Jean Klein will read her play A Woman of Consequence on Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m.

All VPSI readings are open to the public and free of charge.

The reading is followed by a discussion between audience and author, which is the payoff for the playwright or screenwriter.

Come listen to a brand new play and share your reactions with the author.

Synopsis: Hester Thrale was a patron, socialite, literati, and devoted friend of Samuel Johnson. Upon the death of her husband, much to Johnson’s dismay and heartbreak—as well as that of her eldest daughter—she fell in love with an Italian musician, who was a tutor in the Thrale household. Ultimately, Hester has to choose between her family, her coveted station in life, and an alliance with the first real love of her life. Although this play takes place in the 18th century, it deals with contemporary issues of family loyalties, social attitudes, and hypocrisy. It is also witty in a manner comprehensible to modern-day audiences.

About the Playwright: Jean Klein has produced plays nationally. Short plays such as The Pinch Hitter, Snapshots, and The Devil’s Due have been performed at The Barn Theater in New Jersey and the Generic Theater and The Venue in Norfolk, Virginia. Most recently, her full-length play The Refraction of Light was a runner-up in The Next Generation play contest by Reverie Productions in New York, and a short-short, The Test (now called Finals) was produced as part of Ten Minute Madness at the Vaudeville and Candy Shoppe in San Diego, CA. She has taught playwriting at Carnegie-Mellon, Old Dominion University, and is currently teaching playwriting in the Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts program at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Click to read more about VPSI, the Virginia Playwrights & Screenwriters Initiative.