-Playwright-
Robert Merrill
The Philosopher of the Pool
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the mid to late 1800s, a man named John Merrill, The Philosopher of the Pool, lectured visitors on his hollow earth theory. Did he fool others or was he the fool? There is a single set.
Production History
2026: First public reading
Cast of Characters
John Samuel
Son of John and Rhoda Merrill and brother to Peter
Peter
Son of John and Rhoda Merrill and brother to John Samuel
Thomas Hill
England-born American landscape painter
John Merrill
The Philosopher of the Pool
Rhoda Merrill
Wife of John Merrill and mother to John Samuel and Peter
H. K.
A Yale student
Henry S. Fifield
A stereoview photographer
Tourist 1*
A wealthy woman
Tourist 2
A wealthy man
Tourist 3
a man
Tourist 4
A woman
Tourist 5
A man or a woman
Rufus
A strong townie and the older leader of Charley and Jesse
Charley
A townie who goads Rufus and is older than Jesse
Jesse
A young townie who may be male or female
Newport Woman
A woman typical of the kind found in that enclave for the rich
Reverend E.P. Thwing
A Northeastern pastor
The Descendant
A relative of John Merrill
Jesse
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*The minimum number of tourists should be 5, but more non-speaking tourists can be added based on the size of the stage and the casting pool.
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