Top Girls

4 Pages 1009 Words

Caryl Churchill uses an interesting method of role assignments in her play Top Girls. She often assigns a particular role to a character in the first scene and then reassigns that same actor one or more roles in the remainder of the play. These sets of characters may initially seem arbitrary, but when examined closely are perfectly logical. Churchill systematically assigns the characters in each group to have uniting characteristics and backgrounds.
The first character group is comprised of the waitress, Jeannie, and Win. The waitress remains nameless and speechless during the play. Marlene constantly orders her about and never thinks to use the social niceties of “please” or “thank you”. For example, in the first scene, Marlene commands, “I want some coffee. Six coffees. Six brandies. Double brandies. Straightaway.” (Churchill 36). The waitress uncomplainingly allows herself to be a sort of automaton devoid of personality and feeling. Jeannie also allows herself to be dehumanized in a similar sort of way. She is a secretary in pursuit of a new job. When asked to explain her position, Jeannie says she is a secretary and typist. Marlene then questions her as to who she works for. Jeannie answers, “Three of them, really, they share me” (Churchill 42). Jeannie speaks of herself as if she were an inanimate object, rather than a competent woman. Win also exhibits this type of nature. She is engaged in an adulterous relationship in which she is amused. Win brags to Marlene and Nell, “I had to lie down in the back of the car so the neighbors wouldn’t see me go in” (Churchill 60). Win acts as if she were a robot, not worrying about the emotional and moral implications of her relationship.
The next category of women consists of Isabella, Joyce, and Nell. Isabella is a worldly traveler and adventurer whom feels as if she has “spent years in self-gratification” (Churchill 89). S...