DEATH OF A SALESMAN Preliminary Prop List 11/29/07
NB: This list is subject to great change. Items listed are as scripted and from a yet to be determined scenic design. Stay tuned.
The home was build probably in 1910. Biff was in High School around Fall, 1932/33. The present day is Spring, 1949.
Brooklyn, NY
Script page references are from the DramatistÕs script.
FURNITURE
KITCHEN
1940 (early) style HASTINGS refrigerator. Motor on top would probably appear to be appropriate for a contemporary audience. Cream tone. Light inside.
Bottle of milk
Whipped cheese.
Butter.
Dressing.
Built into a counter sink with facets hardware. Probably not functions. See Larry.
At this point, the counter sink will have a curtain underneath where the plumbing would be. Period curtain fabric a la mid 30s.
Small telephone table w/ period telephone É 40s.
Kitchen cupboards above the sink area. This will be scenery construction. However, depending on Larry, we will probably dress the insides with dishes, etc.
Coffee cups and saucers
Glasses for milk
Bread inside a bread thing (forgot the term)
Small plates for making sandwich
Silverware inside a drawer.
Wall coat rack with 3 hooks by basement door.
Wall sconce by basement door with another one, perhaps, in the stairwell going upstairs.
Kitchen ceiling light fixture underneath the boyÕs bedroom.
Steam radiator by porch entrance.
Kitchen table with 3 or 4 side chairs. See Larry.
Maybe an oil table cloth.
Water heater. Period. I am not certain where this will be placed.
WILLYÕS BEDROOM
4x6 standard bed with headboard and low footboard.
Two pillows.
Bedding.
Cedar chest at foot of bed.
Side chair.
Chest of drawers
BiffÕs trophy.
2 sconces. Placement to be determined. Will move with the unit, if we do this.
Carpet.
Outside ivy. It should look un kept, perhaps brown and dying.
Closet has a split curtain.
PORCH
Outside ivy. It should look un kept, perhaps brown and dying.
Perhaps a porch light that will move with the unit, if we do this.
BOYÕS ROOM
Two single beds with head and footboards.
Bedding.
Small carpet DS.
Study desk with sports prop dressing.
Side chair.
Ashtray. (sand or water, etc.)
Wooden strike anywhere matches as backup.
2 wall sconces.
A high school pennant with an ÒSÓ on it.
FENCE and HOUSE EXTERIOR
Some sort of vegetation showing a feeling of decay.
SCRIPTED PROPS
I.1 pp.5-12
If we have a porch door, keys to unlock the door.
Two suitcases.
p. 8 Linda: ÒTake an asprin. Should I get you an aspirin?Ó If this happens, the chest of drawers can have some medicine bottles, a pitcher of water and two water glasses.
I.2 BoyÕs Bedroom pp. 12-18
Cigarettes
Zippo lighter (2)
Ashtray
Happy combs his hair
Happy tries on his new hat. COSTUME
I.3 Kitchen and Backyard From 1949 p. 18 Flashback to outside, fall, 1933 pp. 19-27
Willy glass of milk.
Jar of whipped cheese.
Sandwich stuff. See Larry.
Happy carries rags and a pail of water p 19
Biff carries a period football. (no trademark or writing. I think the shape is a little different. Dark will probably read more period.) p. 19
Happy returns with a punching bag, 1930s. It is a gift from Willy. It has Gene TurneryÕs signature on it. (research) P.20
Bernard probably enters with a school book. P22
Linda enters carrying a basket of washing. P23
Linda pulls pencil and paper pad out of apron pocket. P. 24
Linda goes into the kitchen and starts to darn stockings. P.26
Sewing basket with stuff.
Nylon stockings for darning.
Darning hoop? Research.
I.4 Still in the Flashback. Woman in the Hotel. P.27 Bedroom moves DS.
Woman ÒThanks for the stockings. I love lots of stockings.Ó P.27
2 packs of stockings. Period graphics. Pink? Research.
I.5 Still in Flashback. Back to Kitchen. Pp 27-29Linda is darning stockings. Then quickly back to present Kitchen Pp. 29-33
Charley takes player cards from his pocket. P30
Charley pennies from pocket
Willy pennies from a glass or jar
During scene BEN appears p31
Ben carrying a valise and an umbrella
Smoking a cigarette in a holder.
