THE LESSER LEYENDECKER

a 90-minute drama by Arianna Rose

SYNOPSIS

“Family First” is the motto of the real-life Leyendecker siblings Mary, Joe and Frank.  The close-knit brothers rise to fame as commercial illustrators in the early 1900s, even as Frank battles addiction issues and conflicting artistic ambitions.  Canadian model Charles Beach insinuates himself into Joe’s heart and art, serving as the main model for Joe’s creation The Arrow Collar Man, arguably one of the first ‘social media’ influencers on the nation. 

 Frank’s self-esteem and work output descends in direct opposition to Joe’s rise, despite the assistance of Livvy, the tightrope walker who has been his imaginary muse since childhood. Mary, caught in the middle, battles with Beach for control of their empire. Art comes to life, the Arrow Collar Man becomes a threat to everyone, as the siblings struggle to maintain their closeness and careers. The timeless issues of art and addiction, imagination and illusion meet in this highly theatrical memory play, spanning late 1890s through 1924.

CHARACTERS

4 men, 2 women, 1 cutout or puppet/puppeteer (Could be human)

 FRANK XAVIER (FX) LEYENDECKER: Male, 30s+; artist temperament; mercurial, weakness for alcohol and drugs, suffers from younger child syndrome; looks up to brother and sister, homosexual.

 LIVVY  (aka Live Wire Woman); Female, 20s-30s. Based on Frank’s illustration for the April 29, 1922 edition of Life Magazine “A Live Wire”), represents Frank’s life force and art.  She can be an actor, or a puppet with a puppeteer actor.

 JOSEPH CHRISTIAN (JC) LEYENDECKER, AKA JOE:  Male, 30s+.  Has as a slight stutter when stressed.  Walks with a slight limp due to a childhood disease.  Brilliant illustrator.  Feels responsible for his siblings.  Driven.  Irresponsible with money.  Homosexual. 

 MARY LEYENDECKER: Female, 30s+ . Loyal to her brothers and their art; a bit of a hothead; organized, a good head for business.

 CHARLES BEACH: Male, 20s-30s, around 7 years younger than Joe.  Tall, muscular, blond, movie star handsome.  Canadian, clipped British accent.  Beautifully dressed.  Always well mannered. Polite till pushed. Homosexual.

 NORMAN ROCKWELL: Male, 30s-40s.  Up-and-coming illustrator who befriends the Leyendecker siblings. Somewhat obsessed with Joe’s talent and career.

 THE ARROW COLLAR MAN: (non-verbal) could be a cardboard cutout or life-size puppet that the actors or a puppeteer move around; a projection or hologram…or a live actor if that’s feasible. Should resemble the actor playing CHARLES BEACH. Based on the Arrow Collar Man advertisements.

DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

The Lesser Leyendecker began as an idea for a play after reading and learning about famed illustrator J.C. (Joseph) Leyendecker and viewing the documentary CODED. Originally intended as a play about Joseph and his relationship with Charles Beach, after further research, I wanted to write about Frank, the so-called “Lesser Leyendecker”, Joe’s equally talented and troubled youngest brother.

The Lesser Leyendecker was a finalist for Theatre Lab’s Fair Play Initiative 2022 (a treatise of the planned play); and a semi-finalist for the Dramatists Guild Fellowship Program 2024.

An online reading was held in October 2024, presented by Playwrights Thriving Q4 reading series. I am continuing to develop the play, with the assistance of dramaturg Reilly Conlon.

PERUSAL COPY OF SCRIPT

A perusal copy of the script is available for New Play Exchange members, or by emailing me. For New Play Exchange, click on this link below:

The Lesser Leyendecker perusal script

For more information about THE LESSER LEYENDECKER, to request a persual copy or to inquire about performance rights, please use the contact form below: