Top_Girls

Top Girls 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 girls, top, churchill, marlene, herself, women, win, play, nell, jeannie, group, character, woman, says, pope, nijo, lady, gret, go, feels, waitress, sort, seem, scene, same, relationship, position, portrayed, mrs, marry, man, kidd, joan, first, each