Character Resources | UT Dramaturgy

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Visitors from ___________

The play is about visitors to Los Angeles from four major cities: New York, Philadelphia, London, and Chicago. All five of these are cities have distinct character, stereotypes, dialects, and city pride.

In Scene One, Hannah and Billy set up this idea of clashing cultures and identities. Los Angeles and New York are on opposite coasts, with opposite styles, stereotypes, and methods of communication (and miscommunication).

The way the characters act out and expect stereotypes throughout the play, which are sometimes fulfilled and other times subverted, is an important element in how they relate to each other. On this page, we'll briefly explore each of those characteristics and stereotypes.

Los Angeles

The play takes place in Beverly Hills, but the only local we meet is Billy Warren, who is a transplant from the east coast (or perhaps Bunny, although we don't really meet her so much as toss her around).

We know that stereotypes are important, because in the first scene, Billy has adopted a lot of stereotypes, and Hannah calls him out for it.

For Example:

He relocated to LA and got rich in film
He is striving for eternal health and youth
- Adopting a strenuous fitness routine
- Switching to a vegetarian diet
- "Clean" eating and vitamins
- Changing his nickname from Bill to Billy
- Tan and sun-kissed*
He has given up the quick New York banter (1).

*This was before widespread concern about skin cancer

Here are some videos about Los Angeles in the 1970s:

This one shows what "wealthy" looked like - or at least upper middle class:

This video argues that there was a cultural renaissance in mid-1970s LA.

This one shows LA a little differently, with some of the less perfect elements.

And here's a short video of Hollywood Blvd. at night in the 1970s:

New York City

The New York stereotype is the polar opposite of Los Angeles, and both New Yorkers and Angelenos will swear that their city is far superior.

In the 1970s, New York is gritty with high crime rates and full of urban decay, but it is also an artistic center and culturally diverse. Hannah Warren represents the wealthy, professional class. As Billy points out, Hannah's experience of New York City is largely "forty square blocks bounded by Lincoln Center on the west and Cinema II on the east" (18), or the Upper West and Upper East sides. Stereotypically, the Upper West side is artsy, intellectual, and inhabited by hipsters, while the Upper East side is wealthy and cultured.

In the first scene of the play, Billy and Hannah are not just arguing about who will have custody of their daughter, but whether she will be a New Yorker or an Angeleno. It's basically, humorously, a battle for her soul. Hannah is proud to fulfill the New Yorker stereotype.

For Example:

She is smart and quick-witted. Billy has to brush off his long-dormant rhetorical skills to keep up with Hannah's verbal sparring.
Hannah is independent and raising an independent daughter, who takes care of herself while her mother is out of town.
Hannah walks everywhere (like any New Yorker), and she looks down on the driving and gym culture of Los Angeles.
She is unflappable and unsentimental, and when her emotions (understandably) show through, she is thrown off.
To Hannah, happiness is trite (2).

Here are some videos about New York in the 1970s:

Fifteen things from the 1970s in New York that are now gone:

A video compilations tour of New York City in the 1970s (set to music):

Some of New York's most iconic streets, as they were in the 1970s:

An interview about the financial crisis in the 1970s with a man on the street:

Philadelphia

Just as New Yorkers are at odds with Los Angelenos, Philadelphians (according to stereotype) hate New Yorkers. Part of this animosity comes from New York's (again, stereotypical) patronizing attitude toward Philadelphia. Some have nicknamed Philadelphia the sixth borough (in addition to New York's five), which many see as overshadowing Philadelphia's unique identity as a city. Another factor in the New York/Philadelphia rivalry centers on competing sports teams (3).

Philadelphia, like New York City, is stereotyped as gritty and full of urban decay, but whereas New Yorkers are generalized as intellectual and bitingly witty, Philadelphians are characterized as blue collar workers, who are blunt and brash. One of the most significant portrayals of the Philadelphia stereotype is the title character of the film Rocky, which came out in 1976. Rocky is a tough underdog with a strong work ethic who can take a beating and keep standing (4).

Martin and Millie are both Philadelphian and Jewish, and in the 1970s, Jewish communities were migrating to suburbs from the inner city, which also feeds into their identities and stereotypes.

For Example:

Whereas the first scene, between Billy and Hannah, derives comedy from dry wit and verbal sparring, this scene is more of a farce, or a physical comedy.
Neither Martin or Millie are especially well-spoken, and Martin is hilariously inept at talking his way out of his current pickle.
Part of the Philadelphia stereotype includes being tough, not crumbling under the weight of emotion. Millie attributes her feelings to hormonal fluctuations of her period, and she later decides to push down her feelings entirely.

