Characters
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
See Delia Patterson
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,...
(This entire section contains 1129 words.)
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a constant reminder of his aspirations. Guy passionately believes that once in Paris, his life will transform forever. He mingles with the illustrious social circle of Harlem Renaissance poets and writers, finding camaraderie especially with Langston Hughes. Guy is fiercely loyal to his best friend, Angel, defending her rebellious antics at the Cotton Club even though it costs him his job. Generously, he offers her shelter in his home, risking potential peril from her dangerous ex-boyfriend to retrieve her belongings. Despite his own struggles, Guy conceals the truth of his job loss from Angel to protect her, taking on less glamorous, lower-paying gigs to sustain them both. In a heartfelt conversation with Delia, he reveals that he met Angel in Alabama, and her presence inspired his journey to Harlem. Guy's unwavering support and care for Angel stem from a deep gratitude, as he tells her, "You let me see how beautiful I was." At last, the long-awaited cable arrives from Josephine Baker—she adores his designs and invites him to Paris, sending him a boat ticket and ample funds for his journey. Excitedly, he invites Angel to join him, now able to afford her passage too. Yet, after the shocking incident where Leland shoots Sam, Angel vanishes without a word. On the day of his departure, Guy asks Delia to fill the void left by Angel, and she agrees. By the time Angel returns to Harlem, Guy is already en route to Paris, but ever thoughtful, he has prepaid the rent, ensuring Angel has a home if she chooses to come back.
Delia Patterson
Delia Patterson, affectionately known as Deal, is a dedicated twenty-five-year-old social worker embroiled in a pioneering effort led by Margaret Sanger to establish a family planning clinic in Harlem. Her apartment stands just across the hall from Angel and Guy’s. Though Delia is timid around men, she blossoms as she begins dating Sam, sparked by their collaboration on the clinic project. A fortnight after the tragic shooting of Sam, Delia accepts Guy’s invitation to accompany him to Paris. As she prepares to leave, Angel reappears, and in a fleeting moment, they both perceive the irrevocable shift in their relationship. Delia departs without uttering a word to Angel, leaving the past behind.
Sam Thomas
Dr. Sam Thomas, a diligent physician at the Harlem Hospital, spends his days tirelessly delivering babies while also indulging in late-night revelries with friends. He takes immense pride in his work but remains mindful of the harsh realities faced by African-American families during the economic turmoil of the Depression. Sam is drawn to Delia but approaches her with gentle caution, aware of her reticence. He lends his support to her by refining her speech for the church about the family planning clinic. Beyond his regular duties, Sam discreetly performs illegal abortions and previously helped Angel when she was pregnant by Nick. However, when Angel seeks his help again, he hesitates, conflicted because the child's father is African-American this time. Yet Angel's resolute decision leads him to comply. The revelation of this act prompts a violent reaction from Leland, who shoots Sam in the back, ending his life.