Overview
In October of 1940, two years after Orson Welles’ infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast, Orson happened to be at the same hotel as H.G. Wells in San Antonio, Texas, on the same day. Orson is desperately trying to raise money to finish shooting Citizen Kane, and comes to H.G.’s room to ask a favor for his PR. But H.G. is still furious over Orson’s prank. Orson is 25 years old, H.G. is 75. Two men at the beginning and end of their careers battle it out. Based on true events.
Casting & Production
Casting
H.G. WELLS — 75 years old, English accent, male.
ORSON WELLES — 25 years old, a rich baritone voice made for radio, male.
CHARLES C. SHAW — Radio announcer, adult male.
Setting
Place
A motel in San Antonio, Texas, and a radio station.
(The actual meeting was at the Plaza Hotel, but the play is set in a motel so that Orson is standing in the rain outside the door.)
Time
October, 1940. Night.
Reviews
“Entertaining and stimulating… Crider convincingly creates conversation that is thought-provoking and pithy without sounding preachy or epigrammatic. Thanks to her crisp writing and to the fine performances… the give-and-take of ideas and information flows with fluid spontaneity. Highly recommended.”
— The Chicago Reader
“[WELLS AND WELLES] has national, indeed worldwide appeal. Highly recommended.”
— Chicago Theater and Arts
