Staging

Baldwin wrote this play with a very specific stage set in mind. The two main parts of the set are the church and the adjoining apartment. The positioning of the church in relation to the apartment is symbolic of the role of the church in the life of the family. The stage notes indicate that "The church is on a level above the apartment and should give the impression of dominating the family's living quarters." This is meant to symbolize the dominating influence of the church on Margaret's family. The set design within the church is also a key element of Baldwin's vision for this play. The stage notes indicate that the church "is dominated by the pulpit, on a platform, upstage." Thus, within the church itself, Margaret, as the pastor giving sermons, is the dominant figure. This set design emphasizes the extent to which the church is...