Excerpt from Under a Cloud, an Original Comedy Drama in Two Acts
Durkin should be smooth and oily in speech, except when aroused by passion, and until the last scene should assume a fawning manner toward Tracey.
Tracey is a man of about 50 - kind hearted, earnest and pleasant in manner. His hair and beard should be slightly powdered, and the "crows' feet" about the eyes faintly outlined.
Sharp is full of snap and life. He is brisk in action and quick in speech; and every movement should convey the idea of the lively, "bustling" reporter. His "business" of writing needs careful rehearsal and may be exaggerated a trifle for effect. His age is about 25.
Smith is a man of 40. He is cool, collected and positive in manner, as his character is that of a keen, sharp detective who is accustomed to judging men for what they are, not for what they pretend to be. His speech and bearing indicate a strong, forcible character, lacking in refinement, but shrewd and fertile in resources. As the tramp in the second act he must be fully disguised both in voice and appearance.
Nina is a girl of 18, spirited, lively, but gentle and refined in manner. In the first act she is full of fun and merriment until the trouble arises over the marked bills. Then she becomes anxious - is indignant at the charge against Morley, and her refusal to believe him guilty should be forcibly expressed. In the second Act her bearing is more reserved, and her feelings of dislike and fear toward Durkin must be clearly shown.
Josie has a soubrette role, and the part should be played throughout with entire freedom from restraint. Brisk action, quick speech and a general "hurrah" style are necessary to a proper portrayal of this character.
The play should receive careful rehearsal, giving particular attention to the tableaux and climaxes.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге Under a Cloud, an Original Comedy Drama in Two Acts (Classic Reprint) (Charles Townsend)