Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Love in '76: An Incident of the RevolutionBunce, Oliver Bell
History
Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Love in '76: An Incident of the Revolution
Bunce, Oliver Bell
American drama -- 19th century; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Drama
Box Office open from 8 in the morning throughout the day.
Children in Arms not admitted. This regulation will be rigidly enforced.
Treasurer Mr. W.W. Gray
Box Bookkeeper Mr. F.N.Cartland
LOVE IN '76
_AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION_
A COMEDIETTA IN TWO ACTS
_By_ OLIVER BUNCE
AS PERFORMED AT LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE
NEW YORK, FEB. 28, 1857
[The acting edition of this play, with the
relative positions of the performers on the
stage, is published by Samuel French.]
COSTUMES.
MR. ELSWORTH.--_Shad-cut brown coat, brown or black breeches,
shoe-buckles._
LIEUTENANT HARRY ELSWORTH.--_Red, turned up with blue, buff breeches,
high boots._
CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.--_Blue, turned up with buff, white top boots._
MAJOR CLEVELAND.--_Red, turned up with white, breeches, high boots._
CAPTAIN ARBALD.--_The Same._
LIEUTENANT MARVIN.--_The Same._
APOLLO METCALF.--_Gray shad, square-cut suit._
THE LADIES.--_The costumes of the period of '76._
LOVE IN '76.
ACT I.
SCENE. _The drawing-room in the residence of_ MR. EDWARD ELSWORTH.
_Garden seen through doors._ ROSE ELSWORTH _occupied at a small table,
stitching._ KATE ELSWORTH _stretched languidly upon a sofa, with a
book in hand._ MR. EDWARD ELSWORTH _in an easy chair, with newspaper
in his lap. Writing materials on table._
KATE. Oh, dullness! dullness! I do wish Harry was at home, or Sir
William would march some of his troops this way! What's the use of an
army in the country, if one can't have a dance once in a while?
ROSE. What, indeed! All I desire is, sister, that they should be
[_Enter_ SERVANT _with letters for_ MR. ELSWORTH.] left to the dance!
That much they do very well.
KATE. I'm sure, Rose, I can't see what you find in these rebels to
admire. As far as my observation has gone, they are only so many
boors. There was Captain Arthur. Was there ever such a dunce? He had
no manner whatever. He attempted once to walk a minuet with me, and
I really thought he was a bear accidentally stumbled into coat and
slippers.
ROSE. You're quite right! he never should have got his appointment
until he had served a campaign in the drawing-room. If I were the
Congress, I'd appoint none who could not bring diplomas from their
dancing-masters.
ELSWORTH. Ha? 'pon my word! Very extraordinary news.
[_All coming forward._
ROSE. What is it, papa?
ELSWORTH. There has been a battle.
ROSE. Is it possible? Oh, where, sir?
ELSWORTH. On Long Island. [_Reading._] Washington has been
defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward. [_Speaking_.]
I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe. We
shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders. It would
be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer
residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William
Howe.
ROSE. I should prefer remaining here.
ELSWORTH. Would it be safe, Rose?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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