Chains: A Play in Four Acts

by Elizabeth Baker

The play centers on Charley Wilson, a clerk in a London office, who is disillusioned with his monotonous life and yearns for a fresh start. Charley dreams of escaping his unsatisfying job and moving to Australia, where he imagines he could lead a freer, more fulfilling life. However, he faces strong opposition from his wife, Lily, and his family, who are reluctant to abandon the security of their familiar, though constraining, lives. Charley’s internal conflict highlights the harsh reality faced by many in the working class—torn between the desire for a different life and the practical constraints of financial and social expectations.

Baker’s narrative unfolds in a way that examines not only Charley’s individual struggle but also the pervasive pressures of societal expectations and economic survival. Other characters in the play, including Charley’s neighbors and family members, similarly experience dissatisfaction and frustration in their own lives, showing that Charley's predicament is far from unique. The theme of entrapment extends beyond Charley, revealing a collective yearning for freedom among people whose choices are limited by circumstance.

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2025

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Reviews

[JCP]

Mint Theater Company, Theater Row, West 42nd Street 7/2/2022
Directed by Jenn Thompson
Jeremy Beck, Kyle Cameron, Laaken Mchardy, Peterson Townsend, Athony Cochrane, Amelia White