DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS

KEN HOLDEN. A young man about 28 or 29, a graduate of Harvard.  Trained as an architect.  But unemployed since his graduation.  He is in love with “Laura.”  But is very dispirited at his inability to obtain employment.

TIPPY SAYRE. About the same age as Ted.  Also a graduate of Harvard.  He also has been unable to find employment.  But is a man of very happy-go-lucky type whom it is hard to dishearten.  He is making a living by washing dogs.

TED BROOKS. Age 28.  Also a Harvard graduate of the same class as the others and also unemployed since graduation.  He comes of wealthy parents who lost their money in the market crash.  And seems quite unable to find any work for which he is suited.  And has no special training.  He is being partly supported by Kate Allen who is in love with him.

MARTIN PETERSON. About the same age as the others, also a graduate of Harvard.  He is an artist and is making a little money.  He is also a very enthusiastic Communist.

KATE ALLEN. About the same age as the men.  She is a graduate of Vassar, but although she is working she only earns a small salary, half of which she gives to Ted, with whom she is in love.

LAURA STEVENS. A pretty girl of about the same age as the others.  A graduate of Vassar.  She is in love with Ken Holden and is working at a salary of about $25 a week.

BISHOP HOLDEN. A bishop and typical gentleman of his calling.  Ken Holden is his son.

LUCILLE BROWN.* A young girl.  She is secretary to Stanley Prescott.

STANLEY PRESCOTT.* A successful American business man.  Hard, conservative.

CASE WORKER. A middle-aged woman, working as a home relief investigator.

MRS. DONOVAN. A very flamboyant woman of middle age, fussy and silly type.

POLICEMAN. A typical New York policeman.

* NOTE:  These characters are not in the play in case Scene 2,
        Act I, is omitted.

CLASS OF ’29

ACT I

SCENE I:  It is Saturday afternoon, about one o’clock.

The room is a large one in an old brown-stone house.  The ceiling is high, the floor ancient.  It serves for a sleeping as well as a living room.  Off it at one end is a kitchen, at the other a small bedroom.

There is no woman’s touch in the place, but in spite of its dilapidation there is a mellow and intellectual air—­lent, perhaps, by the books and magazines that lie scattered about; some old college pennants on the wall; also both architectural drawings and original cartoons.  There is a good architect’s drawing board in use by a window and a rack containing many rolls of drawings and prints.

TED is sitting on the couch, reading an old book.  He wears a once excellent but now threadbare suit.