Untitled play (A typical small town drugstore . . .)

Introduction

UNTITLED PLAY. (A typical small town drugstore . . .). From a letter To Tevis Clyde Smith, week of February 20, 1928.

The opening of the play goes like this:

ACT 1
Scene 1.
(A typical small town drugstore. A boy polishing the fountain. At one of the small tables at the front a young man is sitting. He is a lanky, slouchily built young man with a sullen, moody expression on his sallow face. He is not reading nor does he appear to be thinking. He is simply sitting there. A man enters; a large massively built man who walks with a slight limp. He has a strong rugged face and his hands are calloused.)

This play provides a slice of life in a small town, highlighting the contrast between the aspirations of a troubled writer and the mundane reality surrounding him, enriched by Howard’s characteristic introspective dialogue and stark, realistic settings.

This could very well be the play version of the untitled story Howard wrote. See more here.

Summary and cast:

Act 1, Scene 1: Opens in a small town drugstore where a young man named Mike, described as lanky and sullen, sits at a table showing a lack of engagement with his surroundings. Lars, a large man with a limp and calloused hands, enters and greets Mike. Their conversation reveals that Lars is anxiously awaiting the publication of a book he co-authored, needing the money it might bring. Mike, a writer himself, dismisses Lars’ request for help revising a story, indicating he’s busy with his own financially driven projects.

Another local approaches Mike, discussing his writing. The conversation is superficial, with the local showing a lack of genuine understanding or appreciation for Mike’s work. The manager of the drugstore joins in, discussing popular writers like Eddie Guest, which leads to a heated exchange about literary values and the commercialization of writing. Mike expresses disdain for writing that panders to public tastes rather than artistic integrity.

Act 1, Scene 2: Shifts to Mike’s boarding house room, decorated in a stark, cheap manner, where a girl with a tawdry appearance lounges. Their conversation quickly turns to Mike’s frustrations with his writing career, marked by recent rejections. The girl suggests practical solutions like writing for mainstream magazines or getting a conventional job, which Mike rebuffs with contempt for ordinary labor and a cynical view of literary success.

The scene escalates when the girl confronts Mike about his attitude and their relationship. Their interaction culminates in a violent argument where Mike’s deep-seated frustrations and disdain for societal norms lead him to physically assault the girl after a verbal altercation about his writing and their personal grievances.

Main Characters:

  • Mike: The main character, a disillusioned writer who struggles with his ambitions and societal expectations. His interactions reflect his internal conflict between artistic integrity and financial necessity.
  • Lars: A friend of Mike’s, also a writer, who faces financial difficulties and is eager for his book to be published. Represents the common struggles of lesser-known writers.
  • Manager: Represents commercial and popular views on literature. His interactions with Mike highlight the conflict between commercial success and literary quality.
  • Girl (Unnamed): Mike’s acquaintance, representing personal relationships strained by Mike’s artistic frustrations. Her practical views on life contrast sharply with Mike’s idealistic and often impractical aspirations.
  • Additional Characters: Include locals and other minor figures who interact with Mike, mostly serving to underscore Mike’s alienation from the mainstream values and his contentious relationship with his community.

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