Will Shakespeare - An Invention In Four Acts Book

WILL SHAKESPEARE AN INVENTION IN FOUR ACTS BY CLEMENCE DANE Theres a divinity that shapes our ends, Rougbhew them how we will. SHAKESPEARE. The Play was first acted at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, on November 17th, 1921, by the Reandean Company, with the following cast - , WILL SHAKESPEARE Mr. Philip Merivale ANNE Miss Moyna Macgill MA. HATHAWAY Miss Mary Rorke HENSLOWE Mr. Arthur Whitby QUEEN ELIZABETH Miss Haidee Wright MARY FITTON Miss Mary Clare KIT MARLOWE Mr. Claude Rains A CHlLD ACTOR A SECRETARY A STAGE HAND A BOY A LANDLORD A LADY-IN-WAITING Master Eric Spear Mr. Arthur Bawtree Mr. Gilbert Ritchie Master Spear Mr. l vor Barnard Miss Joan Maclean Shadows in Act I . Ophelia Miss Lennie Pride Shylock Mr. Gilbert Ritchie Desdemona Miss Gladys Jessel Clown M t . l vot Bamard 0 the110 Mr. Herbert Young Hamlet Mr. Neil Curtis Queen Margaret Miss Flora Robson Caesar Mr. Arthur Bawtree Prince Arthur Mr. Eric Crosbie Cleopatra Miss Mai Ashley Rosalind Miss Phyllis Fabian King Lear Mr. Fred Morgan Miss Nora Robinson The Three Fates Miss Gladys Gray Miss Beatrice Smith Strolling Players, Beefeaters, Stage Hands, Drinkers, Court Attendants, etc. The Production by BASIL DEAN. The Music by THOMAS WOOD. Designs for the Scenery and Dresses by CEORGE HARRIS. THE P E O P L E OF THE PLAY As they appear. ACT 1 . A C OTTAGE IN STRATFORD. ACT 11.-TEN YEARS L ATER-Scefie 1. A ROOM IN THE PALACES. c e n e 2. THREE M ONTHSL ATER-, THE FIRST N IGHT OF ROME A O N D JULIET. ACT 111.-Sceae 1. A MOXTH LATER-SHAKE BPEAREB LODGING S . c e n e 2. THE S AMEN IGHT A ROOM A T AN INN. ACT 1V.-THE NEXT DAY-A STATE ROOM IN THE PALA E. ACT I WILL SHAKESPEARE ACT I. The curtain rises on the living room of a sixteenth oentury cottage. Zhe walls and ceiling are of black bsams and white-washed plaster. On the left is a latge oven fireplace with logs burning. Beyond it is a door. At the back is another door and a mullioned window half open giving a glimpse of bare garden hedge and winter sky. On the right wall is a staircase running down from the ceiling into the room, a dresser and a light shelf holding a book or two. Under the shelf is a small table piled with papers, ink-stand, sand-box and so on. At it sits SHAKE BPEARE, his elbows on his papers, his head in his hands, absorbed. He is a boy of twenty but looks older. He is dark and slight. Ris voice is low, but he speaks very clearly. Behind him ANNE HATHAWAY moves to and fro from dresser to the central table, laying a meal. She is a sleltder, pale woman with reddish hair. Her movements are quick and furtive and she has a high sweet voice that shrills too-easily. ANNE h esitating, with little pauses between the sentences. Supper is ready, Will I Will, did you hear A farm-bird-Mother brought it. Wont you come Shes crying in for the basket presently. First primroses l Here, smell Sweet, arent they Bread Are the snow wreaths gone from the fields. Did you go far Are you wet Was it cold Theres black frost in the air, B WILL SHAKESPEARE ACT, I My mother says, and spring hangs dead on the boughs-Oh, you might answer when I speak to you SHAKESPEAR ge E t s up quickly. Where are you going SHAKESPEARE. Out ANNE. Where SHAKESPEARE. Anywhere-ANNE. - away from me Yes Say it SRAKESPEAR u E n der his breutli. Patience Patience ANNE. Come back Come back l Im sorry. Oh, come back I talk too much. I crossed you. You must eat. Oh 1 Oh I meant no harm-I meant no harm -You know SHAKESPEARE. I know. ANNE. Why then, come back and eat,, And talk to me. Arent you a boy to lose All day in the woods SHAKESPEARE. The town I ANNE. Ah 1 I n the town Ah then, youve talked and eaten. Yes, you can fa1 k In the town I e goes back to his desk. More writing Whats the dream to-day He winces. Oh, tell me, tell me SHAKESPEARE. No f AKNE. I want your dreams. ACT I WILL SHAKESPEARE SHAKESPEAR A E ...Read More