Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (1983 page)

A Love Story,

IN THREE ACTS.

BY WILKIE COLLINS AND CHARLES FECHTER

AS FIRST PERFORMED AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE, LONDON, UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF BENJAMIN WEBSTER, ESQ., ON MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1869.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES — CAST OF THE CHARACTERS — ENTRANCES AND EXITS — RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE BUSINESS.

CHICAGO:
THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY.

CAST OF CHARACTERS.

Count Maurice de Leyrac (Lead)
Stephen Westcraft (Heavy Character)
David Michaelmas (Low Comedy or Old Man)
Plato (1st Low Comedy)
Provost Marshal (Utility)
Wolf (2d Heavy)
Slaves, Planters, Jailors, etc.

Miss Milburn (Lead)
Mrs. Penfold (Walking Lady)
Ruth, a Quadroon (Character)
Slave Girls, etc.

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TIME OF PLAYING — TWO HOURS

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SCENERY (West Indian, Winter)

ACT I. —
Scene 1st.
— Boudoir, verandah, and landscape, in 4th grooves. Night.

Landscape on flat, distant view of high mountains; palmettos in middle distance; cactus and other tropical plants in foreground. Moon, R. C., transparent, which is not to show when this scene is seen by sunlight effect, as Scene 1st, Act 2d. Tubs of orange trees along flat. The windows in 3d groove set are French windows reaching to the foot of the flat, but are not used for entrance ways. The C. opening is large, width of a folding-doorway; curtains of light stuff to all these. Light matting down on stage front of 3d grooves, D. L. and D. R., practicable; vases of flowers, L. and R. front; candelabra, with wax candles burning, against flat. Upper entrance is arched over by a cane verandah roof. Dressing table, with mirror, L. C.; handle on it.

Scene 2d.
Forest in 1st grooves, dark.

Scene 3d.
Hut interior and wood in 4th grooves. Night. Limelight for moonlight effect in L. U. corner, in the flies, to cast rays upon roof U. E.

Roof let down of rafters; high up L. C., in flat, a large window, in ruins, 5 feet wide by 3 feet high, so as to discover Westcraft upon set roof on a level with its sill, A., in U. E.

ACT II. —
Scene 1st.
Same as Scene 1st, Act 1st, sunlight effect.

Scene 2d.
Plain interior, open L. and R. E., in 1st grooves.

Scene 3d.
Market-place in 5th grooves. Bright sunlight effect.

Landscape on flat. Bright sky, horizon of mountains; trees in foreground, with sugar-mill roofs, and bell-tower of planter’s house. Trees for wings: sky sinks and borders. R. side : B, a profile set, representing a market cart, tilted down on the shafts, loaded with melons and yams, blending in with R. lower corner of flat, painted with clump of plants A, a vegetable stall, with awning, with melons and other fruit, L. side. 1st E., open; 2d E., set house, with pract., D., window above with striped awning; 3d g., set of wall of house; 3d E., stall of fruit and vegetables; C, profile set of rocks run on to mask side of steps, D. leading L. C. to C.

Backing to window in F., bright sky. The room is in a very dingy condition; cobwebs and stains on the walls; window-sash opens up; outside shutters open; curtains are full of holes; bed curtains are partly fallen from the canopy frame; the wall papering has a pattern of large rosettes at equal distances, so that on the L. side of window, the rows may allow of eight of these roses between it and L. set, and three roses from the set ceiling; door L. 1. E. is not to open, but is ruined no that the lights there show through it; small square of carpet down; the cabinet up R. open one door, with books tumbled out in disorder; waste-paper basket R. 1. E., upset, with papers partly out; a table R., with drawer partly open; U. E. by window arranged with open trap, so as to give the idea of stage level being of a room in the first floor over the ground floor; steps without for the window to be climbed into; small trap in flat, L. C., high up, to be reached by standing on bed.

Scene 2d.
Prison interior in 1st grooves. Cane walls like those of a calaboose; shackles and chains painted on wall; open L. and R., or with transverse set with door to open L. and R.; keyhole to L. D.

Scene 3d.
Same as Scene 3d, Act II.

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COSTUMES.

NOTE. — The action is about 1830, but the costumer of the Adelphi chose to habit the characters in dresses of the present day. His dresses, according to that course, are therefore described.
The Octoroon
costumes will suit very well.

LEYRAC. —
Act I.
: Evening dress, note book.
Act II.
: Cane, white hat.
Act III.
: Walking dress. Scene 2d,
Act III.
: Handsome suit.

WESTCRAFT. — Panama hat with black ribbon round it, white shirt, loose cravat in sailor fashion, white linen jacket and pants, canvas shoes, carries a bowie within his jacket collar behind right shoulder; may smoke cigarette throughout; face a little browned, black moustache, crescent-shaped, points downward, black short-crop wig, or short curl, heavy eyebrows; passionate disposition and quick with his hands; sharp, quick speech.

