Oh! Susannah! A Farcical Comedy in Three Acts   By: Mark Ambient (1860-1937)

By Mark Ambient

Produced at the Eden Theatre, Brighton, on September 6th, 1897, afterwards played at the Royalty Theatre, London.

Scene: Doctor's Consulting Room, 13 Marmalade St., Pimlico.

Time: Lady Day, 4 p. m. to 6 p. m. The action is continuous throughout the 3 Acts.

Time of representation.

Act I. 53 minutes.

Act II. 32 minutes. (One hour and three quarters.)

Act III. 20 minutes.

PROPERTIES.

On bureau. Whiskey decanter, water, glasses.

Below bureau. Pail with water and house flannel.

In med. chest. Small bottles of coloured water, medicine glass and roll of lint.

On steps Feather brush.

On ped. cupboard. Case of surgical knives.

On doctor's table. Microscope, test tubes, phials, double stethoscope, eye glass, stationery cabinet with note paper, pen, pencil, calendar, Bradshaw, blotter, scribbling block, hand bell, ash tray with cigarette ends and matches.

In mirror. Invitation cards (Sir Peter Mrs. O'Hara).

On sofa. Cushions.

Off stage. Front door bell.

HAND PROPERTIES.

Doctor. Act 1. Gladstone bag packed with books, papers and one collar. Photo of Flo in pocket.

Act 2. Aunt's letter, also Flo's photo and coppers.

Andrew. Act 3. Pipe and baccy.

Waverly. Act 1. Detective camera in form of turnip watch.

Act 2. Walking stick (for Pearl's Bus.)

Plant. Act 1. Pocket hair brush mirror at back.

Act 3. Small black bag deed inside.

Tupper. Act 1. Crumpled telegram in pocket. Landlady's account book.

Flo. Act 2. Two bags and two parcels.

Act 3. Bundle of aunt's clothes (wet).

Ruby. Act 1. Andrew's letter.

Act 2. Visiting card.

Pearl. Act 2. Sporting Times.

Act 3. Pearl necklace in case.

Aurora. Act 1. Six letters in blue envelopes, pair of paste hair combs (in pocket), duster, tea things, grotesquely big brown earthenware tea pot, milk, sugar, cups and saucers, stale quartern loaf, knife and butter.

Act 2. Lady's letter thick paper, gold crest.

Act 3. Telegram.

CUSTOMS.

Doctor. Act 1. Frock coat and high hat.

Act 2. Changes to pyjamas and Turkish dressing gown.

Andrew. Act 1. Blue serge yachting suit and cap.

Act. 2. As aunt, in picture.

Waverly. Very smart.

Plant. White hat, loud waistcoat, outré.

Tupper. In buttons.

Aunt. Quiet, old fashioned, almost Quakerish.

Flo. Modern tailor made costume and smart hat.

Ruby & Pearl. Dressed alike, in sailor hats and serge costumes, with sailor collars.

Mrs. O'Hara. Eccentric Irish landlady.

Aurora. Slatternly slavey frock, soiled white apron, cap awry, large slippers tied on with string. (During Act 3: changes to grotesque colored dress: orange blossoms in hair.)

Scene plot.

The scene is a Doctor's consulting room on the ground floor of a lodging house in Pimlico.

(1) Door R. at back to bathroom (not opened till middle of Act II, showing about half of bath, taps, etc).

(2) L. at back, to passage, showing hat stand.

(3) Down R.

(4) Window C, commanding view of similar houses across street.

FURNITURE.

(B) Bureau with practicable drawers.

(M) Medicine chest (hung between door r. and window).

(C) Operating couch in front of window.

(L) Step ladder, between couch and window at rise of curtain.

(P) Pedestal cupboard.

(H) Hatstand.

(A) Picture of Aunt, over door L.

(5) Sofa for three half facing Are.

(T) Doctor's table, (t) Tea table.

(R) Revolving chair behind Doctor's table.

(G) Grandfather's chair at fireplace.

(C) Ordinary chairs.

Mirror and clock over fire, fender and fire irons. Poker used.

OH! SUSANNAH!

ACT I.

Scene. The Doctor's consulting room. Ground floor, 13 Marmalade Street, Pimlico. (See Scene Plot.)

(Aurora. the slavey, discovered laying out Doctor's letters lovingly on his writing table; she kisses each one as she lays it down all are in blue envelopes.)