Here’s a list of 89 theater scenes that exemplify the emotion of abandonment. These scenes showcase characters grappling with feelings of loss, neglect, or isolation in various contexts:
89 Theater Scenes for Abandonment
- “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams
- Scene: Blanche’s feelings of abandonment by her family and society.
- “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Ophelia’s emotional descent following Hamlet’s abandonment of her.
- “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams
- Scene: Laura experiences profound feelings of abandonment from her mother and brother.
- “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
- Scene: Willy Loman’s realization of his failure to support his family emotionally.
- “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” by Eugene O’Neill
- Scene: Mary’s struggles with addiction and feelings of abandonment from her family.
- “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
- Scene: Walter’s feeling of abandonment when his dreams clash with family expectations.
- “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw
- Scene: Eliza’s feelings of abandonment when her transformation alters her relationships.
- “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov
- Scene: Nina’s abandonment by Trigorin, leading to her emotional turmoil.
- “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Helena feels abandoned by Demetrius when he rejects her.
- “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett
- Scene: Vladimir and Estragon grapple with existential abandonment as they await meaning.
- “Wit” by Margaret Edson
- Scene: Vivian Bearing confronts abandonment in her struggle against cancer and isolation.
- “The Wild Duck” by Henrik Ibsen
- Scene: Hedvig’s feelings of abandonment through family secrets and lies.
- “The Children’s Hour” by Lillian Hellman
- Scene: Karen’s emotional devastation as she faces societal abandonment due to gossip.
- “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter
- Scene: Goldberg and McCann’s oppressive presence creates a sense of abandonment for Stanley.
- “Clybourne Park” by Bruce Norris
- Scene: The characters navigate feelings of abandonment regarding their cultural identities.
- “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill
- Scene: Marlene’s career aspirations lead to complex feelings of abandonment toward her family.
- “The Miracle Worker” by William Gibson
- Scene: Helen Keller feels abandoned by her inability to communicate.
- “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter
- Scene: Ruth’s sense of abandonment amid the dysfunctional family dynamics.
- “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage
- Scene: The impact of job losses leads to feelings of abandonment in the community.
- “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Hamlet’s sense of abandonment by his mother following her quick remarriage.
- “August: Osage County” by Tracy Letts
- Scene: The family’s confrontations reveal feelings of abandonment and betrayal.
- “No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre
- Scene: Characters experience emotional abandonment in their eternal confinement.
- “Incognito” by Nick Payne
- Scene: The intermingling stories explore themes of psychological abandonment.
- “Side Show” by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger
- Scene: Daisy and Violet feel abandoned by society’s standards of normalcy.
- “Funnyhouse of a Negro” by Adrienne Kennedy
- Scene: The protagonist grapples with feelings of cultural and familial abandonment.
- “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Brutus feels abandoned by his friends when he faces defeat.
- “The Night of the Iguana” by Tennessee Williams
- Scene: Hannah faces abandonment in her life choices within a turbulent environment.
- “Fences” by August Wilson
- Scene: Troy’s selfish choices leave his family feeling abandoned.
- “Death and the Maiden” by Ariel Dorfman
- Scene: Paulina’s feelings of abandonment due to her trauma.
- “The Children’s Hour” by Lillian Hellman
- Scene: Martha feels abandoned due to the repercussions of false accusations.
- “Allegro” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
- Scene: The protagonist feels abandoned by his choices and societal expectations.
- “Little Shop of Horrors” by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman
- Scene: Seymour feels abandoned when faced with the consequences of his choices.
- “Nora” by Ingmar Bergman (adaptation of “A Doll’s House”)
- Scene: Nora feels abandoned by Torvald’s lack of understanding and support when he learns her secret.
- “The Iceman Cometh” by Eugene O’Neill
- Scene: Hickey’s confrontation reveals the abandonment felt by the bar’s patrons toward their dreams.
- “Medea” by Euripides
- Scene: Medea’s abandonment by Jason drives her to commit acts of revenge.
- “The Effect” by Lucy Prebble
- Scene: The characters confront feelings of emotional abandonment related to love and mental health.
- “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Katherina’s feelings of abandonment by her father regarding her marital fate.
- “Marjorie Prime” by Jordan Harrison
- Scene: Characters navigate modern relationships and emotional abandonment.
- “Necessary Targets” by Eve Ensler
- Scene: The characters confront their feelings of abandonment during the war.
- “Eleanor and Park” (adaptation)
- Scene: Eleanor’s feelings of abandonment and alienation in school and at home.
- “The Long Christmas Dinner” by Thornton Wilder
- Scene: The characters experience abandonment over the years, reflecting on time and memory.
- “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler
- Scene: Various monologues highlight feelings of abandonment in women’s lives.
- “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand
- Scene: Cyrano feels abandoned in love, as he masks his feelings for Roxane.
- “Burn This” by Lanford Wilson
- Scene: Anna deals with feelings of abandonment after the death of her friend.
- “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer
- Scene: Characters assert their identities against the abandonment faced during the AIDS crisis.
- “The Women” by Clare Boothe Luce
- Scene: Mary’s sense of abandonment amidst her friend group’s betrayal.
- “The Brothers Size” by Tarell Alvin McCraney
- Scene: Ogun and Essa navigate abandonment in their brotherly connection.
- “The Firebugs” by Max Frisch
- Scene: The characters explore moral abandonment in a society filled with conflict.
- “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” by Stephen Adly Guirgis
- Scene: Judas’s feelings of abandonment by society and Jesus.
- “Proof” by David Auburn
- Scene: Catherine feels abandoned by her father’s mental decline and her own doubt.
- “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire
- Scene: Becca’s struggle with feelings of abandonment after losing her child.
- “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Lysander asserts feelings of abandonment when Hermia is forced to choose.
- “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
- Scene: Drummond asserts his teachings in a society that seeks to abandon open-mindedness.
- “The Play About the Block” by William Finn
- Scene: Characters express feelings of loneliness and abandonment within their neighborhood.
- “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott (adaptation)
- Scene: Jo feels abandoned by her family as she pursues her writing career.
- “The Piano Lesson” by August Wilson
- Scene: The conflicting feelings about the family’s heritage reveal feelings of abandonment.
- “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott
- Scene: Susy’s vulnerability reflects her feelings of abandonment and need for empowerment.
- “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” by William Finn
- Scene: Various characters display feelings of abandonment during the competition.
- “Skinny Legs and All” by Tom Robbins (adaptation)
- Scene: Characters grapple with feelings of cultural abandonment.
- “Intimate Apparel” by Lynn Nottage
- Scene: Esther’s dreams and desires collide with her feelings of abandonment from potential relationships.
- “The Night of the Iguana” by Tennessee Williams
- Scene: Shannon’s sense of abandonment is highlighted through his interactions with others.
- “Fences” by August Wilson
- Scene: Troy addresses his abandonment issues regarding his father and parenting.
- “Little Shop of Horrors” by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman
- Scene: Seymour feels abandoned by the opportunities he sacrifices for Audrey.
- “The Caretaker” by Harold Pinter
- Scene: Davies
- “The Caretaker” by Harold Pinter
- Scene: Davies grapples with feelings of abandonment as he seeks stability in a chaotic environment.
- “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza
- Scene: The unraveling conversations lead to feelings of abandonment among the couples as they confront their parenting failures.
- “The Misanthrope” by Molière
- Scene: Alceste’s frustrations reveal his feelings of abandonment in a society he deems hypocritical.
- “The Alchemist” by Ben Jonson
- Scene: Various characters experience feelings of betrayal and abandonment through their pursuits of greed.
- “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Beatrice feels abandoned when Benedick hesitates to commit to their love.
- “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter
- Scene: Stanley feels abandoned as his past catches up with him amidst intruders.
- “Broken Glass” by Arthur Miller
- Scene: Glass’ Jewish identity leads to feelings of abandonment within the changing societal landscape.
- “The House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico García Lorca
- Scene: The daughters face emotional abandonment due to their mother’s oppressive authority.
- “Medea” by Euripides
- Scene: Medea experiences abandonment from Jason, which drives her vengeful quest.
- “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen
- Scene: Nora feels abandoned by Torvald’s reaction to her secret actions.
- “The Addams Family” by Andrew Lippa
- Scene: Wednesday feels a sense of abandonment as she struggles between her family heritage and her new relationship.
- “Marat/Sade” by Peter Weiss
- Scene: Characters illustrate feelings of abandonment within the context of revolution.
- “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn
- Scene: The chaotic nature of the play leads to characters feeling abandoned during their performances.
- “The Price” by Arthur Miller
- Scene: Victor faces feelings of abandonment regarding his family ties and his father’s legacy.
- “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” by Christopher Durang
- Scene: Vanya grapples with feelings of abandonment as he confronts his unfulfilled life.
- “Godspell” by Stephen Schwartz
- Scene: Characters explore themes of belonging and abandonment in their spiritual journeys.
- “You Can’t Take It with You” by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber
- Scene: The characters’ free spirits often lead to feelings of societal abandonment.
- “Wit” by Margaret Edson
- Scene: Vivian Bearing faces existential abandonment while reflecting on her life and education.
- “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard
- Scene: The titular characters experience abandonment in their existential plight in a world that overlooks them.
- “King Lear” by William Shakespeare
- Scene: Lear confronts feelings of abandonment as he is cast out by his daughters.
- “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Bill Naughton
- Scene: The characters bond over their shared feelings of abandonment and seek companionship.
- “A Man for All Seasons” by Robert Bolt
- Scene: Sir Thomas More faces abandonment by those he considered friends in the fight for his principles.
- “Next Fall” by Geoffrey Nauffts
- Scene: Luke’s abandonment of faith creates conflict in his relationship with Adam.
- “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott (adaptation)
- Scene: Jo feels abandoned when she is misunderstood by her family regarding her ambitions.
- “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” by Stephen Adly Guirgis
- Scene: Judas grapples with feelings of abandonment by society and divine love.
- “Kiss of the Spider Woman” by Manuel Puig
- Scene: The characters’ relationships reveal deep-seated feelings of emotional abandonment amidst oppression.
Conclusion
This extensive list of theater scenes showcases various portrayals of abandonment, highlighting how characters navigate feelings of loss, neglect, and isolation. These scenes provide rich opportunities for actors to explore this complex emotion, adding depth and nuance to their performances. Abandonment is a powerful theme that resonates across diverse narratives, allowing for profound character development and audience connection.