The Widow Jones

Plot

Irwin portrays Beatrice Byke an un-married "fat-fair-and-forty" woman who has run away to Maine and assumed the false identity of a widow going by the surname Jones in order to avoid her many ardent suitors. Over the course of the play she is forced to pay the bills of her false husband, a man who allegedly died from drowning, only to eventually come face to face with the supposedly drowned man.

Performances and Edison film

The Widow Jones premiered at the Boston Museum on September 2, 1895, and then went on tour for performances in cities throughout the United States. Part of this tour included performances at Broadway's Bijou Theatre where it began its run on September 16, 1895. The production left New York City to perform on tour, but ultimately returned for more performances at the Bijou Theatre beginning on March 16, 1896. On April 21, 1896 at the Bijou Theatre the show's producer's, Rich & Harris of Boston, presented Irwin with a custom made silver perfume bottle and a plaque to celebrate the production's 300th performance given during the production's run (not all on Broadway, but collectively).

Thomas Edison hired the play's stars, May Irwin and John Rice, to recreate the kiss seen in act 1 of the play for the 1896 short film, The Kiss, made in Edison's Kinetoscope process. The film was acquired by the Film Library of the Museum of Modern Art in 1935.

Songs

• "His Legs Are Assorted Sizes" (music by Geo. H. Wilder, lyrics by Lawrence J. Sheehan)
• "I Love My Honey Yes I Do" (music and lyrics by Will C. Carleton)
• "The New Bully" (music and lyrics by Charles E. Trevathan)
• "I Want Yer Ma, Honey"

Notes

References

1. Gerald Martin Bordman, Richard Norton. (2010). "American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle". [[Oxford University Press]].
2. (September 3, 1895). "BOSTON'S NEW PRODUCTIONS.; " The Widow Jones," "The Globe Trotter," and "Burmah."". [[The New York Times]].
3. (March 17, 1896). "May Irwin Returns to Town with" The Widow Jones."". [[The New York Times]].
4. (April 22, 1896). "A SOUVENIR FOR MAY IRWIN.; Surprise Given to the Actress at the Bijou Last Night". [[The New York Times]].
5. (July 11, 1935). "MUSEUM ACQUIRES 50-FOOT FILM KISS; Scene From 'The Widow Jones,' 1896 Vintage, Stars May Irwin in Romantic Vein.". [[The New York Times]].
6. as indicated on cover of sheet music.