Theatre

It started on a small town in America. In that town lived Joe and Kate Keller who owned a manufacturing plant with their neighbour and close family friend, Steve Deever with his daughter Ann and son George. The Keller had two sons, Larry who is Anns girlfriend, and Chris. When the Second World War started, both Larry and Chris were drafted along with George, their friend.

During the war around 1943, the manufacturing business of the Keller and Deever family prospered, supplying airplane parts to the United State. One day, the defective parts arrived. With the demands of the US Army to keep up with the quantities of the products, Steve Deever informed his business partner Joe to help him decide what to do. Because Joe wasnt around for work because of his sickness, he instructed Steve to patch up the substandard products and deliver it out. Nervously, Joe followed Steve and delivered the package.

Soon, Joe and Steve were arrested for the faulty parts they deliver which caused the planc crash and death of twenty-one pilots in Australia. They were convicted of the crime, but Joe manages to overturn the decision by appealing and selling out his partner Steve. This set Joe free and Steve incarcerated. The news of Joes initial conviction reached to his son Larry overseas. With the shame and grief at his shoulders, he wrote a letter to Ann in an informal way of saying his goodbye.  While on a fly mission, his plane broke out of formation and crashed he was reported missing in action.

A year after the war in 46, Larrys brother Chris was already proposing to her beau, Ann. The couple was reluctant to tell this to Kate, still believing that her son was alive. A lady who believes in superstition, she was strengthened by the fact that Larrys memorial tree was blown down. She also went to her neighbor for a horoscope, in which gave her a positive outcome. And by this time almost everyone was considering the death of Larry, except her Mother.

When the wedding of Chris and Ann was on its way, George arrived to stop it. He conversed with Ann, convincing her that her father was innocent. He points the finger at Keller who was at that time self assured of his innocence, until Kate accidentally slipped by saying that Joe had never been sick for fifteen years. This convinced George about his accusation and shattered Chris confidence to his father. With this, Chris chased his old friend George out of the house.

This news shocked Chris. With a confrontation with his family, her mother pressed that he must believe his brother is still alive. Her mother stated that if not, shed be blaming Joe to be the murderer of his son by delivering the defective airplane parts. Joe points out that if he didnt do what he did, hed be broke. Shouting later occurred between father and son. Chris was so angry at his father that he took the car and left.

Later, Ann tried to talk to Kate that Larry is indeed already dead so that Chris love for Ann will no longer be shameful. When Kate insists that her son was still alive, Ann showed her the letter that Larry wrote before his death. As Kate learned about this, her hope of Larry being alive was destroyed.

When Chris returned, he wanted to move out to Cleveland to have a new beginning, as he cannot tolerate the sight of his father being a coward and doesnt have moral integrity. Ann tried to hitch but he rejected it. Joe later entered, and both the father and son argued once again. At the heat of the argument Ann gave Larrys letter to Chris, whom Kate tried to hide but failed. Chris read the it aloud, and confirmed his brothers death. When Joe heard the news, he went inside the house to get his jacket to turn over to the police. While Joe and Kate argue about Joes voluntary surrender, a gunshot was heard inside. Joe shot his head.

Characters of the Story
Joe Keller  the father of Larry and Chris the family man who is keeping a dark history
Kate Keller  the mother who was having a hard time in accepting his sons death self-denial and martyr
Chris Keller  the only son of Kate and Joe that survived the war. Morally uptight and idealistic
Larry Keller  unseen character in the play the son who sacrificed himself for his fathers wrongdoings
Steve Deever  former neighbor and business partner of Joe Keller who is now locked in jail
Ann Deever  Larrys beau, then later got engaged with Larrys brother Chris an honest and down to earth lady
George Deever  son of Steve Deever and Anns brother he is convinced of his fathers innocence
Dr. Jim  and SueBayliss  Kellers neighborhood doctor
Frank Lubey  neighbor of the Keller family who is into astrology
Lydia Lubey  Georges ex-sweetheart who didnt wait for him to come back after the war