THE AMATEUR ACTOR A Collection of PLAYS FOR SCHOOL AND HOME BY W. H. VENABLE, Author of "June on the Miami, and other Poems;" "A School 809.22 686189 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by WILSON, HINKLE & CO., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. ELECTROTYPED AT THE FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, CINCINNATI. PREFACE. This volume contains twenty-three dramatic pieces, the greater number of which are taken from the writings of standard authors. The selections are adapted for easy representation as school or parlor plays, and although some of them will admit of ambitious acting and much spectacular display, none will prove impracticable on the amateur stage. The humorous element predominates in the book, yet few of the scenes are what, in theatrical phrase, is termed 'broad.' The performers of the comic parts will be obliged to depend, for applause, upon the wit of the speeches, rather than upon vulgar gags or senseless buffoonery. One rollicking pantomime is introduced for the sake of variety, and—at the other extremeone little tragedy. The editor has made no alterations in the text of authors copied from, excepting such as the nature of the compilation imperatively required, namely, large omissions, occasional transpositions, and now and then the substitution of different phraseology for profane or otherwise objectionable epithets and expressions. In some cases, dramatic coherence demanded the addition of a few words or lines; and these interpolated passages are invariably denoted by half-quotation marks. |