Stairs to the Roof
by Tennessee Williams
Synopsis
Much of the play is set in a shirt factory in St. Louis and chronicles the daily frustrations of white-collar workers who find themselves stuck in dead-end jobs that stifle creativity.
Williams' protagonist, Benjamin Murphy, finds release through frequent trips to the washroom, where he writes poetry, and through a romantic affair with a co-worker.
He finds his ultimate escape hatch when he discovers an unused staircase that leads to the roof -- and a wide world beyond.
William's called it a prayer for the wild of heart who are kept in cages and dedicated it to all the wage earners of the world.
It features a fantastic, sci-fi style ending that predates the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Trek by several decades.
The theme is clear and still resounds today: whether man can control technology or technology controls man.
Characters
| Character |
|---|
MR. GUM ALFRED |
JOHNNIE the office boy |
A DESIGNER |
BENJAMIN D. MURPHY |
MR. WARREN B. THATCHER |
THE GIRL |
JIM |
THE BARTENDER |
BER T |
ALMA(Ben's wife) Ben's wife |
HELEN |
A YOUNG SOLDIER |
EDNA(Jim's wife) Jim's wife |
THE POLICEMAN |
A VAGRANT |
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN also plays THE ZOOKEPER |
TWO ZOO GUARDS |
THE CLOWN |
FIRST MUMMER reader |
BEAUTY |
THE BEAST |
MRS. HOTCHKISS |
ALMA's MOTHER |
MESSERS. P, D, Q, T company stockholders |
MR. E |
Publication
Stairs to the Roof is a play written by Tennessee Williams and published by Samuel French (2000).
Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle.
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