Project Gutenberg's The Servant in the House, by Charles Rann Kennedy

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Title: The Servant in the House

Author: Charles Rann Kennedy

Release Date: April 11, 2004 [EBook #11999]

Language: English

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Produced by Al Haines

THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE

BY

CHARLES RANN KENNEDY

BOOKS BY CHARLES RANN KENNEDY

SEVEN PLAYS FOR SEVEN PLAYERS
  Volumes now ready:
    THE WINTERFEAST
    THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE
    THE IDOL-BREAKER
    THE RIB OF THE MAN

SHORTER PLAYS FOR SMALL CASTS
  Volumes now ready:
    THE TERRIBLE MEEK
    THE NECESSARY EVIL

1908

TO WALTER HAMPDEN

"There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what? See wot I mean?"

"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. . . . If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

—I. JOHN, ii. 9-11, iv. 20.

"The hunger for brotherhood is at the bottom of the unrest of the modern civilized world."

—GEORGE FREDERICK WATTS.

ORIGINAL CAST OF CHARACTERS

IN

THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE

BY

CHARLES RANN KENNEDY

AS PRESENTED BY

THE HENRY MILLER ASSOCIATE PLAYERS

AT

THE SAVOY THEATRE. NEW YORK

ON MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1906

A PLAY OF THE PRESENT DAY, IN FIVE ACTS, SCENE INDIVIDABLE SETTING FORTH THE STORY OF ONE MORNING IN THE EARLY SPRING

PERSONS IN THE PLAY

JAMES PONSONBY MAKESHYFTE, D.D., The Most Reverend,
  The Lord Bishop of Lancashire
    Mr. ARTHUR LEWIS

THE REVEREND WILLIAM SMYTHE, Vicar,
  Mr. CHARLES DALTON

AUNTIE, the Vicar's Wife
  Miss EDITH WYNNE MATTHISON

MARY, their niece
  Miss MABEL MOORE

MR. ROBERT SMITH, a gentleman of necessary occupation,
  Mr. TYRONE POWER

ROGERS, a page-boy
  Mr. GALWEY HERBERT

MANSON, a butler
  Mr. WALTER HAMPDEN

Time—An early morning in Spring.
Place—An English country vicarage.

CHARACTERS REPRESENTED

JAMES PONSONBY MAKESHYFTE, D.D.
The Most Reverend the Lord Bishop of Lancashire

THE REVEREND WILLIAM SMYTHE
The Vicar

AUNTIE
The Vicar's Wife

MARY
Their niece

MR. ROBERT SMITH
A gentleman of necessary occupation

ROGERS
A page-boy

MANSON
A butler

TIME: Now
PLACE: Here

THE SCENE

The scene, which remains unchanged throughout the play, is a room in the vicarage. Jacobean in character, its oak-panelling and beamed-ceiling, together with some fine pieces of antique furniture, lend it an air of historical interest, whilst in all other respects it speaks of solid comfort, refinement, and unostentatious elegance. Evidently the room of a rich man, who has, however, apparently come to some compromise on the difficult question of his entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven; for the panelled walls possess, among other decorations, a richly ornamented crucifix, a Virgin and Child by an old master, certain saints in ecstasy, and a really remarkable modern oil-painting of the Divine Author of our religion.

The main door of the room is at the back of the stage, somewhere towards the middle; it opens upon a hall, at the further side of which one may perceive, through the open door of another room, a goodly collection of well-bound and learned-looking volumes—the vicar's library. At the present moment these tomes of wisdom are inaccessible, as the library door is blocked up with unsightly mounds of earth, sewer-pipes, and certain workmen's implements. The fact is, the vicarage has been greatly disturbed of late, owing to a defect in the drainage—an unsavory circumstance which receives further and regretful explication in the play itself.

Returning, then, to the room, one may see, in addition to the main door described above, another door, to the right of stage, and near to the audience. The curious may be glad to learn that this leads into a drawing-room, and incidentally affords one more means of communication with the house. Another exit is provided on the opposite side of the stage [left], where a couple of lofty French windows lead out into the garden. Above the drawing-room door is a fine old Jacobean mantel-piece: a fire burns brightly in the grate. To the left of the main door at the back is a long, low, mullioned window, through which one may see a blue sky, a thatched top or two of cottages, and the gray old tower of the church. Through the French windows are seen a gravel-walk, a lawn, trees, and a sun-dial.

Of the essential furniture of the scene, there may be mentioned; sideboard to right of main door; table, right-centre of stage, with chairs; arm-chair by fireplace; settee, left, towards front; and a long oak stool in the window.

The various properties are described or implied in the text of the play.

THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE

THE FIRST ACT

As the curtain ascends, Rogers and Manson are discovered laying the table for breakfast, the lad being at the upper end of the table, facing the audience, Manson, with his back to the audience, being at the lower end. Rogers is an ordinary little cockney boy in buttons; Manson is dressed in his native Eastern costume. His face is not seen until the point indicated lower down.

ROGERS [glancing across curiously]. Arskin' your pardon, Mr.
Manson. . . .

MANSON. Yes: what is it, Rogers?

ROGERS. Funny thing—cawn't get it out of my 'ead as I've knowed you somewhere before. Don't scarcely seem possible, do it, Mr. Manson?

MANSON. Many things are possible in this world, Rogers.

ROGERS. That's all right; but 'ow long 'av'