Top Girls
by Caryl Churchill

Top Girls Book Cover
Top Girls Cover

Synopsis

Marlene hosts a dinner party in a London restaurant to celebrate her promotion to managing director of 'Top Girls' employment agency.

Her guests are five women from the past: Isabella Bird (1831- 1904) - the adventurous traveller; Lady Nijo (b1258) - the mediaeval courtesan who became a Buddhist nun and travelled on foot through Japan; Dull Gret, who as Dulle Griet in a Bruegel painting, led a crowd of women on a charge through hell; Pope Joan - the transvestite early female pope and last but not least Patient Griselda, an obedient wife out of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

As the evening continues we are involved with the stories of all five women and the impending crisis in Marlene's own life.

A classic of contemporary theatre, Churchill's play is seen as a landmark for a new generation of playwrights.

It was premiered by the Royal Court in 1982.

"Top Girls has a combination of directness and complexity which keeps you both emotionally and intellectually alert.

You can smell life, and at the same time feel locked in an argument with an agile and passionate mind."

(John Peter, Sunday Times)

Performance

Cast

A small cast size of 7 total roles, 7 female roles.

Publication

Publisher
Methuen
Year Published
1984
ISBN 10
0413554805
ISBN 13
9780413554802
Binding
Paperback
Edition
Reissue
Print Length
87 pages
Place Published
London
Language
English
LCCN
2017029541
LCC
PR6053.H786
DCC
822/.914
Print
Top Girls is a British play written by and published by Methuen in London, 1984. The print edition has an ISBN-13 of 9780413554802 and an ISBN-10 of 0413554805.
Digital
ePlay digital editions are available on Amazon Kindle.

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