all odds, Perry’s play is selected, and now the real work begins with the cast of amateur, inept actors, who work on a set and in costumes designed by recruits from the local junior high school. Complicating everything is an undercurrent due to the affair between Perry’s wife and the husband of Avis, a board member who is recruited to play a part in Perry’s play. On opening night, the production loses its way yet creates a stunning audience reaction and a fortuitous discovery for Perry.

Cast

PERRY (PERICLES) Male. An aspiring playwright and director. He lacks confidence but is enthusiastic about his writing. Perry directs his own play in which he also plays the role of François de la Peyronie.
AVIS Female. Board member. Self-righteous, heavy-handed, and obsessed with the thought of getting revenge on her cheating husband. Agrees to play the part of Madame de Pompadour in the play-within-the-play.
FAWN Female. Chair of the Board. Overly sensitive, sentimental.
JAZMIN Female. Board member. Daring, outrageously so.
RUBY Female. Board member. Practical, conservative, and competent.
SERGIO Male. Board member. A player.
WILLY Male. Board member. Highly insecure.
CHLOE Female. Stage manager. Theatre expert, competent, confident.
CHEYENNE Female. A serious but struggling method actor. Plays Queen Marie. Narcissistic and entitled.
LOUIE Male. Ironically, plays King Louis XV. Initially, void of emotion on the stage. Can’t remember his lines to save his life.


Production History

April-May 2026 Staged Production, Kettle Moraine Playhouse, Slinger, Wisconsin.
April 2026 Staged Production, Baraboo Theatre Guild, Baraboo, Wisconsin.
March 2023 Staged Production, Fond du Lac Community Theatre, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. A Production in World Premiere Wisconsin, 2023.
October 2022 Streamed Performance, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, Illinois.


Commentary from Theatregoers and Readers

A theatrical gem. The writing is sharp and engaging, the characters are vividly crafted, and the dialogue sparkles with wit.
Just incredibly funny and spot on with its digs of the fragility of life and theater and playwrights and actors and the love that we all have for them all.
Wickedly funny! An unforgettable theatrical experience.
A comedic gem, so clever and unique. Great characters and even stronger dialogue.
A love letter to the theatre.
This brilliantly crafted play is sure to be a hit with every audience.