The Happy Journey To Trenton And Camden
by Thornton Wilder
Highlights
Synopsis
A father, mother and two of their three surviving children drive from Newark, New Jersey to Camden to visit their married daughter, who has recently lost her baby in childbirth.
Their journey is punctuated by talk, laughter, memories (some mundane, some happy, some painful), and appreciation of the Now - ham and eggs, flowers, family, sunsets and the joy of being alive.
In this family drama, nothing much happens-and yet everything important happens.
As Ma Kirby says, "There's nothin' like bein' liked by your family."
Press Reviews
"My earlier one-act plays, before Our Town, were free of scenery too and things went back and forth in time...In my plays I attempted to raise ordinary daily conversation between ordinary people to the level of the universal human experience."
— Thornton Wilder, from an interview with Bob McCoy, 1974
"It should constantly be borne in mind that the purpose of this play is the portrayal of the character of Ma Kirby, the author at one time having even considered entitling the play The Portrait of a Lady. Accordingly, the director should constantly keep in mind that Ma Kirby's humor, strength and humanity constitute the unifying element throughout. This aspect should always rise above the merely humorous characteristic details of the play."
— Thornton Wilder, "Notes for the Producer," 1931
Characters
| Character |
|---|
Ma Mrs. Kate Kirby |
Arthur 13, her son |
Caroline 15, her daughter |
Pa |
Beulah 22, the Kirbys' married daughter who lives in Camden, New JerseyNote: This play can be also cast using 1 boy, 1 girl, 2 male adults and 2 female adults. |
The Stage Manager |
Videos
Thornton Wilder: It's Time
Publication
The Happy Journey To Trenton And Camden is a American comedy play written by Thornton Wilder and published by Samuel French in New York (1962).
Community Reviews
No community reviews yet
Buy Play
Paperback
Samuel French · 1962 · 30 pp
Performance Rights
Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)
Apply for Rights
Similar Plays
Plays with similar themes, style, and content.
More from Thornton Wilder
More plays from Thornton Wilder that we think you'll enjoy.
