Top Girls

A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Top Girls

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  7w

Caryl Churchill

Caryl Churchill's hilarious, groundbreaking, gritty play about the fictional “Top Girls” employment agency begins with a time-warped luncheon attended by women in legend or history offering their perspectives on maternity and ambition.

Image: 2008 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Joan Marcus)

Top Girls

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    7w
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1983 Obie Award for Best Play
    Winner! 1983 Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play

Details

Summary
Marlene has been promoted to managing director of a London employment agency and is celebrating. The symbolic luncheon is attended by women in legend or history who offer perspectives on maternity and ambition. In a time warp, these ladies are also her co-workers, clients, and relatives. Marlene, like her famous guests, has had to pay a price to ascend from proletarian roots to the executive suite: she has become, figuratively speaking, a male oppressor, and even coaches female clients on adopting odious male traits. Marlene has also abandoned her illegitimate and dull-witted daughter. Her emotional and sexual life has become as barren as Lady Macbeth's.
History
Top Girls premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London on 28 August 1982. The play made its off-Broadway premiere at Joseph Papp's Public Theater on 29 December 1982.
Keywords
Performing Groups

MARLENE
ISABELLA BIRD
POPE JOAN
LADY NIJO
DULL GRET
PATIENT GRISELDA
JOYCE
ANGIE
WIN
KIT
NELL
MRS. KIDD
LOUISE
SHONA
JEANINE

  • Time Period Contemporary, 1980s
  • Setting A restaurant, Joyce's backyard, “Top Girls” Employment Agency, Joyce's Kitchen.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Very funny and provocative... A mind-lifting experience.” – The New York Post

“A blistering yet sympathetic look at women who achieve success by adopting the worst traits of self-made men... Truly original.” – The New York Times

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

10 Caryl Churchill Plays to Read
by Maria Arroja Ferreira
October 30, 2019

Photos

  • Top Girls

    Image: 2008 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Top Girls

    Image: 2008 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Joan Marcus)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Scripts

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Authors

Caryl Churchill

Caryl Churchill

Caryl Churchill was born on 3 September 1938 in London and grew up in the Lake District and in Montreal. She was educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Downstairs, her first play written while she was still at university, was first staged in 1958 and won an award at the Sund ...

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