Michael and His Lost Angel: A Play in Five Acts — John Shaqi
Michael and His Lost Angel: A Play in Five ActsJones, Henry Arthur
General
Michael and His Lost Angel: A Play in Five Acts
Jones, Henry Arthur
Adultery -- Drama; Clergy -- Drama; England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Drama; English drama
From the figures as to the receipts which are published it appears
that a full chance of recording its opinion was scarcely given the
public. On this point I am not prepared to speak. Such rebuff as the
play encountered was, I fear, due to the preconceived attitude of some
representatives of public opinion rather than to any misunderstanding
between Mr. Jones and the public. Mr. Forbes Robertson's performance
of the hero was superb in all respects. The refusal of the part of the
heroine by Mrs. Patrick Campbell, its destined exponent, was so far a
calamity that it fostered the belief that there was something immoral
in the part. In other respects I cannot regard the substitution for
that actress of Miss Marion Terry as a misfortune.
JOSEPH KNIGHT.
LONDON, 12th February, 1896.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
THIS play was produced at the Lyceum Theatre on the 15th January,
1896, and was withdrawn on the 25th, the management suddenly
announcing the last three nights in the morning papers of the 23d. An
impression has therefore prevailed in the public mind that the piece
was a great financial failure. So far was this from being the case
that the receipts for the first ten nights during which it was played
were more than £100 higher than the receipts for the first ten nights
of my play "The Middleman," which proved so great a financial success
in England and America. The takings during the brief run at the Lyceum
were as follows:--
January 15. £209 7s. 6d. January 21. £ 99 9s. 11d.
" 16. 128 9 3 " 22. 114 14 4
" 17. 123 12 3 " 23. 121 18 0
" 18. 203 5 5 " 24. 146 12 7
" 20. 99 9 4 " 25. 231 7 0
The great number of sympathetic letters that I have received about the
play and its cordial reception on the later nights of the run show
that it created a deep impression on those who did see it, and
encourage me to hope that I may introduce it again to the English
public under happier auspices.
HENRY ARTHUR JONES.
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
THE REVEREND MICHAEL FEVERSHAM.
SIR LYOLF FEVERSHAM.
EDWARD LASHMAR (FATHER HILARY).
ANDREW GIBBARD.
THE REVEREND MARK DOCWRAY.
WITHYCOMBE.
AUDRIE LESDEN.
ROSE GIBBARD.
MRS. CANTELO.
FANNY CLOVER.
_Villagers, Congregation, Choristers, Priests._
ACT I.
THE VICARAGE PARLOUR AT CLEVEHEDDON.
(_Four months pass._)
ACT II.
THE SHRINE ON SAINT DECUMAN'S ISLAND.
(_Two nights and a day pass._)
ACT III.
THE VICARAGE PARLOUR AS IN ACT I.
(_A year passes._)
ACT IV.
THE MINSTER CHURCH AT CLEVEHEDDON.
(_Ten months pass._)
ACT V.
RECEPTION ROOM OF THE MONASTERY OF SAN SALVATORE AT MAJANO, ITALY.
ACT I
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