President Charles Evans Hughes

a comedy

SYNOPSIS
Republican nominee Charles Evans Hughes just needs to win California and he will succeed Woodrow Wilson as the 29th president of the United States.

CHARACTERS
CHARLES EVANS HUGHES, Republican nominee, 54
ANTOINETTE HUGHES, imminent First Lady, 52
PEGGY, maid, Irish, 20s
MARY PICKFORD, movie star, 24

SETTING
Tremedden, Bridgehampton, New York

TIME
November 9, 1916

Loosely based on a historical situation
(Hughes’ assumption of victory is fact. Wilson’s plan is fact. Pickford’s involvement is fiction.)

(online reading)
Atlanta Dramatists
Atlanta, Georgia
March 3, 2024

Cast: Jerry Jobe (Charles), Kirstin Popper (Antoinette), Emma St. Kathryn (Peggy), Kate Guyton (Mary)

Jerry Jobe (Charles), Kirstin Popper (Antoinette), Emma St. Kathryn (Peggy) and Kate Guyton (Mary)

(online reading)
Literary and Discourse Society
Exeter, UK
September 24, 2023

Cast: George Sapio (Charles), Alison Clare (Antoinette), Georgette Vale (Peggy), Alison Josephs (Mary)

Alison Clare (Antoinette), Alice Josephs (Mary), George Sapio (Charles) and Georgette Vale (Peggy)

(online reading)
Gulf Coast Playwrights Circle
Tallahassee, Florida
March 21, 2023

Cast: Byron Spires (Charles), Margaret Gooch (Antoinette), Susan Price Monnot (Peggy), Jenna Jane (Mary)

Byron Spires (Charles), Margaret Gooch (Antoinette), Susan Price Monnot (Peggy) and Jenna Jane (Mary)

(online reading)
LA Play Reading
Los Angeles, California
September 25, 2022

Cast: Paul Uhler (Charles), Sandy Lisiewsky (Antoinette), Megan Frances (Peggy), Melissa Brandzel (Mary)

Video of Paul Uhler (Charles), Sandy Lisiewsky (Antoinette), Megan Frances (Peggy) and Melissa Brandzel (Mary)

(online reading)
Anything Goes! Theatre Lab
ANDTheatre Company
New York, NY
November 3, 2021

Cast: Bruce Dalziel (Charles), Ellen Barber (Antoinette), Devon Werden (Mary), Maggie Pitt (Peggy)

Ellen Barber (Antoinette), Bruce Dalziel (Charles), Maggie Pitt (Peggy) and Devon Werden (Mary)

(online reading)
Tiger’s Heart Players
New York, NY,
August 15, 2021

Cast: Edward Osredkar (Charles), Misti Tindiglia (Antoinette), Brigid Pfeifer (Mary), Pilar Uribe (Peggy)

Edward Osredkar (Charles), Misti Tindiglia (Antoinette), Pilar Uribe (Peggy) and Brigid Pfeifer (Mary)

(online reading)
Play Readings with Friends
New York, NY
July 31, 2021

Cast: Glenn Stoops (Charles), Cynthia Granville (Antoinette), Jacqueline Elisabeth (Mary), Harper Lee (Peggy)

Cynthia Granville (Antoinette), Glenn Stoops (Charles), Jacqueline Elisabeth (Mary) and Harper Lee (Peggy)

(online reading)
Moving Parts
Paris, France
March 7, 2021

Cast: Christopher Lord (Charles), Kay Bourgine (Antoinette), Elena Odessa (Mary), Hannah Coyle (Peggy)

Directed by Stephanie Campion

Christopher Lord (Charles), Kay Bourgine (Antoinette), Elena Odessa (Mary) and Hannah Coyle (Peggy)

(online reading)
Dunne's Downtime Players
Eldersburg, Maryland
February 21, 2021

Cast: Jeff Dunne (Charles), Robin Berl (Antoinette), Sarah Bostock (Peggy), Jean Berard (Mary)

Robin Berl (Antoinette), Jeff Dunne (Charles), Sarah Bostock (Peggy) and Jean Berard (Mary)

(online reading)
Philadelphia Screenwriters
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 17, 2021

Cast: Marty Krzywonos (Charles), Sandra Wade (Antoinette), Sarah Dewey (Peggy), Kathy Harmer (Mary)

