The Changing Room: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Changing Room: Analysis of Major Characters" focuses on the dynamics and complexities of a professional rugby team in northern England, primarily through the lens of its varied characters. Central to the narrative is Harry Riley, the janitor, who embodies a sense of disconnection and nostalgia for a time when physical labor defined life. His perspective critiques modernity and the evolving nature of teamwork, as he believes that advancements have softened the players. Ken Walsh, a team forward, contrasts with Harry by showcasing camaraderie and enjoyment in the sport, while Clifford Owens, the team captain, represents the shift towards professionalism in sports, emphasizing the changing motivations of players.
The club owner, Sir Frederick Thornton, serves as a bridge between Harry's traditional views and the modern ideals represented by his assistant, MacKendrick, who argues for the benefits of progress. Together, these characters reflect the broader themes of class differences, the evolution of sports culture, and the physical and emotional challenges faced by players. The presence of characters like Kendal and Trevor illustrates further how the composition of teams has evolved from purely physical athletes to a more diverse group of individuals balancing multiple identities. This nuanced exploration invites reflection on the impact of societal changes on the world of sports.
The Changing Room: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: David Storey
First published: 1972
Genre: Play
Locale: Northern England
Plot: Representational
Time: The 1960's
Harry Riley, a janitor working in the dressing room (changing room) of a professional rugby team in northern England. Of all twenty-two characters in the play, Harry is the only one who seems to share no joy or comradeship in the work performed by the team. He works, he says, only for the team owner, Sir Frederick Thornton, and in twenty years he has never witnessed a rugby game at the stadium. Nevertheless, Harry is the focal point of the play. He asserts that modern living has softened team players, and he maintains that people living with the innovations of “progress” are diminished because they have distanced themselves from hard physical work, which is necessary for a sustaining, substantive life. Harry is a split character, on one hand often superstitious and ill-informed, but on the other able to accurately diagnose a change in team players. Harry is the first character on stage and the last to exit. His regular sweeping motion as he cleans the floor throughout the play is symbolic of the physical work that Harry believes is important.
Ken Walsh, a team forward who earns a measure of respect from other team players and supporters because of his levity. A laborer by profession, Walsh enjoys the comradeship of playing the game and is a main figure in the interaction between characters that makes up the advancement of the play.
Clifford Owens, the team captain, who has a managerial and motivational function on the team. Owens is well liked by his teammates and by the club owner, but his professional approach to the team effort illustrates how team players are responding more and more to the sport as a job rather than an avocation. Owens' accomplishments as an athlete are not in question. His success illustrates that the significance of team-work is changing among the players over time.
Sir Frederick Thornton, the club owner, whose presence reminds the players of the class difference between themselves and the wealthy. Thornton respects his players and enjoys a brief camaraderie with the team. Philosophically, he places himself between the conservative, backward-looking impulse represented by Harry Riley and the satisfied “progressive” response offered by his assistant, MacKendrick. Thornton's association with the team is more than financial, however, as demonstrated by his distress over a dream in which rugby is played only by robots. Thornton's decision to keep Kendal, even after his injury, indicates that the team owner cares for the well-being of his players.
MacKendrick, the team secretary and accountant. MacKendrick counters Harry's argument that progress diminishes humans by pointing out its substantial benefits, including better housing, modern conveniences, and higher employment. He believes that life is better and offers more than ever before. MacKendrick, like Thornton, is attracted to the team's spirit even though he administers rather than plays with the team.
Kendal (Kenny), an older player whose injury during the game dramatizes the players' very real physical risks. Kendal's injury, like the hard-won game, occurs offstage, emphasizing the interaction among team players and supporters rather than the game itself.
Trevor, a high school teacher who plays on the team. Trevor's presence demonstrates the team's changing composition over time. Players are no longer simply physical men who enjoy the companionship of playing the game, as they were twenty or fifty years ago; more often, they are white-collar professionals who play to supplement their lives emotionally as well as financially.