Ben looks at his watch.
I.6 Charley leaves and flashback to golden days. Pp 33-38
Linda with basket of wash, again. P33
I.7 Ben leaves, Linda comes into Kitchen back to present. Pp 38-49
Linda sits down at the table and mends the lining of WillyÕs jacket. P. 38
1.8 Scene continues but moves to WillyÕs bedroom. Pp. 49
I.9 End of scene. P.50. Furnace or water heater glows.
Biff lights cigarette. P50
Scripted that we see Biff reaching behind the water heater and draws out a length of rubber hose. P. 50. I havenÕt the slightest ideas how we are going to do this.
Moon light.
Act II The Next Day, Morning.
II.1 Kitchen, present. Pp51-54
Willy is sipping coffee at the table.
Linda is filling his cup when she can.
Larry, if possible I would like to avoid having a stove.
Linda darns stockings again.
Linda gives Willy a handkerchief. P54
Puts dishes away.
Phone rings. P.54
II.2 The Office. Pp.55-61
Small typewriter table
ashtray
Wire recorder
Howard is threading it. Has to play or work. Electrical.
Scripted with a chair. I believe Larry is fine without this.
Howard picks up cigar from ashtray, gets lighter from pocket. P 56
Larry É Original script p. 82 states Òthere were promises made across the desk.Ó Dramatist script says Òthere were promise made in this office.Ó I assume ÒofficeÓ no desk.
Howard unplugs the machine to turn it off.
II.3 Flashback with Ben again. Then with younger Linda Pp 61-63
Linda with the wash again.
II.4 Backyard Flashback the Big Game. Pp63-65
Biff, in his high school sweater, enters carrying suitcase.
Happy carries BiffÕs shoulder guards, gold helmet, and football pants. P 63
Willy rushes in with the pennants. Handling them out. ÒEveryone wave when Biff comes out on the field.Ó Happy, Biff, Linda and Willy. 4 pennants. ÒSÓ p64
II.5 CharleyÕs Office. Pp65- 72
Desk or something to locate CharleyÕs office. Larry, Ideas?
Ashtray
Bernard pair of tennis rackets and overnight bag.p65
Bernard smoking cigarette. P 65
Charley enters carrying a bottle of bourbon for Bernard. P.69
Charley take out his wallet and counts money.$50
Then $110. P70
II.6 Chop House p.72-81
Table, 2 chairs. White table cloth. P72
Second table with chairs for girls.
Napkins and table cloth. Action. See Larry
Stanley comes in with a glass of champagne.p74
Ashtrays.
Stanley lights HappyÕs cigarette.
Girl enters with bag COSTUME p73
Menu p74
Cigarette pack. P74
Lights her cigarette. P75
She takes an address book from bag. P75
Gold Fountain pen. P76.
ÒScotch all aroundÓ É ÒMake it doubles.Ó P 77 3 glasses p78
II 7. Chop House and Flashback with Bernard p81-84
Willy hears voices. Girls enter. Willy goes to washroom.
Biff. Rolled up rubber hose from his coat pocket.
II.8 Willy flashback to Hotel. Pp85-89
Young Biff is knocking at the door. Carrying a suitcase. P85
ÒYou had two boxes of size nine sheers for me, I want them.Ó P87
Flashback ends. Willy gives waiter $1 p89
ÒHere is some moreÓ (money) p89
II.9 Biff and Happy Come Home. Pp 89-91
Long stem roses. (probably can be any type of flower. See Larry) We are going to need fresh flowers each night. They get thrown on the floor and should probably fall apart. They are later thrown away in the waste basket, maybe this is underneath the sink through the curtain. Check with Larry. Pp89-91
II.10 Willy comes home. Garden scene with Ben. Pp 91-93
Handful of period seed packets. Carrots, Beets, Lettuce and 3 or 4 others.
Willy has a hoe
Period Flashlight. P. 91
Packets need to fit in Willy pant pockets.
II.11 Biff goes outside and then everyone back into the kitchen. IÕm leaving scene. Pp 93-99
Rubber hose again.
Everyone to bed. Willy in car and kills himself.
RequiemÉ (Prologue) pp. 99-101