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قراءة كتاب Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: The New York Idea
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Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: The New York Idea
Revived in New York at The Playhouse, Tuesday Evening,
September 28, 1915, with the following Cast.
| Philip Phillimore | Lumsden Hare. |
| Grace Phillimore | Norah Lamison. |
| Mrs. Phillimore | Eugenie Woodward. |
| Miss Heneage | Josephine Lovett. |
| Matthew Phillimore | Albert Reed. |
| William Sudley | John Cromwell. |
| Mrs. Vida Phillimore | Mary Nash. |
| Sir Wilfrid Cates-Darby | Ernest Lawford. |
| John Karslake | Conway Tearle. |
| Mrs. Cynthia Karslake | Grace George. |
| Brooks | Selwyn Joyce. |
| Tim Fiddler | Tracy Barrow. |
| Nogam | G. Guthrie McClintic. |
| Thomas | Richard Clarke. |
| Benson | Anita Wood. |
To Marion Lea
THE NEW YORK IDEA
ACT I.
Scene. Living-room in the house of Philip Phillimore. Five P. M. of an afternoon of May. The general air and appearance of the room is that of an old-fashioned, decorous, comfortable interior. There are no electric lights and no electric bells. Two bell ropes as in old-fashioned houses. The room is in dark tones inclining to sombre and of old-fashioned elegance.
Seated in the room are Miss Heneage, Mrs. Phillimore and Thomas. Miss Heneage is a solidly built, narrow-minded woman in her sixties. She makes no effort to look younger than she is, and is expensively but quietly dressed, with heavy elegance. She commands her household and her family connection, and on the strength of a large and steady income feels that her opinion has its value. Mrs. Phillimore is a semi-professional invalid, refined and unintelligent. Her movements are weak and fatigued. Her voice is habitually plaintive and she is entirely a lady without a trace of being a woman of fashion. Thomas is an easy-mannered, but respectful family servant, un-English both in style and appearance. He has no deportment worthy of being so called, and takes an evident interest in the affairs of the family he serves.
Miss Heneage is seated at the tea-table, facing the footlights. Mrs. Phillimore is seated at the table on the right. Thomas stands near by. Tea things on table. Decanter of sherry in coaster. Bread and butter on plate. Vase with flowers. Silver match-box. Large old-fashioned tea urn. Guard for flame. "The Evening Post" on tea-table. Miss Heneage and Mrs. Phillimore both have cups of tea. Miss Heneage sits up very straight, and pours tea for Grace, who enters from door. She is a pretty and fashionably dressed girl of twenty. She speaks superciliously, coolly, and not too fast. She sits on the sofa gracefully and without lounging. She wears a gown suitable for spring visiting, hat, parasol, and gloves.
Grace. [As she moves to the sofa.] I never in my life walked so far and found so few people at home. [Pauses. Takes off gloves. Somewhat querulously.] The fact is the nineteenth of May is ridiculously late to be in town.
Miss Heneage. Thomas, Mr. Phillimore's sherry?
Thomas. [Indicating the particular table.] The sherry, ma'am.
Miss Heneage. Mr. Phillimore's Post?
Thomas. [Pointing to "The Evening Post" on the tea-table.] The Post, ma'am.
Miss Heneage. [Indicating cup.] Miss Phillimore.
Thomas takes cup of tea to Grace. Silence. They all sip tea. Thomas goes back, fills sherry glass, remaining round and about the tea-table. They all drink tea during their entire conversation.
Grace. The Dudleys were at home. They wished to know when my brother Philip was to be married, and where and how?
Miss Heneage. If the Dudleys were persons of breeding, they'd not intrude their curiosity upon you.
Grace. I like Lena Dudley.
Mrs. Phillimore. [Speaking slowly and gently.] Do I know Miss Dudley?
Grace. She knows Philip. She expects an announcement of the wedding.
Mrs. Phillimore. I trust you told her that my son, my sister and myself are all of the opinion that those who have been divorced should remarry with modesty and without parade.
Grace. I told the Dudleys Philip's wedding was here, to-morrow.
Miss Heneage. [To Mrs. Phillimore, picking up a sheet of paper from the table.] I have spent the afternoon, Mary, in arranging and listing the wedding gifts, and in writing out the announcements of the wedding. I think I have attained a proper form of announcement. [Taking the sheet of note-paper and giving it to Thomas.] Of course the announcement Philip himself made was quite out of the question. [Grace smiles.] However, there is mine. [She points to the paper. Thomas gives the list to