Here are some videos about Philadelphia in the 1970s:

Archival video footage of Philadelphia scenes and landmarks (set to music):

"Find Philadelphia," a video that shows off the city to promote tourism:

This video demonstrates "Totally True Philadelphia Stereotypes" today:

What does a Philadelphia accent sound like and how do you do it?:

London

The stereotype of Londoners is similar to that of New Yorkers. This is why the style of the Diana/Sidney scenes draw humor from witty banter and language, unlike the more farcical scenes in which the Philadelphians and Chicagoans use physical humor. Although there are many different types of people (and stereotypes) of English people, Diana and Sidney represent the elite.

Like the New Yorkers, (stereotypical) English people have a quick, dry, and intellectual sense of humor. But while New Yorker banter is biting and aggressive, English banter is biting and droll. Here's the key difference between American and English comedy: American humor shows that Americans believe that everything will work out for the best. British comedy is cynical, expecting every outcome to be for the worst. For a more detailed explanation (and video clips), click here to visit the section on the subject that I wrote for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.

Additionally, England doesn't have the same culture of celebrity worship, although some of that veneration is geared at the royal family. Diana has performed at the National Theatre in London, which is very prestigious, and probably the West End (London's Broadway), and in some very challenging plays. She has the street cred of a legitimate actress. But it is also very common for stage actors to also be film actors, whereas there is a divide in the United States. This is all part of the stereotype (5).

For Example:

Diana and Sidney deliver quick, cutting remarks and dialogue in a deadpan tone.
They are removed from the issues of the commoners, as the 1970s was a time of economic turmoil, counterculture, and social-political change for the working class.
The famous British "stiff upper lip" requires the tamping down of emotional displays.
They avoid talking about key issues in their marriage, opting instead to stay together and pretend these major problems don't exist.

Here are some videos about London in the 1970s:

In this video, learn about British humor and how it is different from American humor:

Footage of London in the 1970s, with brief explanations of major issues/events:

This video takes a narrated tour of daily life in London in the 1970s:

Here are fifteen things that one could do in 1970s London but not today:

Chicago

Like every city represented in this play - with the notable exception of Los Angeles - Chicago was dealing with economic issues and urban decay. The four Chicagoans in the play seem to be upper middle class - based on the fact that they're on an extravagant, extended vacation - and they are therefore removed from these street-level struggles.

Chicago stereotypes are similar to Philadelphia's, which is why the "Visitors from Chicago" scene and the "Visitors from Philadelphia" scene are both farcical, using physical comedy and slapstick. In contrast, "Visitor from New York" and "Visitors from London" are more verbal comedies, drawing humor from wit. And like the Philadelphians, the Chicagoans have a distinct accent.

The Chicago characters, true to their stereotypical mafia-run roots, resort to violence and threats of violence rather than engaging in a battle of words (6).

For Example:

The men are hot-headed, bringing the tension of the two couples' shared vacation to a head with a physical fight.
The women's heads are not much cooler!
They are brash, loud, and perhaps a little dramatic - a significant difference in comparison to the stoicism of characters from New York and London.
They may devolve into violence, but that doesn't mean that they can't leave as friends!

Here are some videos about Chicago in the 1970s:

In this video, watch a photo tour of Chicago in the 1970s:

In this video, actress Shelley Long (pre-fame) takes a fast tour of Chicago in 1970:

This video is a guided tour of Chicago's Loop, which is the main commercial district:

Here's a short tutorial about the Chicago dialect and how to do it!:

Works Cited

Movoto, "10 Los Angeles Stereotypes."
Team Candy, "The Cultural Zeitgeist of 1970s New York."
Crossing Broad, "Behind Enemy Lines."
Movoto, "10 Philadelphia Stereotypes."
BBC, "The Truth About British Stoicism."
TimeOut, "15 Chicago Stereotypes."

Visitors from ___________

The play is about visitors to Los Angeles from four major cities: New York, Philadelphia, London, and Chicago. All five of these are cities have distinct character, stereotypes, dialects, and city pride.

In Scene One, Hannah and Billy set up this idea of clashing cultures and identities. Los Angeles and New York are on opposite coasts, with opposite styles, stereotypes, and methods of communication (and miscommunication).

