The Children's Hour

Wow. Amazing story about the power of lies and how we are willing to believe without question. Applies today with just as much force. Adapted into two amazing movies - These Three and The Children's Hour.

The play is good but it was not what I wanted. I wanted the 1953 edition which this was identified as but this was the later version. I found out later that the 1953 version was a copywright edition only, no changes. Still misidentified. Going on the shelf with my other two copies.

This play is timeless. I revisited it after performing a scene 30+ years ago and am just stunned at how prescient Lillian Hellman was in exploring the insidious power of lies. Our 24/7 news cycle and social media consumption have significantly shortened the time it takes for "the lie to become the truth" so this play is more important than ever.

Bought this for my daughter, a theatre student. I watched the movie (Shirley McLaine and Audrey Hepburn!) and loved the story. My daughter wasn't familiar with the play and is really enjoying the twists and turns, and perspective of this story and the era it was written & presented.

great play to instill in students the importance of the things we say and how our words have the power to build up or tear down someone's life. Perfect piece for most high schools, though for modern students it could be a little wordy and boring. Best for production, not as a read-a-long in class.

Great for what it is. The 30s version is fantastic though, and the reprint in her collected works published in the 70s was the last say she had in the script.

My middle school students love acting out key scenes for this script in class. (Not for profit, of course.)

This is one of my all-time favorite plays. Hellman has demonstrated- with devastating accuracy- the power of a lie, while simultaneously commenting on the effects of a close-minded society. The Children's Hour is just as relevant today as it was in the 40's.

All good, thanks.

bought as a present. they love it

The play in itself is absolutely brilliant, however DO NOT buy this copy! The text was unknowingly an updated copy, and not a good one either. There are words missing and/or repeated, sections where the ink is completely smeared and blurred out, just an overall trainwreck. Try and grab the original yellow paperback copy if you can.