|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
The featured play is representative of the writer's work. For a more complete list of the plays by the writer, click on the playwright's name.
Is this play showing anywhere near you? Check out American Theatre Web to
find out.
|
by
PRODUCTION HISTORYProduced by the author at Howard High School in 1918.CHARACTERSDan: The Cripple Chris: The Younger Brother Lucy: The Sister Mrs. O'Neill: An Irish Neighbor Jake: A Jewish Boy Julia: Chris' Sweetheart Bill Harvey: A Muleteer Cornelia Lewis: A Settlement Worker SETTINGThe action takes place in 1918 during the First World War in a manufacturing city in the northern part of the United States. Scene: Kitchen of a tenament. All details of furnishings emphasize sordidness--laundry tubs, range, table covered with oil cloth, pine chairs. Curtain discloses DAN in a rude imitation of a steamer chair, propped by faded pillows, his feet covered with a patch-work quilt. practable window at back.
PLAY STRUCTUREThe play occurs in one-act. EXCERPT FROM THE PLAYThe characters have begun to argue about the involvement of blacks in the war. DAN: (Half tears himself from the chair, the upper part ofhis body writhing, while the lower part is inert, dead.) Oh, God! If I were but whole and strong! If I could only prove to a doubting world of what stuff my people are made! JULIA: But why, Dan, it isn't our quarrel? What have we to do with their affairs? These white people, they hate us. Only today I was sneered at when I went to help with some of their relief work. Why should you, my Chris, go to help those who hate you? (CHRIS clasps her in his arms, and they stand, defying the others.) HARVEY: If you could have seen the babies and girls--and old women--if you could have-- (Covers his eyes with his hand.) CHRIS: Well, it's good for things to be evened up somewhere. PUBLICATION HISTORYin the following anthologies:
also published in The Crisis v.15 1918 p.271-275 |
|