The way the characters act out and expect stereotypes throughout the play, which are sometimes fulfilled and other times subverted, is an important element in how they relate to each other. On this page, we'll briefly explore each of those characteristics and stereotypes.

Los Angeles

For Example:

He relocated to LA and got rich in film

He is striving for eternal health and youth

Adopting a strenuous fitness routine

Switching to a vegetarian diet

"Clean" eating and vitamins

Changing his nickname from Bill to Billy

Tan and sun-kissed*​​​

He has given up the quick New York banter (1).​​

*This was before widespread concern about skin cancer

Here are some videos about Los Angeles in the 1970s:​

This one shows what "wealthy" looked like - or at least upper middle class:

This video argues that there was a cultural renaissance in mid-1970s LA.

This one shows LA a little differently, with some of the less perfect elements.

And here's a short video of Hollywood Blvd. at night in the 1970s:

New York City

For Example:

She is smart and quick-witted. Billy has to brush off his long-dormant rhetorical skills to keep up with Hannah's verbal sparring.

Hannah is independent and raising an independent daughter, who takes care of herself while her mother is out of town. ​

Hannah walks everywhere (like any New Yorker), and she looks down on the driving and gym culture of Los Angeles.

Here are some videos about New York in the 1970s:​

Fifteen things from the 1970s in New York that are now gone:

A video compilations tour of New York City in the 1970s (set to music):

Some of New York's most iconic streets, as they were in the 1970s:

An interview about the financial crisis in the 1970s with a man on the street:

Philadelphia

For Example:

Whereas the first scene, between Billy and Hannah, derives comedy from dry wit and verbal sparring, this scene is more of a farce, or a physical comedy.

Neither Martin or Millie are especially well-spoken, and Martin is hilariously inept at talking his way out of his current pickle.

Part of the Philadelphia stereotype includes being tough, not crumbling under the weight of emotion. Millie attributes her feelings to hormonal fluctuations of her period, and she later decides to push down her feelings entirely.

Here are some videos about Philadelphia in the 1970s:​

Archival video footage of Philadelphia scenes and landmarks (set to music):

"Find Philadelphia," a video that shows off the city to promote tourism:

This video demonstrates "Totally True Philadelphia Stereotypes" today:

What does a Philadelphia accent sound like and how do you do it?:

London

For Example:

Diana and Sidney deliver quick, cutting remarks and dialogue in a deadpan tone.

They are removed from the issues of the commoners, as the 1970s was a time of economic turmoil, counterculture, and social-political change for the working class.

The famous British "stiff upper lip" requires the tamping down of emotional displays.

They avoid talking about key issues in their marriage, opting instead to stay together and pretend these major problems don't exist.

Here are some videos about London in the 1970s:​

In this video, learn about British humor and how it is different from American humor:

Footage of London in the 1970s, with brief explanations of major issues/events:

This video takes a narrated tour of daily life in London in the 1970s:

Here are fifteen things that one could do in 1970s London but not today:

Chicago

For Example:

The men are hot-headed, bringing the tension of the two couples' shared vacation to a head with a physical fight.

The women's heads are not much cooler!

​They are brash, loud, and perhaps a little dramatic - a significant difference in comparison to the stoicism of characters from New York and London.

They may devolve into violence, but that doesn't mean that they can't leave as friends!

Here are some videos about Chicago in the 1970s:​

In this video, watch a photo tour of Chicago in the 1970s:

In this video, actress Shelley Long (pre-fame) takes a fast tour of Chicago in 1970:

This video is a guided tour of Chicago's Loop, which is the main commercial district:

Here's a short tutorial about the Chicago dialect and how to do it!:

Works Cited​

Movoto, "10 Los Angeles Stereotypes."

Team Candy, "The Cultural Zeitgeist of 1970s New York."

Crossing Broad, "Behind Enemy Lines."

Movoto, "10 Philadelphia Stereotypes."

BBC, "The Truth About British Stoicism."

TimeOut, "15 Chicago Stereotypes."

Tan and sun-kissed*

He has given up the quick New York banter (1).

Here are some videos about Los Angeles in the 1970s:

Hannah is independent and raising an independent daughter, who takes care of herself while her mother is out of town.

Here are some videos about New York in the 1970s:

Here are some videos about Philadelphia in the 1970s:

Here are some videos about London in the 1970s:

They are brash, loud, and perhaps a little dramatic - a significant difference in comparison to the stoicism of characters from New York and London.

Here are some videos about Chicago in the 1970s:

Works Cited