Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young PeopleMackay, Constance D'Arcy
History
Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People
Mackay, Constance D'Arcy
Pageants; Patriotic plays, American
MARSH
(scornfully).
A turn of the wrist and the thing is done. Have at him, Penrose.
[Penrose and Richard engage. Richard fights coolly, with his back ever
to the door. Penrose grows more and more flustered. Marsh holds an iron
candelabrum aloft, for the other candles have gutted and the room is
shadowy.
PENROSE
(fear in his voice).
The candles--higher. They're getting low. I cannot see----
[Richard and Penrose engage a second time, and Penrose's foil is flung
across the room to left. Marsh is about to crash the candelabrum on
Richard's sword, when Richard, with a deft movement, seizes it and
hurls it to the floor, where it falls with a dull clatter. Marsh,
discomfited, turns to Penrose, who has picked up his fallen sword, and
is holding his wrist.
PENROSE
(peevishly).
The lout has turned my wrist, and torn my ruffles.
RICHARD
(who has darted to window, and stood looking out for the space of a
second before he turns to them).
A thousand pardons! (Bows ironically.) Go! The play is ended! (With
growing fervor.) Through the black night I've caught my prompter's
signal. I've seen a light--a light that swings in the darkness--a light
that swings three times----
PENROSE
(querulously, leaning on Marsh's arm as they go towards door).
What does he mean? A signal?
RICHARD
(turning on them with passionate triumph).
A signal that a blow is struck for freedom! A signal that your tea is
overboard! A signal that the time will come when liberty will be the
watchword of our nation!
MARSH.
Come! Come! He dreams!
[They go out.
RICHARD
(with face upraised in the waning fire-glow).
May all such dreams come true!
CURTAIN.
COSTUMES
RICHARD STOCKTON. Coat and knee-breeches of dull-blue cloth. Loose
white shirt. Soft white collar turned down on his coat. Black
stockings. Low black shoes. Unpowdered hair.
JOHN COREY. Suit of the same fashion as Stockton's, made of black
cloth. All the lads, unless otherwise indicated, wear low black shoes,
black stockings, and have unpowdered hair. But if the wigs of longish
natural hair which they should wear are too expensive, then they may
have powdered wigs made of white cotton batting stitched to tight-
fitting white skull-caps.
NED PEABODY. Suit of same style in dark-brown.
PHIL AMESBURY. Suit of same style in somewhat shabby black velvet, with
black braiding. It is evident that the suit has been "handed down" to
him.
JEFFERSON WINWOOD. Suit of same style in slate-gray, with buttons and
pockets of cobalt blue.
FRANK WHARTON. Suit of very dark green. Green buttons. Has a black
cloak, and a black three-cornered hat.
THOMAS RIGBY. Well-worn suit of dark plum-color. Plum-colored
waistcoat. Gold buttons on it. White shirt with full soft sleeves. A
white stock. Black stockings. Low black shoes.
PENROSE. Scarlet jacket with gold buttons and epaulets. White
broadcloth breeches tucked into high topboots. White vest. Lace stock.
Lace wrist ruffles. Scarlet cloak with gold braiding. Carries a
sword.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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