The Groves of Academe & The Plumber's Apprentice

The scene is the cramped office of Bill Groves, an assistant professor of English at a prestigious university, where he is visited by Paul Morris, a rather quirky undergraduate who asks to be admitted to an honors seminar on Comedy

In a series of quick-changing scenes which span the school year, the two discuss Paul's academic record, the subject of his term paper and, as they become more at ease with each other, their private lives and feelings

Paul has an off-the-wall attitude toward college and life in general that first startles, then amuses, and ultimately impresses the older man, while Paul's opinions and behavior are gradually influenced as much by Groves' individual qualities as by his intellectual attainments

Highly amusing and sharply observant, the play conveys much about the academic "treadmill," but even more about the special strengths which can be nurtured when student and teacher reach beyond the formal relationship which, so often, is all that exists between them(M2)

Originally presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, as part of its one-act play festival. A remarkably inventive first play which, with humor and rare insight, studies the subtly changing relationship between a brightly precocious young college student and the professor under whom he is taking an honors seminar

" beautifully crafted authenticity of character observation" ~ Other Stages

The Plumber's Apprentice ~ Sally, a "liberated" young woman who is out to establish the equality of her sex in the plumbing trade, is assigned by the union to work with Rog, a middle-aged master plumber who obviously feels that a woman's place is in the home

At first they are oil and water, but Sally is determined to master her craft no matter how snide and brusque Rog might be, and gradually, in a series of sometimes funny sometimes poignant short scenes, Sally gains Rog's acceptance and even his respect

In the end, however, Sally wearies of the uphill struggle and concedes that she has taken on more than she can cope with - much to the unexpected consternation of Rog, who, in a deftly understated final scene, has to admit that Sally has turned out to be a pretty good apprentice after all (M1,F1)

A wryly humorous and often touching examination of what happens when a young apprentice (female) is assigned to work with a crusty older plumber (male). Especially recommended for school and contest use