Sunshine; a comedy with music; a tonic for the glooms in three acts

Front matter

Book __vAlT5Sg

WALTER BEN HARE

A COMEDY WITH MUSIC

Act III.— Night. Time of Playing. — Approximately two hours

COSTUMES AND CHARACTERISTICS

Maudelia. a pert little girl of about ten. For the Prologue she wears an old-fashioned dress with hoop-skirts and poke bonnet, all in yellow. In Act II she wears a little girl's play dress, torn and dirty, an old tarn or hat, and torn stockings. In Act III she wears a pretty party dress.

Mrs. McCann. A large commanding society woman of about thirty-eight. Handsome dresses, changing for each act.

Mrs. Whipple. A little old-fashioned country woman in rusty black. Small black bonnet. Reticule and old-fashioned spectacles. Gray hair.

Tessie. a dramatic part calling* for careful rehearsing and acting. A girl about twenty. Handsome costumes, rather fanciful.

Miss Gregory. Nurse's costume.

Buddy. A lively young fellow of twenty-three. Neat costumes, rather loud.

Major. Pompous, mature-looking man of fortyfive. Very well dressed. Cane.

Jim. Similar to Buddy. Change costumes for each act.

Sylvia. A pretty girl of eighteen. Handsome costumes suitable to the occasion.

Mary. Emotional leading lady. Age about twenty-three. Nurse's dress to change to plain old-fashioned street dress and hat.

VI

LIST OF PROPERTIES

Fancy seat or swing.

Garden table with one glass (tonic) on plate.

Two garden chairs. Pillow in chair r. of table.

Glass of lemonade and straw for Mrs. Whipple.

Fancy work for Mrs. McCann.

Wheel chair.

Bottle of tonic and spoon for Nurse.

Watches for Nurse, Major and Buddy.

Large cheap-looking grip for Mary.

Small fish on a string for Maudelia. (Cloth fish.)

Long cloth for table in Act IL

Ring for Sylvia.

Hand-bell on the table in Act II.

Large bird-cage for Mrs. Whipple with a cloth over it.

A live cat.

Red flannel bandage and white linen bandage for Butternip.

Ice for Butternip.

Document, check and fountain pen for Major.

Large white pillow for Nurse.

Two golf balls for Act III.

Japanese lanterns for Act III.

vu

BACK DROP

GAEDEN

GARDEN

WALL

ENTRANCE

WALL

HEAR RIGHT

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/ (takle) W

CHAIR

TAGE BETTING

THE PROLOGUE

Just before the play begins The Prologue, Maudelia looks in from l., puts her fingers to her lips and says "Shh!" Piano music very soft. She moves slowly to c, standing in front of the curtain. Again she says '' Shhl " The piano gives a chord as she curtseys, and plays softly as she recites.

Ye lords and ladies who have gathered here To see our little comedy of cheer, I bid you welcome to the Sunshine play, And hope 'twill drive your troubles all away.

No Barrymores or Pickfords grace our show, But simple lads and lassies whom you know. And when you leave, each one of you must say, " They did their best to make us like the play."

For weeks we've worked for this one night's success. If approbation should our efforts bless We'll be rewarded if you say, ** Well done! " So come with us into the land of Fun.

And now a final word before we part,

[Moves toward l.

We'll give the play, but you must do your part. Don't sit there silent, looking bored and glum. And half-way wishing that you hadn't come. [At l.

Get in the spirit of the Sunshine play, Relax and smile, be jovial and gay, Forget the tax, the H. C. L. and fraud, But don't forget to laugh . . . and to applaud. [The last three words should be given very distinctly; she then curtseys and exits at l. ix