Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
by Lonne Elder III
Highlights
Awards & Recognition
Finalist: 1969 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Winner! 1969 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Playwright
What readers are saying
Readers appreciate the rich character development and poignant themes present in Lonne Elder III's play. Many find the exploration of generational struggles and aspirations compelling, with a mix of humor and tragedy. Some praise the dialogue and direction, noting the unique insights into the era's attitudes. However, a few critiques point out issues with character consistency throughout the play.
Synopsis
Lonne Elder III’s powerful and insightful drama, a Finalist for the 1969 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, explores the aspirations and failings of a Harlem family in the 1950s.
Aging widower Russell Parker, father of two sons and a daughter, owns a failed barbershop.
His sons are shiftless, trying to make a fast buck with home brew, and his daughter is resentful of their laziness as she struggles to support the family on a single salary.
Through witty, honest dialogue and well-crafted characters, Elder’s drama presents a compelling and moving portrait of one urban community at a pivotal time in America.
Press Reviews
"If any American has written a finer play, I can’t think what it is."
— The New Yorker
"As with the best of these observant mid-century dramas, A Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman among them, Ceremonies has a bird’s-eye understanding of human behavior, grounded by the specificity of its setting… Elder’s play brims with poignant gestures at the Parkers’ world, capturing a Harlem in the midst of the promise of civil rights, and of those in its community caught in the crosshairs of honest work and easy exploitation. His characters feel real and their relationships insightful."
— The New York Times, 2025
"Exciting drama, filled with meaningful insight and original comedy."
— NBC-TV
"A remarkable play… reminded me irresistibly of O’Casey. Its mood, poised between comedy and tragedy, is identical, intensity of feeling and love of language are similar, and there is a common cause in its undercurrents of rebellion."
— The New York Times, 1969
Characters
| Character |
|---|
Mr. William Jenkins |
Theopolis Parker |
Bobby Parker |
Adele Eloise Parker |
Blue Haven |
Young Girl |
Mr. Russell B. Parker |
Videos
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men – Theatre at St. Clements Promo Reel
Publication
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men is a play written by Lonne Elder III and published by Samuel French (1969).
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Paperback
Samuel French · 1969
Performance Rights
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