Synopsis Time: Present Location: The family home of Catherine Drake in Eastern North Carolina
United States Senator Hanford Drake and his staff have returned to his family estate to work on damage control because of a scandal. His wife, Sarah, discovered that he has been having a twenty-year affair with his best friend, Lake. Like Hanford, Lake is also married and has grown children. Elise, Tom and Wilson are the staff members who have joined the Senator and Lake. They must work out a way to resolve the scandal because the Senator is running for re-election. They must decide whether the Senator should publicly establish his new gay image or return to his settled married life in order to win re-election.
Elise is in the middle of an on again off again relationship with an emotionally needy boyfriend.
Tom and Wilson have been secretly dating for two years and are faced with the dilemma of remaining in the closet to protect their political jobs or out themselves and live out in the open. Realizing that the Senator has led two lives for twenty years helps them make their decision.
A series of events, including a visit from Hanford’s wife, Sarah, culminate to a well publicized press conference.
Set Design The majority of the play takes place in the living room of the Hanover home. Other locations include Hanford’s bedroom, the library and the apartment over the garage. The set can be very simple using furniture to define areas or very elaborate using a constructed set of the living room with movable sections defining the other three rooms.
Cast of Characters
Catherine Drake – Hanford’s mother. Catherine is the matriarch of the family. She is in her late seventies. She is very polite and sophisticated.
Dora – Dora has been the housekeeper for the Hanover’s for many years. She is part of the family. She is in her late seventies. She is very direct but with a very matter of fact attitude.
Elise – Works for Hanford. She is in her mid-thirties. Attractive. She is very good at her job but not with relationships.
Wilson – Works for Hanford as one of his main assistants. He is in his mid-thirties. He is very loyal to Hanford.
Tom – Works for Hanford. Tom is very athletic and handsome thirty-six year old. He is a very determined individual who loves politics.
Hanford Drake – Hanford is a United States Senator. He is strikingly handsome and is forty-five years old.
Lake Richards – Hanford’s best friend and boyfriend. Lake is in his early forties. He has a very calm personality.
Sarah – Hanford’s wife for over twenty years. Sarah has a very composed but authoritative personality. She is also forty-five.
A Reading of “Gentleman’s Wish” took place in February 2008 at Manhattan Theatre Club, Studio 3 in New York, NY
Two readings of "Gentleman's Wish" are scheduled this summer as part of the 2008 Midtown International Theatre Festival