The Children's Hour — Lillian Hellman

Lillian Hellman's 1930's play of two boarding school teachers accused of being lesbians is not for the faint of heart or closed of mind. The play is very difficult to act, demanding of the two female leads absolute concentration, wide emotional range, and utter professionalism. It is also difficult to direct, as the script is very centered on dialogue with most of the central events occuring in the Greek style, outside of the scene. However, a skilled and dedicated cast and director can certainly create a beautiful and terrible prodution capable of seizing everyone in the house with the sheer force of its words. It is certainly just as fresh now, and perhaps even more so, than it was when it was written, sixty years ago. If you're looking to be challenged by a play, you could do little better than The Children's Hour.