Stairs to the Roof
by Tennessee Williams

Name: Stairs to the Roof
Brand: Tennessee Williams
SKU: 9780811214353
Rating: 3.98 (123 reviews)

Stairs to the Roof Book Cover — Stairs to the Roof Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

Room for ExtrasUnit Set/Multiple Settings

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	Gender	Age	Description
MR. GUM ALFRED	male	—	—
JOHNNIE the office boy	male	—	the office boy
A DESIGNER	—	—	—
BENJAMIN D. MURPHY	—	—	—
MR. WARREN B. THATCHER	male	—	—
THE GIRL	—	—	—
JIM	—	—	—
THE BARTENDER	—	—	—
BER T	—	—	T
ALMA(Ben's wife) Ben's wife	female	—	Ben's wife
HELEN	—	—	—
A YOUNG SOLDIER	—	—	—
EDNA(Jim's wife) Jim's wife	female	—	Jim's wife
THE POLICEMAN	—	—	—
A VAGRANT	—	—	—
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN also plays THE ZOOKEPER	—	—	also plays THE ZOOKEPER
TWO ZOO GUARDS	—	—	—
THE CLOWN	—	—	—
FIRST MUMMER reader	—	—	reader
BEAUTY	—	—	—
THE BEAST	—	—	—
MRS. HOTCHKISS	female	—	—
ALMA's MOTHER	—	—	—
MESSERS. P, D, Q, T company stockholders	—	—	company stockholders
MR. E	male	—	—