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Overview
Synopsis
Victor Franz is a police sergeant approaching fifty and the end of his career. His father died several years ago but the family home is about to be torn down and Victor must get rid of the furniture and dusty antiques stored in the attic of a Manhattan brownstone building. Victor's wife, Esther, hopes to get enough cash from the family treasures to take a much-needed vacation, and allow Victor to retire from a job he has been stuck in for years. There's only one potential catch as Victor negotiates a price with octogenarian antiques dealer Gregory Solomon --half of the furniture is owned by Victor's brother, Walter, a wealthy surgeon who has been estranged from Victor for years. When Victor is about to close the deal with Solomon, Walter returns. He does not want, or need the cash from the furniture sale, so why has he suddenly appeared? Feeling undermined and frustrated by his brother’s appearance, Victor confronts Walter about the past and questions how their differing opinions on the fate of their father have led to their present realities.
Show Information
- Book
- Arthur Miller
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1968
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- The attic of a Manhattan brownstone building, New York City, 1968
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
The Price first premiered in 1968 at the Morosco Theatre on Broadway, before it moved to the 46th Street Theatre where it closed the following year. The production was nominated for two Tony Awards, Best Play and Best Scenic Design. The play has since been revived four times on Broadway: 1979, 1992 (Tony-nominated for Best Revival), 1999 (Tony-nominated for Best Revival), and 2017 (with Mark Ruffalo as Victor Franz and Danny DeVito as Gregory Soloman).
The Price was adapted for
to read the context for The Price and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In the attic of a Manhattan brownstone building, Victor Franz has come to inspect the stored furniture. As he looks round, he puts on an old Laughing Record from the 1920s, chuckling to himself. He is soon joined by his wife, Esther, who has had a drink after her doctor’s appointment. It is clear that the furniture belongs to Victor’s family and much of his childhood memorabilia is there. Victor is waiting for the antiques dealer and he promises Esther--again--that he will haggle
to read the plot for The Price and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
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
Scenes
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher