Thoroughly Modern Millie Play Analysis

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a play about a young woman who moves from Kansas to New York City so she can make something of herself. The story was originally wrote by Richard Morris and Kent State’s production of the play was directed by Terri Kent. The play it set in New York City in the 1920’s. Prior to play I believed that it was going to be set in modern times due to the title, after a few minutes in though I discovered the play was set in the roaring twenties, which made me quite excited for the rest of the play because of all the cultural contributions that occurred during the time period. The play is based around Millie, the protagonist, who after a few days in the city decides that she wants to get a job and marry her boss. This according to her is what the modern girl does. I was confused by this aspect of the play, because the modern woman had always appeared to me as one who wanted to make her own fortune, not rely on her husband to provide the wealth. Which, is what Millie appeared to be trying to do.

The antagonist was Mrs. Meers who is a fugitive. I was pretty surprised that none of the other characters, especially Millie, were able to catch onto her ruse of being an

Things such as Jimmy climbing up a skyscraper to get to the window ledge really show this about the set. The “white slavery” was also very coincidental as well, because I would find it quite hard for almost every girl to be an orphan who checked into the hotel. Plus, I don’t understand how a fugitive would be able to procure a hotel, especially if she is currently wanted and probably lacks money herself. Another surprising element that I got enjoyment from was Miss Dorothy’s love life. At first she had fallen in love with Mr. Graydon, but in the end somehow ends up loving Ching Ho, a hidden hero in the play. It was a feel good part of the play no doubt, but one that really threw me for a