Overview
Synopsis
Lillian Hellman’s riveting drama captures the story of a Southern family whose selfish pursuit of the American Dream ends up destroying them and those they love. The Hubbards are bound together by blood, but ripped apart by disparate desires. Their simple house servant states, “There are people who eat the earth and other people who stand around and watch them do it.” The Hubbards are those who “eat the earth.” Three siblings --the manipulative, scheming Regina; the cruel and arrogant Oscar; and the possessive Benjamin-- have decided to partner together to increase their already substantial, ill-gotten wealth. There is only one problem: Regina’s terminally ill husband, Horace, is refusing to give them the $75,000 they need. And so begins a vicious circle of lying, scheming, cruelty, and finally, murder. In the end, blood and money mix, with money coming out on top, leaving a broken family behind.
Show Information
- Book
- Lillian Hellman
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1939
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- the living-room of the giddens house, a small town in the south, spring, 1900
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
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
Key Terms
The belief that equality and opportunity is available to any American.
A activist of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
Theatre that is focused on women's stories, separate from men, and often examines gender, class, race, and privilege within social, cultural, and historical systems.
Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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