
Set against the lingering shadows of the 1929 crash, this three‑act drama follows a tight‑knit group of recent college graduates as they step into a world reshaped by economic uncertainty. Their youthful optimism collides with the stark realities of a nation still reeling, and the play captures both the lingering hope of the Roaring Twenties and the sobering challenges of the Depression era.
At the heart of the story are Ken, a bright but hesitant planner of his future; Tippy, whose quick wit masks deeper anxieties; Ted, the pragmatic realist who keeps the group grounded; Martin, the idealistic soul yearning for purpose; and Kate, whose aspirations and relationships add both tension and tenderness. Their conversations, rivalries, and budding romances reveal how each navigates family expectations, job scarcity, and the pull of new social programs.
Written with a balance of humor and earnest drama, the piece offers richly drawn characters and dialogue that feel both period‑specific and timeless, making it an engaging choice for community and university theatres looking to explore a pivotal moment in American history.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (130K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Taft, RogerTaft_AT_Cox.Net, grandson of Milo Hastings, and Jim Tinsley.
Release date
2005-11-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1884–1957
An inventor, nutritionist, and novelist with a knack for bold ideas, he brought real-world curiosity to everything he wrote. His work ranges from practical writing on food and farming to early science fiction that imagined unsettling futures.
View all booksBest known as the co-writer of the Depression-era play Class of '29, this little-documented playwright is tied to a sharp, socially minded Broadway drama from the 1930s. The surviving record is slim, which gives the work an added sense of discovery.
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