Angel Allen

In the turbulent opening of the play, thirty-four-year-old Angel Allen finds herself abruptly dismissed from her role as a backup singer at the illustrious Cotton Club. Her personal life is equally in disarray, having severed ties with Nick, an Italian mobster, who has recently wed another woman. During a heated moment, Angel spots Nick in the nightclub audience and, overwhelmed by betrayal, disrupts her performance to confront him, hurling objects in his direction. This impulsive act costs her not only her job but also her lavish apartment and cherished possessions, as Nick bars her from retrieving them. Her dearest friend, Guy, steps in, offering her shelter as she desperately seeks employment. Yet, due to the pervasive economic depression, singing opportunities are scarce, leaving Angel reliant on Guy's generosity. With few prospects, Angel contemplates a pragmatic yet unsavory proposition to become the mistress of Tony T., an associate of Nick’s, trading companionship for financial security. Despite her longing for a singing career, Angel's practicality leads her to consider marriage to Leland as a means to stability, though her heart remains uninvested. Upon discovering her pregnancy by Leland, Angel resolves to terminate it, a decision echoing a past abortion linked to Nick. When Guy offers a chance to escape to Paris, Angel seizes it, forsaking marriage to Leland. She initially fabricates a miscarriage story but soon confesses the abortion. After a tragic encounter where Leland kills Sam, the doctor involved, Angel vanishes for a fortnight. Reappearing just as Guy and Delia prepare to depart for Paris, she seems to sever the last threads of friendship, left pondering her future from the window of Guy’s apartment. Throughout her tumultuous journey, Angel remains a resilient survivor, ever adaptable in the face of adversity.

Leland Cunningham

Leland Cunningham, a twenty-eight-year-old newcomer from Alabama, has been navigating the vibrant streets of Harlem for a mere six weeks. Only eight months prior, he endured the heartbreak of losing both his wife, Anna, and their newborn son during childbirth. Fate brings him to cross paths with Guy and a tipsy Angel on a midnight street, leading him to assist Guy in escorting her safely home. Struck by Angel’s resemblance to his late wife, his interest in her deepens. Leland embodies the demeanor of a Southern gentleman, his attire polished and restrained. His religious convictions are staunch, holding traditional beliefs that starkly contrast with Angel and her circle. Viewing homosexuality as an "abomination," he is familiar with local youths known for harassing gay men. This compels Angel to conceal Guy's true identity, introducing him as a cousin. Despite the evident clash in lifestyles, Leland persists in courting Angel, urging her towards church attendance, which she dismisses. He even gifts her a conservative dress, far removed from her taste. Undeterred, Leland proposes marriage, to which Angel agrees. Upon learning she is carrying his child, he presents her with a handcrafted rocking chair, envisioning a future filled with children. However, the illusion shatters when Angel confesses both the abortion and her deception about the miscarriage. In a visceral reaction, Leland identifies Sam as the abortionist and, in a moment of rage, fatally shoots him outside the apartment.

Deal

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Guy Jacobs

Guy Jacobs, a vibrant and determined man in his thirties, finds himself at a crossroads after being let go from his role as costume designer at the iconic Cotton Club. His heart beats with the fervent dream of working for the legendary Josephine Baker, the illustrious African-American singer and dancer residing in Paris. In his apartment, a grand portrait of Josephine occupies a place of honor,...