The Elevator

"The Elevator" by William Dean Howells is a funny play that shows what happens when people gather for Christmas dinner in an apartment hotel in the olden days. Mrs. and Mr. Roberts are worried because Aunt Mary is late, and everyone is waiting for her, but the real problem is that Aunt Mary and other guests are stuck in the hotel elevator. As the other guests, like Dr. Lawton and Mrs. Miller, start to arrive, the play shows how everyone reacts to the ridiculous problem by trying to talk to the people trapped in the elevator and come up with a plan to help. The story is light and funny, and it all ends well when everyone is rescued, showing how people can connect and find humor even when things go wrong, all while making fun of some traditions of the time.