The Skin Game (A Tragi-Comedy)

"The Skin Game (A Tragi-Comedy)" by John Galsworthy is a play that digs into a bitter clash between the old and the new. It pits the Hillcrists, a family of old-fashioned country landowners, against Hornblower, a pushy newcomer with a lot of money. The story shows their fight over land and what it means to belong in a community. The Hillcrists don't like how Hornblower does business because it's hurting their tenants like the Jackmans, and they think he's trying to take over their way of life. Things get really bad when Hornblower tries to buy the Centry estate, which is very important to Hillcrist. All of this makes for a tense battle about what's really important: money, tradition, or taking care of your neighbors. The play sets up each character carefully, showing their feelings and how they relate to each other, so you know exactly what's at stake.