The Gibson Upright

"The Gibson Upright" by Booth Tarkington, along with Harry Leon Wilson, presents a dramatic exploration of early 20th-century labor tensions inside a piano factory. The play follows Andrew Gibson, the factory owner, and Nora Gorodna, a piano tester and labor activist, as they grapple with conflicts related to workers' rights, class struggles, and the ethics of capitalism, all while the threat of a strike looms. Through intense confrontations and debates among the characters, the story highlights themes of ownership, accountability, and the moral dilemmas inherent in a capitalist system, creating a chaotic atmosphere where various viewpoints clash and setting the scene for both conflict and possible resolution.