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Overview

Synopsis

During the dust and heat of a long Kansas summer, William Inge’s A Loss of Roses is a tale set in a Depression both economic and emotional. Lila Green, a tent show actress who’s traveling troupe has folded, finds refuge with old friends in a small town. Helen Baird, a respectable widowed nurse and former neighbor, looks on her with motherly affection, and son Kenny has fond memories of the “Aunt Lila” who used to babysit him. But Kenny is now a full-grown man, full of flirtation and eager admiration, and fragile Lila, dealing with the latest in a long line of abusive men, is sorely tempted by Kenny’s sincerity and youthful ardor. As Kenny’s relationship with Helen grows increasingly volatile, still poisoned by the emotional fallout from his father’s death, and Lila’s scummy boyfriend Ricky tries to blackmail her into the porn industry, Lila and Kenny are increasingly drawn to the sanctuary of each other’s arms. Intergenerational strife, the loss of innocence, and the fragility of love weave themselves through the story of William Inge’s A Loss of Roses, a bittersweet and brooding drama, heavy with regret, pain, and fleeting beauty.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1959
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
1933, a small town near kansas city
Cast Size
medium
Ideal For
Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Helen Baird

Lead

Female

Spoken

Kenny Baird

Lead

Male

Spoken

Lila Green

Lead

Female

Spoken

Geoffrey "Jelly" Beamis

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Ricky Powers

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Ronny Cavendish

Featured

Male

Spoken

Olga St. Valentine

Featured

Female

Spoken

Mrs. Mulvaney

Featured

Female

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

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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

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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