The Squire An Original Comedy in Three Acts   By: Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934)

An Original Comedy in Three Acts

ARTHUR W. PINERO

Copyright, 1905

New York SAMUEL FRENCH

PUBLISHER

26 WEST 22D STREET

London

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd.

26 Southampton Street,

STRAND, LONDON.

THE SQUIRE.

Produced at the St. James's Theatre, London, on December 29th, 1881 with the following cast:

Characters:

The Rev. Paul Dormer.....................Mr. Hare

Lieutenant Thorndyke.....................Mr. Kendal

Gilbert Hythe............................Mr. T. N. Wenraan

Gunnion..................................Mr. Macintosh

Izod Haggerston..........................Mr. T. W. Robertson

Fell.....................................Mr. Martin

Robjohns, Junior.........................Mr. Brandon Thomas

The Representative of the "Pagley Mercury "................................Mr. Steyne

Kate Verity..............................Mrs. Kendal

Christiana Haggerston....................Miss Ada Murray

Felicity Gunnion.........................Miss Stella Brereton

Villagers.

THE SQUIRE

ACT I. THE SECRET.

Scene: The exterior of a decayed, weatherbeaten, Elizabethan 'mansion, overgrown with ivy and autumn tinted creeper. On the R., the lower part of a tower, square or circular. Facing the audience, about five feet from the ground, a door opening into the tower, the entrance proper to the house. This door leads out on to a stone terrace, which is run off the stage R., and which terminates R. C., in a few broken and irregular steps. At the foot of the steps, C., of stage, an old halting stone. Below the terrace, R., a wooden garden seat. On the R., of garden seat, a small rustic table, on which is a work basket with materials for needlework. At back, up stage, the house runs from R., to L., In R., corner, a piece of broken stonework, almost concealed by ivy, forming a footing to gain a broad beam which runs about twelve feet from the ground, from R., to L., Above the beam, two substantial casement windows, R., c. and L., Below the beams, R., C., a window, and on the L. a large archway, with broken iron gates leaning against its walls. Through the archway, a bright view of farm lands, ricks, etc., etc. On the L., continuing the house wall, down the stage, an outhouse, suggesting a kitchen dairy; outside this, up stage L., a wooden bench with milk pails, etc. Down stage, a door leading into outhouse. Above door, L., C., rough deal table and two chairs. The ground is flagged with broken stones, which are much overgrown with moss and weed.

(Bright Music at opening. Lights full up. At rise of curtain, the bell rings in a discordant way. Christiana Haggerston discovered L., scrubbing a small wooden pail. Christiana is a handsome dark woman with the tinge of the gipsy upon her face.)

{Chris.} What is it? (puts pail on form L., goes up into archway and looks off R.)

{Izod.} (offstage) Hullo! Christie!

{Chris.} Why, come in, Izod, darling what's wrong?

{Izod.} (R. off stage) It's the dog, he can't abide me.

(Chris, hurls her scrubbing brush at the dog.)

{Chris.} (savagely) Lie down, you beast, (softly) Come along, Izod, dear! (comes down)

(Izod backs on as though afraid of dog. Izod Haggerston enters through archway. He is a little thin, dark fellow half cad, half gipsy with a brown face, and crisp, curly, black hair. He is dirty and disreputable, an idler and a sneak.)

(L. C. putting her arms round his neck) I haven't seen you for nearly a week, brother dear.