Lanford Wilson’s The Hot L Baltimore introduces us to a memorable cast of characters residing in a crumbling Baltimore hotel, their lives as frayed as the lobby’s worn carpet. A young prostitute named “the Girl” plies her trade, while Mr. Morse, a bewildered old man, yearns for a visit from his estranged daughter. With the hotel’s demolition looming, they and the other residents grapple with an uncertain future. Wilson masterfully blends humor and pathos, as seen in the scene where the residents, facing eviction, share a makeshift meal, finding solace and fleeting joy in their shared predicament. This play feels especially relevant today, as America seems increasingly unwilling to address the needs of its most vulnerable citizens. The struggles of the residents of the Hot L Baltimore serve as a mirror to contemporary issues like homelessness, poverty, and the growing gap between the haves and have-nots.