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Tiny Alice is a three act play written by Edward Albee, in which powerful widow and her lawyer offer a generous grant to the Church on the condition that the Cardinal's naïve secretary be used as a liaison, in Edward Albee's look at the corruption involved in mixing religion and money.The show premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre on December 29, 1964.

Characters

• Lawyer
• Cardinal
• Julian
• Butler
• Miss Alice

Synopsis

Act I Lawyer is in the Cardinal's garden, taking to the caged birds as he awaits His Eminence. When Cardinal arrives, he and Lawyer begin to discuss a variety of topics; Saint Francis, their school days, money. Lawyer has approached Cardinal with a very hefty charitable donation on behalf of Miss Alice, a widow with more money than she knows what to do with. In exchange for $100,000,000 a year for twenty years, all that is required of the church is to delegate the task of retrieving the money to Brother Julian, Cardinal's private secretary. Cardinal, somewhat reluctantly, agrees to the trade. Julian is seen for the first time in the library of a castle-like mansion, admiring a large doll house model of the mansion. Butler arrives to welcome Julian and begins discussion of the eerie exactness of the model house. Butler begins to ask questions about Julian's background when they are interrupted by Lawyer. He has come to bring Julian to Miss Alice, but before doing so, begins an inquiry of a part of Julian's life Lawyer has unsuccessfully attempted to uncover. Put off by Julian's refusal to share that information, Lawyer leaves. Butler then asks Julian "about those six years", to which Julian responds with "I lost my faith [in God]". In the middle of the discussion of Julian's secret years, Lawyer returns to escort Julian to Miss Alice. Lawyer brings Julian to a sitting room where Miss Alice sits in a chair awaiting their arrival. She appears an old woman, confusing Julian as he, and the audience, are expecting a young woman in her prime. Lawyer leaves Julian and Miss Alice to speak privately. Rather quickly, it is revealed that Miss Alice was wearing a costume; playing a game. She and Julian talk about Butler, Lawyer, and eventually, Julian and his mysterious six years. He reveals to Miss Alice that, upon losing his faith, he put himself into an asylum in attempts to rediscover his faith. Miss Alice flirts every now and again throughout her talk with Julian, eventually sending him off with a promise to him that she will call for him when his services are necessary. Lawyer then meets with Miss Alice and the existence of a plot involving Julian is made clear, but no details are revealed.

Act II Miss Alice and Lawyer are arguing, which escalates to physical abuse of Miss Alice. She begins to contemplate what she despises most about Lawyer as he sexually abuses her. Lawyer ceases his assault when Miss Alice implies that he is an unfeeling person with dry, rubbery skin; dead for all intents and purposes of intimate relations. Julian and Butler arrive, Julian sharing with Miss Alice his perceived need to fix the house's chapel and wine cellar. He then begins to admire the model house. As he does so, Butler, Miss Alice, and Lawyer get into a heated discussion, one so heated that they barley acknowledge Julian when he beings to speak again. There is a fire in the chapel, but Julian did not discover this by being near the chapel, but by seeing it on fire in the model house. Butler, Lawyer, and Julian run off to stop the fir from spreading, leaving Miss Alice alone in the library. She begins a sort of half-prayer half-thinking aloud rant. Julian returns to tell Miss Alice of the chapel's safety and to ask about the phenomenon that occurred with the doll house and the fire. Miss Alice assures Julian that she does not know and cannot explain the event. Lawyer arrives and frustratedly asks for the whereabouts of Julian and Miss Alice. Butler replies that he is unaware of their exact location; this sends Lawyer into rambling rants over the possible affection Miss Alice has for Julian rather than himself. Lawyer then requests that Butler accompany him to speak with Cardinal about the exchange of money for Julian's services and the reality of their request for Julian. Butler suggests that Cardinal marry Miss Alice and Julian, and idea Lawyer supports as it would continue to keep Cardinal under their control and has him watch helplessly as Julian suffers. Julian and Miss Alice are spending time in the sitting room from Act I. They discuss Julian's horseback riding childhood; this conversation slowly ebbs in innuendo with the drive of Miss Alice to make it so. Julian becomes frustrated with Miss Alice for tempting a man of the church and questions to what ends she tests him in this manner. Miss Alice attempts to seduce Julian, and though he fought greatly, Julian succumbs.

Act III Julian and Miss Alice have been married by Cardinal, but Julian cannot seem to find anyone in the house. He finally finds Butler, who is altogether unhelpful in Julian's search for his wife, or anyone else for that matter. Cardinal enters, much to Julian's happiness, and they start to talk about Julian's service to the church. Throughout the discussion, Cardinal appears to be very melancholic over Julian's marriage and future. This behavior is puzzling to Julian, who is unaware of the house's residents plot to use Julian for some darker purpose. Over the course of the conversation, Butler leaves and Lawyer has arrived. With the continued absence of Miss Alice, Julian leaves to look for her, leaving Cardinal and Lawyer. They converse about Julian's future and the price to the church for Julian's obedience, eventually leading to Lawyer revealing the possibility of Julian being killed by him. Julian returns, without his wife, but is quickly joined by Butler, who has brought champagne for toasting and dragging Miss Alice into the library. Everyone now seems to be avoiding contact with Julian, giving him a wide berth when they move around the room. As they toast, Julian begins to realize something is amiss. It is then that Lawyer begins to fill Julian in on their grand scheme, how they essentially bought him from the church and Miss Alice has only been trying to be what Julian wanted her to be so that they may convert Julian to belief in their god, Alice. Cardinal is encouraged by Lawyer to leave immediately, leaving Julian with Miss Alice, Lawyer, and Butler. Julian refuses to conform, causing Lawyer to shoot him in the stomach. Miss Alice attempts to comfort him in his dying, but eventually leaves with Lawyer to start over and gain more converts. Butler lingers to attempt to give Julian comfort as he bleeds out against the side of the model house. The play ends with Julian's death after he has delivered a monologue about searching for God and acceptance of Alice as savior of his soul

Billy Rose Theatre Production

Before its opening night there were eight previews beginning on December 21, 1964. Opening night was December 29, 1964. There were 167 performances of the play between opening night and closing night on May 22, 1965. The cast included John Gielgud as Julian, Irene Worth as Miss Alice, William Hutt as Lawyer, Eric Berry as Cardinal, and John Heffernan as Butler. In 1965, the production was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Actor in a Play (Gielgud), Best Actress in a Play (Worth), Best Direction of a Play (Alan Schneider), Best Producer of a Play (Theater 1965 - Richard Barr, Clinton Wilder), and Best Author (Play) (Albee). Only Irene Worth actually garnered a Tony Award.

References

Category:1964 plays Category:Plays by Edward Albee Category:Broadway plays