"Beneath The Allegheny Sky" FULL-LENGTH (REWRITE) (Formally "True Until Death")

by Tom Erb

Set in the spring of 1894 in the industrial town of Blacks Run, Pennsylvania, "Beneath the Allegheny Sky" is a poignant exploration of love, family, and the human cost of progress. The story centers around the Remaley sisters—Bella, Sadie, and Nellie—intimately connected to the dangerous Acme Powder Works.

As the play opens, the sisters are preparing for a visit from their parents, John and Elizabeth Remaley...

Set in the spring of 1894 in the industrial town of Blacks Run, Pennsylvania, "Beneath the Allegheny Sky" is a poignant exploration of love, family, and the human cost of progress. The story centers around the Remaley sisters—Bella, Sadie, and Nellie—intimately connected to the dangerous Acme Powder Works.

As the play opens, the sisters are preparing for a visit from their parents, John and Elizabeth Remaley. Bella, the youngest at 17, is newly married to William Arthur, an ambitious worker at the powder works. Sadie, 21, also works at the factory, while Nellie, 19, keeps house for Bella and William. The sisters' excitement is tinged with anxiety about their parents' reaction to their new lives.

The arrival of John and Elizabeth Remaley brings warmth and tension to the household. A Civil War veteran and traditionalist, John struggles to accept his daughters' choices, particularly their involvement with the powder works. Elizabeth, while supportive, carries her fears for her children's safety.

Interwoven with the family drama are the budding romances of Sadie and Nellie. Sadie finds herself drawn to Samuel Robbins, the 34-year-old superintendent of the powder works, whose sense of duty conflicts with his growing feelings for her. Nellie is courted by Charles Robbins, Samuel's younger brother, who works as a puncher at the factory. Charles's shy nature, stemming from a stutter, endears him to the romantic Nellie.

The family dinner becomes a crucible of emotions, with moments of joy and laughter interspersed with underlying tensions. John subtly interrogates Charles about his intentions towards Nellie, while Samuel's presence adds an element of unease due to his position of authority at the works.

As night falls, intimate conversations reveal the characters' hopes, fears, and dreams. The next morning, emotional goodbyes are said as John and Elizabeth depart, unaware that this is the last time they will see their daughters alive.

The second act opens with growing tension at the powder works. Thomas O'Brien, a government safety inspector, raises concerns about the factory's practices, creating friction with management and anxiety among the workers. Small mishaps and near-misses heighten the sense of impending doom.

Tragedy strikes when a massive explosion rocks the powder works. The blast claims the lives of Bella, Sadie, William, and Charles. Nellie, critically injured, dies shortly after in the hospital. The community is left reeling, with Samuel Robbins bearing the weight of guilt and responsibility.

In the aftermath, John and Elizabeth Remaley grapple with their devastating loss. The official investigation into the accident reveals the tension between corporate interests and worker safety. The grieving parents find themselves at odds with the company as they seek justice for their daughters.

The play concludes a year after the tragedy. John and Elizabeth visit the graves of their daughters, reflecting on the changes in their lives and the community. Despite their pain, they find resilience in their memories and the enduring bonds of family and community.

"Beneath the Allegheny Sky" is a moving tribute to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tragedy. It explores themes of love, duty, progress, and the price of industrialization, painting a vivid portrait of a family and a community forever changed by a single, catastrophic event.

***Please be aware that the last act of this play's dialogue is from local newspapers of the time and can be graphic and disturbing.***

CITED MATERIALS
• Ticonderoga Sentinel 1894-03-24.
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania--27 Mar 1894.
• Explosives Act, 1875. Annual Report 1894.
• Saline Observer, 29 March 1894.
• Death by Dynamite: The 1906 Shenks Ferry TNT factory explosion obliterates 11 men.
• Ancestry Tree of Thomas Clifford Erb (The Playwright) 1st Cousin 3x removed of Sarah Elizabeth Remaley (Sadie),
Cornelia Ann Remaley, and Arabella Remaley Arthur (Bella).
• Pennsylvania News" July 1, 1926
Remaley's have given four sons to Pennsy Railroad. "Dad " Remaley, Allegheny Division Trainman, Retires Today With Almost Half a Century of Service to His Credit. by J. C. Shingledecker

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"Beneath The Allegheny Sky" FULL-LENGTH (REWRITE) (Formally "True Until Death")

Character Information

NOTE: The roles of JAMES MOONEY, SIMON BRADLEY, and MATTHEW FENTZEL could be substituted with the deceased characters
  • JOHN R. REMALEY
    Father to the Remaley sisters. A Civil War veteran, landowner, and commercial fisherman. John is traditional, protective of his daughters, and proud of their independence. His experiences in the war have left him with a complex relationship with danger and duty.
    68
    White
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • ELIZABETH REMALEY
    Mother to the Remaley sisters. Irish-born, she's the emotional anchor of the family. Elizabeth is warm and loving but carries the worry of a mother whose children work in dangerous conditions. She's involved in women's organizations and quietly supports progress while respecting tradition.
    56
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • BELLA ARTHUR
    The youngest of the Remaley sisters and William's wife. She's torn between her newfound marital happiness and her close bond with her sisters. Bella is optimistic and nurturing, often serving as a peacemaker in family disputes. She secretly dreams of moving away from the powder work to start a family in safer surroundings.
    17
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • SADIE REMALEY
    The middle of Remaley's sister works at Acme Powder Works. Sadie is intelligent and ambitious, growing interested in workers' rights. Her budding relationship with Samuel creates inner conflict as she balances her loyalty to her family with her feelings for him.
    21
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • NELLIE REMALEY
    The eldest of the three Remaley sisters in the play. She does housekeeping for the Arthurs but yearns for more independence. Nellie is romantic and idealistic, seeing her relationship with Charles as a path to her life.
    19
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • WILLIAM ARTHUR
    Bella's newlywed husband works at Acme Powder Works. Ambitious and hardworking, he dreams of a better life for his family but struggles with the dangerous reality of his job. His love for Bella is tender and deep, but he harbors guilt about exposing her to the risks of life near the powder works.
    28
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • SAMUEL ROBBINS
    The Superintendent of Acme Powder Works and Charles' older brother. Samuel is competent and respected but privately struggles with the ethical implications of the dangerous working conditions. His developing feelings for Sadie further complicate his professional responsibilities.
    34
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • CHARLES ROBBINS
    A young man employed as a Puncher at Acme Powder Works. He struggles with a stutter, which has made him shy and self-conscious. His growing relationship with Nellie is helping him gain confidence. Charles is earnest and hardworking, determined to prove himself worthy of Nellie and his position at the works.
    19
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • JAMES MOONEY
    Supervisor at Acme Powder Works. He's caught between loyalty to the company and concern for worker safety. Mooney serves as a bridge between management and workers, often conflicted about his role.
    35
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
  • SIMON BRADLEY
    Engineer at Acme Powder Works. He's young and ambitious, sometimes cutting corners to impress his superiors. Bradley's actions may have contributed to the unsafe conditions leading to the explosion.
    26
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • MATTHEW FENTZEL
    MATTHEW FENTZEL: (19) Packer at Acme Powder Works. A friend to Charles, he provides comic relief and a perspective on the daily life of the workers. Fentzel's youthful optimism contrasts with the underlying danger of their work.
    19
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man