MICHAELMAS. — Black hat, dark brown coat, fancy flowered vest, gray pants.

PLATO. — Negro; gray hair, gray eyebrows, tall white beaver hat with loose crown half off, ragged brim, hickory shirt, blue trousers coming down to mid-leg, black leggings, striped socks, cowhide shoes, long white swallow-tail coat of linen with buttons of different sorts and colours, pockets, very deep, in the tails. He is very polite, fond of bowing.

WOLF. — Negro; striped bandanna twisted round his head; savage look, moustache and short beard; light suit.

PROVOST-MARSHAL. — Blue coat of light stuff, straw hat, light pants.

PLANTERS. — Like MARSHAL and WESTCRAFT. Dark complexions.

GUESTS. — Evening dress, European, and like WESTCRAFT.

SECRETARY TO PLATO. — Negro. Striped shirt, light trousers, ragged wide-brim straw hat. Carries large book and pencil.

NEGROES. — Straw hats of all sorts, fancy striped calicoes, bright-coloured handkerchiefs.

SERVANT. —
Act I.
: Livery, white coat.

MISS MILBURN. —
Act I.
, Scene 1st: Satin ball dress, with train to be quickly detached, and leave the dress for walking, light mantle for her, ready R. D., jewelry. Scene 2d: Same dress, mantle worn.
Act II.
, Scene 1st: House dress, white muslin with a few knots of ribbon. Scene 3d: White walking dress, fancy Leghorn hat with streamers.
Act III.
, Scene 2d: White straw hat, blue dress. Scene 3d: White wedding-dress, Leghorn hat, trimmed with orange-flowers and white lace.

MRS. PENFOLD. —
Act I.
: Handsome ball-dress, jewelry, fan.
Act II. and III.
: May come on to form picture; white muslin walking dress, parasol, straw hat. (Dress of DORA SUNNYSIDE, in “Octoroon,” will answer.)

RUTH. — Yellow face, hair in curls, fancy stripped dress. Scene 2d: Hair loose, face pale.

PLANTERS’ WIVES, ETC. —
Act I.
: Ball dresses.
Act II.
: Like MRS. PENFOLD’S second dress, parasols.

SLAVE WOMEN. — Fancy handkerchiefs, calico skirts.

CHILDREN. — For the PLANTERS’ sons and daughters, and for young slaves, in dresses to suit their characters.

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PROPERTIES (See Scenery.)

ACT I., Scene 1st — Candles in stands; flower vases, tubs for orange-trees; ice creams in cups, on salver, wine glasses and decanter, on table L.; spring bell. Scene 2d: Books and pencil for SECRETARY; cards for PLATO. Scene 3d: Bed, table, candle in candlestick, bottle of medicine, pocket-book, paper in it.
Act II.
, Scene 1st! Same set as Scene 1st,
Act I.
: Cane for LETRAC. Scene 3d: Vegetables, flowers, fruit, for stalls and baskets carried by NEGROES.
Act III.
: Loose papers, books; cabinet, bed, chairs; carpenters’ three-foot rule; table up L.; letter at end of string in small trap, L. C. in F. Scene 2d: Key for jailer; paper for MARSHAL. Scene 3d: Same set as Scene 3d,
Act II.
: Rattans for some of the PLANTERS to carry; paper for WESTCRAFT; letter for DAVID.

BLACK AND WHITE.

ACT I.

SCENE I. —
Boudoir interior, verandah and landscape in 4th grooves. Moon in flat,
R. C.
Night effect. Lights in candelabra on stage. Music of waltz.

Curtain rises. Discovers
DANCERS
in
U. E.,
promenading
R.
and
L. MRS. PENFOLD, R. C.,
arranging her bracelets.

Enter,
L. U. E.,
looking about him eagerly,
STEPHEN WESTCRAFT.

WESTCRAFT (
comes on by
C. D.,
and down
C.). Not here either? (
to
MRS. PENFOLD) Have you seen Miss Milburn?

MRS. PENFOLD. No. (
cease music.
)

WEST. She is engaged to me for the next dance, and I can’t find her anywhere. I can’t understand the lady of the house neglecting her guests in this way.

MRS. P. She has been in the ball-room, hasn’t she?

WEST. Yes, but not to stay long. Hang me if things will go smoothly if she displays as much reluctance to giving me her hand in marriage as she does for a dance with me.

MRS. P. Pshaw! You are looking at it too seriously, Mr. Westcraft.

WEST. No! I have seen something very curious in her conduct to me lately.

MRS. P. (
aside
). Oh! he has noticed
that,
has he? More penetration in him than I gave him credit for!

WEST. She has never been the same woman since her voyage to France. Hang me if I don’t begin to think that there is another man at the bottom of it. (
strikes table,
L. C.,
with his hand passionately. Music, bass chord, piano.
)

MRS. P. (
starts
). Ah! (
carelessly
) Do you think so? (
watches
WESTCRAFT
closely.
)