Synopses & Reviews
Three Plays GramHe Barker The Marrying of Ann Leete The Voysey Inheritance Waste MITCHELL KENNERLEY Publisher New York To the memory of my fellow-worker, m John Hantta. The Marrying of Ann Leete A COMEDY 1899 THE MARRYING OF ANN LEETE The first three acts of the comedy pass in the garden at Markswayde, MR. CARNABY LEETES house near Read ing, during a summer day towards the close of the eighteenth century the first act at four in the morn ing, the second shortly after mid-day f the third near to sunset. The fourth act takes place one day in the following winter the first scene in the hall at Markswayde, the second scene in a cottage some ten miles off, This part of the Mark sway de garden looks to have been laid out during the seventeenth century. In the middle a fountain the centrepiece the figure of a nymph, now somewhat cracked, and pouring nothing from the amphora the rim of the fountain is high enough and broad enough to be a comfortable seat. The close turf around is in parts worn bare. This plot of ground is surrounded by a terrace three feet higher. Three sides of it are seen. From two corners broad steps lead down stone urns stand at the bottom and top of the stone balustrades. The other two corners are rounded convexly into broad stone seats. Along the edges of the terrace are growing rose trees, close together behind these, paths behind those, shrubs and trees. No landscape is to be seen. A big copper beech overshadows the seat on the left. A silver birch droops over the scat on the right. The trees far to the left indicate an orchard, the few, to the right are more of the garden sort. It is the height of summer, and after a long drought the rose trees are dilapidated. i 2 THEMARRYING OF ACT a It is very dark in the garden. Though there may be by now a faint morning light in the sky, it has not pen etrated yet among these trees. It is very still, too. Now and then the leaves of a tree are stirred, as if in its sleep that is all. Suddenly a shrill, fright ened, but not tragical, scream is heard. After a moment ANN LEETE runs quickly down the steps and on to the fountain, where she stops, panting. LORD JOHN CARP follows her, but only to the top of the steps, evidently not knowing his zuay, ANN is a girl of twenty he an English gentleman, nearer forty than thirty. LORD JOHN. I apologise. ANN. Why Is it so dark LORD JOHN. Can you hear what Im saying ANN. Yes. LORD JOHN. I apologise for having kissed you . almost unintentionally. ANN. Thank you. Mind the steps down. LORD JOHN. I hope Im sober, but the air ... ANN. Shall we sit for a minute There are several seats to sit on, somewhere. LORD JOHN. This is a very dark garden. There is a slight pause. ANN. Youve won your bet. LORD JOHN. So you did scream ANN. But it wasnt fair. LORD JOHN. Dont reproach me. ANN. Somebodys coming. LORD JOHN. How dyou know ANN. I can hear somebody coming. LORD JOHN. Were not sitting down. ANNS brother, GEORGE LEETE, comes to the top of the steps, and afterwards down them. Rather an old young man. i ANN LEETE GEORGE. Ann ANN. Yes. GEORGE. My lord LORD JOHN. Here. GEORGE. I cant see you. Im sent to say were all anx ious to know what ghost or other bird of night or beast has frightened Ann to screaming point, and won you . . . the best in Tattons stables so he says now. Hes quite annoyed. LORD JOHN. The mare is a very good mare. ANN. He betted it because he wanted to bet it I didnt wanthim to bet it GEORGE. What frightened her ANN. I had rather, my lord, that you did not tell my brother why I screamed. LORD JOHN. I kissed her. GEORGE. Did you ANN. I had rather, Lord John, that you had not told my brother why I screamed. LORD JOHN. I misunderstood you. GEORGE. Fve broke up the whist party. Ann, shall we return LORD JOHN. Shes not here. GEORGE. Ann LADY COTTESHAM, ANNS sister, and ten years older, and MR. DANIEL TATTON, a well-living, middle-aged country gentleman, arrive together. TATTON carries a double candlestick . . . the lights out MR...