Sarah Dewey (Peggy), Sandra Wade (Antoinette), Marty Krzywonos (Charles) and Kathy Harmer (Mary)

(online reading)
The Salon
Pipeline-Collective
Nashville, Tennessee
February 16, 2021

Cast: Bob Allen (Charles), Suzanne Hayes (Antoinette), Susan Louise O'Connor (Peggy), Anna Dalvine (Mary)

Directed by Lane Wright

Suzanne Hayes (Antoinette), Bob Allen (Charles), Susan Louise O'Connor (Peggy) and Anna Dalvine (Mary)

(online reading)
NCPLab Virtual
New City Players
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
February 1, 2021

Cast: David Ehrlich (Charles), Beverly Blanchette (Antoinette), Ilana Rothman (Mary), Caroline Dopson (Peggy)

Ilana Rothman (Mary), David Ehrlich (Charles), Beverly Blanchette (Antoinette) and Caroline Dopson (Peggy)

(online reading)
Theatre in My Pajamas
Dorset, Vermont
January 14, 2021

Cast: Chris Raymond (Charles), Andrea Littlefield (Antoinette), Kate Haas (Mary), Brooke Shinberg (Peggy)

Video of Andrea Littlefield (Antoinette), Chris Raymond (Charles), Brooke Shinberg (Peggy) and Kate Haas (Mary)

(online reading)
P.A.G.E.S.
New York, NY
December 15, 2020

Cast: Carlo Fiorletta (Charles), Erika Crocco (Antoinette), Colleen Kennedy (Peggy), Alyson Linefsky (Mary)

Carlo Fiorletta (Charles), Erika Crocco (Antoinette), Colleen Kennedy (Peggy) and Alyson Linefsky (Mary)

Presidential Election Shorts
Hollywood Fringe
The Lounge Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
June 3 & 10, 2016

Directed by John Fingal O’Donnell

Honorable Mention, Autumn 2024 Scratch Night, Scriptwriters & Co, Bath, UK, 2024

Third Place Winner, Surfside Players 10-Minute Plawriting Contest, January 2021

Review

"Rex McGregor’s play “President Charles Evans Hughes” takes place November 9, 1916, but could have easily taken place in any decade in the United States. The plot is based on a mixture of some truths and some fiction. Considering that our country has just gone through quite a contentious presidential election, the playwright play is timely. He takes us into another era and another time where possibilities should have been considered. I doubt Mary Pickford paid the presidential candidate a visit, but in this play she does and this adds to the delightful plot.

The play and the characters are well developed. I especially liked the Irish maid, she just added fun and another level to the entire plot. The plot was fictional for the most part, but exceptionally creative. This play primarily deals with a man’s overblown ego and the repercussions of his choices. The lead character, Charles Evan Hughes, is running for President of the United States. From the onset it becomes apparent that anyone who is attractive to politics and running for office should study the history of candidates who have run for office. Some win, some lose. The big question is why and what caused the ultimate outcome.

The playwright has cleverly weaved into the plot the private vs. public image of a candidate. What is said in private cannot be repeated in public. The candidate’s image is what matters most, not what he or she actually believe. Charles’ wife, Antoinette, knows how to play the political game. She is clever, and understands the dilemma regarding the appearance of where her husband should stand on certain issues. The core of his real beliefs cannot be entertained because they could cost him votes. A candidate running for office must walk a fine line on both sides of an issue. His constituents need to believe that their candidate thinks and believes like them. The advice Antoinette gives her husband has moved him closer to winning the presidency.

As the plot thickens Mr. Hughes is presented with a major matter that requires making a really good decision, but his ego, his pettiness, and vindictive nature gets the better of him. If he were truly a better man that cared about the people and country he wished to serve, he would have made different choices.

This play is timely, and well written. We just went through an election that dealt with a man’s ego and his outlook on the people he served. The world of politics is a winding journey that requires smart impulses and strategies that will guide one to the finish line. The focus of this play is how one’s self-illusions and self-image could get in the way of having a positive outcome. One needs to stand back and look at the greater picture. A person needs to have advisors that are educated in the nature of politics and study issues before taking a stand on anything. What is best for the country should always be the guide that leads a leader to the best choice.
Rex McGregor’s play requires you to think about the decisions that are made in life. What we say and do have causes and effects."

- Jennifer Wolf, Surfside Players 10-Minute Playwriting Contest