A Raisin in the Sun - METHUEN EDITION

This groundbreaking 1950s civil rights drama has a strong claim to be the greatest play of the black American experience

It was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award

Hansberry was the youngest and the first black writer to receive this award

She was also the first person to be called "young, gifted and black"

Deeply committed to the black struggle for equality and human rights, Lorraine Hansberry's brilliant career as a writer was tragically cut short by her death when she was only 34

Her great play is set In south side Chicago where Walter Lee, a black chauffeur, dreams of a better life

He hopes to use his father's life insurance money to open a liquor store

His mother - who rejects the liquor business - uses some of the money to secure a proper house for the family

Mr Lindner, a representative of the all-white neighbourhood, tries to buy them out

Walter sinks the rest of the money into his business scheme

Only to have it stolen by one of his partners

In despair Walter contacts Lindner and almost begs him to buy them out

Finally, with the help of his wife, Walter finally finds a way to assert his dignity

CAST
M7,F3 + 1 Boy

For the ACTING EDITION
click here

For the STUDENT EDITION with Notes & Commentary
click here