The play Bus Stop by William Inge takes place over one night in a rural Kansas diner during a snowstorm. Eight characters seeking shelter grow to know each other better over the course of the night, including Cherie, a young woman being taken unwillingly to marry Bo, a cowboy. The play explores themes of loneliness and characters seeking companionship through both dramatic and romantic scenes between the various strangers trapped together overnight. As director, casting choices are considered that suit each unique character and help audiences relate to their experiences.

1. BUS STOP
Director: Khushboo Khetpal

2. Bus Stop is a 1955 play by William Inge. This play takes place
in rural Kansas, about 25 miles west of Kansas City,
Missouri. The production is set during a snowstorm in
which passengers traveling by bus must stop and take
shelter at the nearby diner.
The style of the play is a realistic setting. The play is based
on realistic events and is easily relatable to the audience.
Genre: Drama, romantic, and comedy

3. Characters
The play follows the journey of eight
characters on a cold dark night. They
are taking shelter at the street corner
diner during a snowstorm. Though
most are strangers in the start of the
night, things gradually change by the
next morning. The characters interact
and get to know each other better.
There are definitely some drama filled
as well as romantic scenes that take
place between the characters.

5. List Of Characters
Grace – owner of the diner
Elma – A waitress at the diner
Cherie – an aspiring nightclub singer who is been taken against her
will to be married off to Bo (cowboy)
Bo – A cowboy who believes his true love is Cherie
Carl – The bus driver who shows much interest in Grace, the owner of
the diner
Dr. Gerald Lyman – A charming college professor who has a drinking
problem
Will – the strong and tough local sheriff
Virgil – An older cowboy who accompanies Bo

6. Plot/ Synopsis
The story opens with Grace and Elma
waiting for the passengers to arrive at the
diner. The snowstorm has blocked the
roads and the passengers will need to take
shelter at the diner. As they prepare for
the company Will, the local sheriff, comes
in and informs them about the weather
conditions. Cherie, a young blonde girl in
her early twenties, enters the diner asking
to hide. She goes on to explain how she
has been kidnapped by a cowboy and how
his intentions are to marry her with or
without her consent.

7. As the play continues on we see
the relationship between Grace
and Carl unfold. Meanwhile,
Will takes on the responsibility
to protect Cherie from Bo and
ends up in an argument and
fight with him. Cherie, who is
upset with Bo, denies his
proposal of marriage but after
realizing his true feeling for her,
she decides to give him a
chance. Throughout the night
Dr. Lyman has an epiphany
about himself. He realizes that
he is a drunk and a fake.

8. As the night comes to an end, the
storm has now cleared up and the bus
is now able to continue on route. As
all the passengers get back on the bus
Virgil announces that he will not be
joining the rest of them. Bo is
obviously disappointed but Cherie
explains to him that he must let
others make their own decisions and
can not force them to do as he wishes.
After all the guests have left, the play
ends with Grace going upstairs to her
apartment and sleeping, and so this
unexpected night comes to an end
and a new day begins.

9. Casting
Each character is very unique
and has certain qualities that
make them stand out from the
rest. As a director, it is my job
to make sure that the actor
who is portraying these
characters does justice to the
role, not only through looks
and costumes but through the
way they present themselves.

10. When casting the characters of Bus
Stop, I would match the actors with the
characters keeping in mind that the
audience who will be viewing the show
should be able to relate to the characters.
The actors should be able to give justice to
the role and make it a believable
performance.
For Grace, the owner of the diner, I would
cast Karen MacDonald. She is a stage
actor and fits the description of the
character. She looks to be in her thirties
or early forties. She is wise and
knowledgeable and can look after herself.
Karen MacDonald (as Grace Hoylard) and
Ronete Levenson (as Elma Duckworth)
As for Elma, I would cast Ronete
Levenson. She is a stage actor as well. She
would be able to play the role of an
innocent young high school girl. She
plays the role of a waitress at Grace’s
diner.

11. In the 1956 production of the Bus Stop, Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray were cast as
Cherie and Bo. As the director of this play I would cast these two actors as these characters
as well. Marilyn Monroe would perfectly fit the role of Cherie. She has the beauty of a
young girl who attracts the attention of Bo. Don Murray would play the character of Bo. He
is tall and has an aggressive approach to him. He is a cowboy in the play who believes
Cherie is his true love. He has a rigid look to him and you can tell by his stance that he is
very confident and make sure he gets what he wants. Cherie is a good balance for Bo
because she explains to him that he cannot make people do what he wants but instead let
them make their own decisions.

12. Dr. Gerald Lyman plays a passing traveler in the play.
He is a college professor and as he enters the diner it
becomes very clear he has a drinking problem. When
casting Dr. Lyman I would look for someone who is
sophisticated and wise. Matt Warner is a stage actor
who in my opinion would be able to play a believable
character. He has gray hair and rude boyish face. He
is of average height and is in bundled clothing due to
the intense weather conditions outside.
Will LeBow would fit the character description
of Carl, the bus driver. They have a similar body
structure and are around the same age. Some
distinct features that would help the audience
see Will LeBow was Carl would be the fact that
he has gray hair and he is dressed in uniform.
Throughout the play the audience will be able
to see his flirtatious personality and his
relationship with Grace.
Will LeBow (left)

13. Kevin James would be cast as Will Masters. Will is
the local sheriff of the town. He has high morals
and is well respected. Kevin James would play the
character of a six foot man who is a bit on the
heavier side. He portrays a character that has a
tough manner but is kind hearted once you get to
know him.
Stephen Lee Anderson is a stage actor. He
would be able to play the role of Virgil, the
older and wiser cowboy. He is an older
actor and can be closely resembled to
Virgil. He has lots of knowledge and helps
Bo understand the way of life.
Essentially, he plays the father figure in
Bo’s life. In my opinion, Stephan Lee
Anderson would be able to convey a
convincing performance as Virgil, the
cowboy.

14. Theme
William Inge’s theme for the production The Bus Stop is
Loneliness. Each character we come across in the play comes
from a past of loneliness and is looking for some kind of
companionship. The characters are in a state of isolation and are
looking to escape. Through the events of the night, each
character is able to break through their state of loneliness and
they are able to live their life the way they want.
The set and lighting that are used throughout the show help
distinguish the theme and emphasize on the isolation of the
characters. The story takes place during a snowstorm and the
roads have been blocked up. The characters are forced to take
shelter because they are not able to travel onwards, leaving them
isolated during the storm.

15. Goals of the play
One of the main goals of this play is that the characters
should be of such sort that the audience can resonate with
them.
Though the main story of this production is based on the
love affair of Cherie and Bo, a lot of emphasis has gone into
the other characters of the show. Each character shows the
many facets of love and loneliness.

16. Climax
The main climax scene in which Bo
and Will get into a heated
argument and eventually a fight
over the protection of Cherie, is a
turning point in the story. In this
scene, as the director of the play I
would get together with the other
crew members in order to plan out
how to show this particular part. I
would want the spotlight on Will
and Bo during the fight. The
lighting would be dim elsewhere
around the set in the diner. Sound
effects would definitely help
enhance the intensity of the scene.
It is important that all the design
elements flow together in the
production, not only in the climax
scene but throughout the entire
show.