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Overview

Synopsis

A hard-hitting, yet humorous drama, Anna Christie depicts the reunion of a troubled father and daughter in the docks of New York. Chris Christopherson is an old sailor who has spent his life on the seas, to the detriment of his family. He has not seen his daughter, Anna, since she was 5 years old. After his wife died, he sent Sweden-born Anna to live with cousins on a farm in America. At the beginning of the play, he receives a letter from his daughter, announcing that she is coming to New York. Anna is now a prostitute, after being abused by the men on the farm, and has fallen on hard times. She does not reveal this to her father, but instead lets him think she is a nurse. Anna hopes that she can stay with her father to rest up for a while, but she does not realize that he lives on a barge. Initially resistant to this lifestyle, Anna goes to live with Chris and, while living there, they rescue 5 men who have survived a shipwreck. One of these men is Mat Burke and, although Anna is initially wary of him, they become close and fall in love. Chris is not happy about this match as he does not want his daughter to marry a sailor. After Chris and Mat argue, Anna stops them both by revealing the secrets of her past. Furious, both Mat and Chris storm out of the barge and disappear on a drunken bender for 2 days. When Chris returns, he reveals that he has signed up for a voyage to South Africa but has arranged for all of his earnings to be sent to Anna. Mat then also reappears, desperate to know if Anna really loves him. When she confirms that she does, Mat also reveals that he has signed up on the same voyage as Chris, but he will wed Anna before he goes. As the play closes, Anna has escaped the life she hated and is about to marry the man she truly loves. Undeterred by loneliness, she promises both men that she will find a house and be waiting for them there when they return from their voyage.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
4
First Produced
1921
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
new york, 1920s
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Anna Christie (nee Christopherson)

Lead

Female

Spoken

Chris Christopherson

Lead

Male

Spoken

Johnny-the-Priest

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Larry

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mat Burke

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Marthy Owen

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Johnson

Featured

Male

Spoken

A Postman

Featured

Male

Spoken

Two Longshoremen

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher