Top Shelf

Top Shelf is a slice of life story. Through five derelicts on New York's waterfront,man's humanity to his fellow man are compared, contrasted and tested. The story focuses on a group of elderly street people.Top Shelf's paternal relationship to Neil and O'Looney,the barroom/bishop who brings booze and religion to sinners on the waterfront; Doc is the peace-maker and Conductor the faulted hero. Deacon represents all religions, remains in his cardboard box pulpit coming out only to fight, collect money or preach. His cry of "Sweet Jesus' reinforces the theme throughout the play and hammers it home at the end as the last words spoken. Sharkey and Hoey are the predators.