The dialectic of Top Girls is wide-ranging, covering universal dilemmas facing women, but focuses on major themes of contemporary life. The critique of feminist ambitions is a clear central theme and Churchill's selection of women from the past and modern world shows sympathy for the feminist cause and disdain for the male oppressor, but there is no sentimentality an no comfortable solution is offered for their problems.
Marlene hosts a dinner party in a London restaurant to celebrate her promotion to managing director of 'Top Girls' employment agency. Her guests are five women from the past: Isabella Bird (1831- 1904) - the adventurous traveller; Lady Nijo (b1258) - the mediaeval courtesan who became a Buddhist nun and travelled on foot through Japan; Dull Gret, who as Dulle Griet in a Bruegel painting, led a crowd of women on a charge through hell; Pope Joan - the transvestite early female pope and last but not least Patient Griselda, an obedient wife out of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. As the evening continues we are involved with the stories of all five women and the impending crisis in Marlene's own life. A classic of contemporary theatre, Churchill's play is seen as a landmark for a new generation of playwrights. It was premiered by the Royal Court in 1982.
This volume contains a chronology of the playwright's life and work; an introduction giving the background to the play; a discussion of the various interpretations, notes on individual words and phrases and photographs from stage productions.

Top Girls: With Commentary and Notes (Open University Set Book)

caryl-churchill

Humor & Entertainment

Methuen Drama

The nation’s favourite and best selling range of English Literature study notes  Packed with features designed to help students get the most from the text they are studying: -          Summaries with detailed commentaries -          Extended commentaries on key passages -          Discussion of themes and literary techniques -          Author biography -          Historical and literary background -          Chronology of important events -          Check the net/film/book features -          Glossary of literary terms -          Self-test questions

Top Girls

Literature & Fiction

Dramas & Plays

Set in the early Thatcher years, " Top Girls "is a serminal play of the modern theatre, revealing a world of women's experience at a pivotal moment in British history. Told by an eclectic group of historical and modern characters in a continuous conversation across ages and generations, "Top Girls "was hailed by "The Guardian" as "the best British play ever by a woman dramatist."Commentary and notes by Bill Naismith and Nick Worrall

Top Girls (Acting Edition S.)

Samuel. French

Paperback Samuel French, Inc. June 2004

Vinegar Tom

Concord Theatricals

A dramatic comedy for 5 men and 3 women. This timely play by the acclaimed author of Cloud Nine, Top Girls, Fen, and Vinegar Tom was a hit in London, transferring from the Royal Court Theatre to the West End. Serious Money is a Jonsonian satire about capitalism running rampant and unchecked. All money corrupts and serious money corrupts absolutely in the play's world of shady financial deals, insider trading and get rich quick wheeler dealers of both sexes. Not only does the play capture almost every aspect of dirty dealing and money grubbing from London to Wall Street, but it does so in extremely ingenious rhymed couplets!

Serious Money: A City Comedy

French

Churchill

Taylor&Francis

Bloomsbury UK

It's the middle of the high-flying 80's in England and Marlene finally has something to celebrate - she's been made Managing Director of Top Girls Employment Agency. But with no friends to speak of, and a past she'd just as soon forget, the guests at her party are a collection of famous women from history. Soon, Marlene discovers that life above the glass ceiling is not all it's cracked up to be. A bold, searing comdey from an Olivier Award-winning playwright whom critics have called "one of the best writers today."

Top Girls (Library Edition Audio CDs)

L.A. Theatre Works

This is a Chair (NHB Modern Plays)

Nick Hern Books

From esteemed British playwright Caryl Churchill - a fast moving kaleidoscope - in which more than a hundred characters try to make sense of what they know. Someone sneezes. Someone can't get a signal. Someone shares a secret. Someone won't answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone's not ready to talk. Someone is her brother's mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police. Someone got a message from the traffic light. Someone's never felt like this before.

Love & Information

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by caryl-churchill. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by caryl-churchill

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by caryl-churchill. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Top Girls: With Commentary and Notes (Open University Set Book)

Top Girls

Top Girls (Acting Edition S.)

Vinegar Tom

Serious Money: A City Comedy

Churchill

Top Girls

Top Girls (Library Edition Audio CDs)

This is a Chair (NHB Modern Plays)

Love & Information