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Overview

Synopsis

The claustrophobic reality of living in a six-storey walk-up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan is the focus of Elmer Rice’s Street Scene. With the neighbors all knowing everyone’s business, and constantly passing judgement on everyone’s behaviour, it is easy to see how this melting pot can quickly become dangerous.

On two scorching hot days in June 1929, the pot finally boils over for Frank Maurrant. The rumors about his wife having an affair have become too loud and too persistent for him to ignore. How many times does he have to lay down the law in his own home before it is followed? To make matters worse, that guy keeps turning up and talking to his wife in full view of everyone. It’s enough to turn anyone to drinking. When he returns home to find the curtains drawn mid-morning, he knows exactly what is going on. In a fit of fury and emotion, Frank carries out his threat and kills them both.

Street Scene is a huge piece with themes of immigration, racism, domestic violence, sexual assault, murder, social status, youth culture, and poverty, which won the Pulitzer prize for Drama in 1929. It has enjoyed many retellings, including as the opera by Kurt Weill, created in collaboration with Elmer Rice and Langston Hughes.

Show Information

Book
Elmer Rice
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1929
Genres
Tragedy
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
June, 1920s, New York
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Early Teen, Adult, Child, Late Teen, Elderly Characters

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Emma Jones

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Anna Maurrant

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Frank Maurrant

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Samuel Kaplan

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Rose Maurrant

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Abraham Kaplan

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Greta Fiorentino

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Olga Olsen

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Willie Maurrant

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

George Jones

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Steve Sankey

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Shirley Kaplan

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Filippo Fiorentino

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Harry Easter

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Agnes Cushing

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Carl Olsen

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Alice Simpson

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Laura Hildebrand

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Mary and Charlie Hildebrand

Featured

Either Gender

Non-singer

Daniel Buchanan

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mae Jones

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Dick McGann

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Vincent Jones

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Dr. John Wilson

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Non-singer

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

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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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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.