Act I
Professor Ward, roused at daybreak after a night at his desk, shows intense disappointment and nervous fatigue.
In brief scene with Phronie, he shows the essential part she plays in his life as one on whom he can absolutely depend; but when he expresses his disapproval of her admirer, Keith Sanford, she shows clear signs of rebellious spirit.
In rapid scene with Phronie and Keith, their spirit of youthful romance is made clear; and Keith indicates his college ambition, his predicament regarding his “cribbed” thesis, and his new attitude therein, ending with his evident resolve to make a clean breast of the matter....
There follows a scenario which is somewhat clearer than the others because it identifies the figures, but it certainly leaves their relations rather confused.
An old white-haired man, the Sire de Maletroit, is seated in the chair to right of fireplace, in a listening attitude. The sound of a heavy door banging is heard and a minute later a young man, sword in hand, parts the curtains on left and stands blinking in the opening. He enters and explains that he has accidentally gained entrance to the house and is unable to re-open the door. His name is Denis de Beaulieu. He seems amazed to have the old man say that he has been waiting for him. Denis suggests that he must be going, at which the old man bursts into a fit of laughter. Denis is insulted and offers to hew the Maletroit’s door to pieces. He is convinced that this is folly; the place is full of armed men. The old man rises, goes to door on right and calls upon his niece to leave her prayers and receive her lover. She comes in attended by a priest and protests that this is not the man. The uncle is incredulous and withdraws with a leer.
Again a good list of dramatis personæ would be helpful.
Prefix to this the following:
THE SIRE DE MALETROIT’S DOOR
Place: Château Landon.
Time: Fourteenth century.
Dramatis Personæ
Blanche, orphan niece of Sire de Maletroit.
A Priest, chaplain to Sire de Maletroit.
The Sire de Maletroit.
Denis de Beaulieu, a stranger.
With this prefixed we can read the scenario just quoted far more comprehendingly.
Note how clearly the following two lists of dramatis personæ take us to the scenario proper:
THE LEGACY
The Persons
David Brice, a young attorney.
Reene Brice, his uncle.
Benjamin Doyle, his fiancée’s father.
Dr. Wangren, family physician.
Mrs. Brice, the mother.
”Ditto” Brice, the sister.
Katherine Doyle, fiancée.
THE CAPTAIN: A MELODRAMA
Dramatis Personæ
Captain La Rue, a little sea captain.
Bromley Barnes, former special investigator for the U.S. customs service.
Patrick Clancy, his friend.
A burly Butler.
John Felspar, junior partner of the firm of Felspar & Felspar, wine merchants.
Two Dinner Guests, members of the firm.
Carl Cozzens, the firm’s Canadian representative.
It is easy, however, to let this list of characters go too far descriptively. For instance, this next list tells much which might better appear first in the body of the scenario. The danger here is one already mentioned in this book, namely, that such careful characterizing in the dramatis personæ or program is likely to make the characterization of the scenario or play inadequate.3
AN ENCORE
Adapted from the story by Margaret Deland
In Two Acts
Time: About 1830 in June.
Place: Little town of Old Chester.
Between the first and second acts three weeks elapse.