Post Road is a two-act, four-scene play written by Wilbur Daniel Steele and Norma Mitchell, and staged by H. C. Potter. It is a comedy, albeit with some serious overtones in its mystery plot. It has a medium-sized cast, moderate pacing, and only one setting. The action occurs in the living room of Emily Madison's rambling ancestral home on the Boston Post Road in Connecticut during October 1934. Emily Madison provides accommodations for tourists, and the plot hinges on a party of four who descend on her one week in October. There are no romantic elements in the storyline, and middle-aged characters predominate. The play was produced by H. C. Potter and George Haight. It had moderate box office success on Broadway, running for 209 performances. It's success depended heavily on the comedy of the character George Preble, played by Percy Kilbride in the original production. There doesn't seem to have been a tour by the original Broadway production, nor any major revival. The play was published in 1935. Characters Characters are listed in order of appearance within their scope. Lead Emily Madison is a middle-aged unmarried woman who lives in rural Connecticut and accommodates guests in her ancestral home. Supporting George Preble is Emily's late forties unemployed brother-in-law, living on her bounty, obsessed with short-wave radio. May Madison Preble is Emily's younger sister and George's worried wife. Wesley Cartwright is a stuffy middle-aged clergyman, up to now Emily's only paying guest, who comes and goes. Dr. Spender is a middle-aged physician who asks accommodation for his party. Nurse Martin is a mid-thirties woman who helps Dr. Spender to look after the Girl. She calls him "Frank" in stress. The Girl is a young woman who arrives with Dr. Spender and Nurse Martin. Spender refers to her as "Edna" and "Miss Smith". Matt is the hard-looking chauffeur to Dr. Martin and his party. Featured Bill is a brash young man from Marion, Ohio, looking for a room for Celia and himself. Celia is a giggly young lady, married to Bill. Virgil Beamis is a handsome young Connecticut State Trooper. Mrs. Canby is an attractive middle-aged woman, a neighbor whose visit discomfits George Preble. Mrs. Cashler is Jeeby's mother, a middle-aged woman. Walk-On Jeeby Cashler is a strong young girl who picks up and returns the laundry from Emily's home. Jay is a Connecticut State Trooper, Virgil's subordinate. Synopsis Emily Madison