BOSWELL
“History comes to life, juicily…” – New York Stage Review (Nov. 16, 2022)
American graduate student Joan journeys to a Scottish noblewoman’s estate in the 1950s to research writings of Samuel Johnson. Instead, she discovers the often bawdy 1760s journals of James Boswell, long-hidden in the attic of his embarrassed family. Coaxed by her new friend, Joan pours over Boswell’s wild adventures in the Scottish Hebrides with his friend Samuel Johnson and moves towards a life of greater authenticity. Heart and mind spar wittily in this two-period dramedy about friendship, travel and the written word.
CASTING: 6 actors (3M, 3W). Diversity welcome.
SET REQUIREMENTS: Single set, for shift in time and place
RUN TIME: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Production History
Produced:
59E59 Theaters, New York City, NY – 2022
Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland – 2019
Readings:
American Players Theatre, Spring Green, WI – 2020
Heartland Theatre Company, Normal, IL – 2019
University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI – 2017
Adapted from previous work: BOSWELL’S DREAMS
Reviews
“A fresh wind has swept in from the Midwest, by way of the 2019 Edinburgh Festival … With characters so witty, sparkling dialogue is all but guaranteed…” – New York Stage Review, November 2022
“...one of the very best plays I have seen recently!” – Arts International, November 2022
“Triumphant … historical eras artistically collide … The level of acting here is exceptionally high.” – Shepherd Express, November 2022
“Little by little she (Joan) realizes that there is great worth in historians. And that’s the crux of the play – that becomes so fascinating … the way Marie Kohler peels away the layers to get to this point is very, very, very skillful…” – Broadway Radio, November 2022
“…an excellent example of history being brought to life and it undoubtedly is a fabulous platform for the talent it showcases.” – The Edit, August, 2019 (4 Stars)
“Marie Kohler’s writing is sublime, as are the costumes.” – The Wee Review, August, 2019 (4 Stars)
“The action cuts nicely between the two time periods…The script is well-written, with witty dialogue and an energetic pace.” – Bouquets and Brickbats, August, 2019 (3.8 Stars)
“There is an infectious energy and clear commitment to detail in this production: it is very well loved and immaculately researched...and playwright Marie Kohler certainly seems to enjoy the opportunities to draw out elements of bawdiness and humour to lighten the earnest literary tone.” – Broadway Baby, August, 2019 (4 Stars)
Boswell’s World-Wide Success
Marie Kohler's creative passion inspired her to fulfill a career-long dream to participate in the world’s largest arts festival in Scotland, where BOSWELL completed a successful three-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019. The production received multiple four-star reviews, selling more tickets than any production offered at the Riddles Court venue – a historic 16th-century property on the Royal Mile.
While playing in Scotland, BOSWELL was scouted by the respected Off-Broadway NYC theater company, 59E59 Theaters, where the play ran from November 11 – December 4, 2022 in 59E59’s Theater C. Once again, BOSWELL received stellar critical and audience response, with “sold-out houses and audiences who ate it up”, according to Val Day, Artistic Director of 59E59.
Financial support from foundations, corporations, and individuals helped finance both productions, with $90,000 donated to the Fringe adventure, and more than $100,000 to the 59E59 production.