Front
by Robert Caisley

Name: Front
Brand: Robert Caisley
SKU: 9780573700255
Rating: 3.64 (11 reviews)

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins 1940s/WWII Reduced Casting (Doubling Possible) Bare Stage/Simple Set Period Costumes

Synopsis

In England during the Blitz, a number of struggling individuals and families come to terms with the horrors and tragedies of war.

Judith, a proud matriarch, works in a factory that makes bomb detonators.

Her husband, Frank, is missing, and their two children, Sheila and John, are forced to grow up much too quickly.

A number of other war-torn individuals are also profiled, each butting heads with the raging war.

A poignant account of female perseverance, Front is appropriate for all audiences.

Press Reviews

"As a dramatic evening of theater, Front by Robert Caisley proved to be a huge success with our HS cast and our audience. Set during the London Blitz, and focusing mainly on the women left behind during WWII, the play provides wonderful opportunities for character development. Moving without being sentimental, the play explores the horrors, ambivalence, confusion and humor that people face when confronted with war on their own turf. We doubled roles out of necessity, so actors portrayed multiple characters; and students researched the time period thoroughly. Perhaps one of the best ‘characters’ in our production was the incredibly realistic set that we built. The irony of trying to continue a daily routine amidst total chaos and rubble helped make the production a visual stunner. I highly recommend this play to all HS theater departments."
— Laura Hicks, Theater Department, Poughkeepsie Day School

"I think it is a great piece for high school, colleges, community theaters in that it gives opportunities for female actors. It explores a part of World War II that we don't often see portrayed."
— April Olt, Grandview High School

"The show was fantastic … my family members, colleagues and students were moved to tears (especially with the ‘Interviews with the Dead’ scene, but also the final monologues of Joan and Judith.)"
— Doug Grove, Lower Dauphin School District

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
JUDITH GENTLY	—	—	—
FRANK Her husband	male	—	Her husband
ANGIE Her teenage daughter	female	—	Her teenage daughter
TOM Her young son	male	—	Her young son
SIR CHARLES An M.P., can be played by actor playing Mr. Briggs	male	—	An M.P., can be played by actor playing Mr. Briggs
LUCY His wife	female	—	His wife
OWEN His son, can be played by actor playing Brian	male	—	His son, can be played by actor playing Brian
NELLY His daughter	female	—	His daughter
JOAN JUSTICE	—	—	—
BRIAN her son	male	—	her son
J.C. SMUTS An ARP Controller	—	—	An ARP Controller
MR. MANN A local warden, can be played by actor playing Tom	male	—	A local warden, can be played by actor playing Tom
MRS. HILYARD An older woman, can be played by actor playing Lucy	female	—	An older woman, can be played by actor playing Lucy
MRS. BRIGGS	female	—	—
MR. BRIGGS Her husband	male	—	Her husband
ALISTER Her son, can be played by actor playing Brian	male	—	Her son, can be played by actor playing Brian
FRAKKER A weapons manufacturer, can be played by actor playing Frank	male	—	A weapons manufacturer, can be played by actor playing Frank
FOREMAN His employee	—	—	His employee
A PHOTOGRAPHER Can be played by actor playing J.C. Smuts	male	—	Can be played by actor playing J.C. Smuts
MIRA A young girl, can be played by actor playing Nelly	female	—	A young girl, can be played by actor playing Nelly
MR. KYME A schoolmaster, can be played by actor playing J.C. Smuts	male	—	A schoolmaster, can be played by actor playing J.C. Smuts
SHEILA Can be played by actor playing Mrs. Briggs	male	—	Can be played by actor playing Mrs. Briggs
BELA Can be played by actor playing Lucy	male	—	Can be played by actor playing Lucy
VIV Can be played by actor playing Nelly	male	—	Can be played by actor playing Nelly
A BODY Can be played by actor playing Angie	male	—	Can be played by actor playing Angie