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'■     M313 

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If     1914 

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MAIN 

A  Sunny  Morning 


French's  International  Copyrighted  (in  England,  hee 

Colonies,  and  the  United  States)    Edition  of 

THE  Works  of  the  Best  Authors. 

No.  711  I 

H 
X 

$ 

A  CO  Ad  ED  V  OF  MADRID  J 

IN  ONE  ACT  X 

BY  2 

X 

RAFIN  AND  JOAQufx  ALVAREZ  X 

QUINTERO  3 

ted  from   the  Spanish  by   Lucre tia  Xavier  Floyd  «y 

Arranged  for  The  Civic  Repertory   Theatre,  New  York,  |J 

by  John  Garrett   Underhill  jg 

IGHT,    1914,    BY    LUCRETIA    XaVIER    FlOYD  X 

All  Rights  Reserved  X 

dfessionals     and     amateurs    are     hereby    warned    that  X 

"A    SLNNY   MORNING,"    being    fully    protected    under   the    copy-  X 

right   laws  of  the   I'nited   States   of  America,    the   British    Empire,  X 

including    the    Dominion    of    Canada,    and    the    other    countries    of  X 

the    Copyright    Union,    is    subject    to   a    royalty,    and    anyone    pre-  X 

senting    the    play    without    the    consent    of    the    owners    or    their  X 

authoi  ized    agents    will    be    liable    to    the    penalties    by    law    pro-  ^ 

vided.      Applications     for     the     acting     rights     must    be    made     to  j^ 

Samue-    French,    at    25    West    45th    Street,    New    York    City,    o-    at  5 

811    West   7th   Street,    Los   Angeles,   Ca'if.  2 


PRICE,  30  CEl^  TS 

SAMUEL    FRENCH,    Ire. 

25  West  45th  Street,  New  York,  N.  ^ . 

811  West  7th  Street,  Los  Angeles,  Calif. 

SAMUEL  FRENCH,  Ltd. 

26  Southampton  Street,  Strand,  W.C.2,  London 


ARE  YOU  A  MASONS 

#arce  in  2  acti.    Bj  Leo  Ditrichstein.    7  maleSj,  ?   ^ 
>lia]«a.    Modem  tostumes.    Plays  2H  hours     1  interioT 

••Are  Tou  »  Mason !**  is  one  of  those  deliglitful  farces  lilt 
'Charley'*  Aunt"  that  are  always  fresh.  "A  mother  and  a 
Janghter,"  says  the  critic  of  the  New  York  Herald,  "had  hui* 
1»ands  who  account  for  absences  from  the  joint  household  m. 
jfrequent  evenings,  falsely  pretending  to  be  Masons.  The  mea 
io  not  know  te^ch  other's  duplicity,  and  each  tells  his  wife  ® 
kaving  advanced  to  leadership  in  his  lodge.  The  older  womasi 
Tas  so  well  pleased  with  her  husband's  supposed  distinction  ^r- 
the  order  that  she  made  him  promise  to  put  up  the  name  of  f 
Tisiting  friend  for  membership.  Further  perplexity  over  tki 
principal  liar  arose  when  a  suitor  for  his  second  daughter's  han^» 
proved  to  be  a  real  Mason.  ,  .  To  tell  the  story  of  the  pla 
vould  require  volumes,  its  complications  are  so  numerous.  It  ii 
ji  house  of  cards.  One  card  wrongly  placed  and  the  whole  thinf- 
Tirould  collapse.  But  it  stands,  an  example  of  remarkable  iiL 
fenuity.  You  wonder  at  the  end  of  the  first  act  how  the  fuo 
3an  be  kept  up  on  such  a  slender  foundation.  But  it  continuec 
*nd  grows  to  the  last  curtain  "  One  of  the  most  hilarioush 
amusing  farces  ever  written  especially  suited  to  schools  an^ 
Wajionic  LfOdgea      (Royalty,  twenty-fiv*>  dollars  ^        T'ice    7s^  Oen«N< 


KEMPY 

A  delightful  comedy  in  3  actSc  By  :^c  C  Nugein  <»nc 
Elliott  Nugentc  4  males,  4  femaleSo  I  interior  throughou'i 
(Costumes,  modern^     Plays  2%  hoursc 

No  wonder  "Kempy"  has  been  such  a  tremendous  hit  m  ^%% 
i^orkj  Chicago — -wherever  it  has  played.  It  snaps  with  wit  an'i 
°lumor  of  the  most  delightful  kind.  It's  electric^  It's  "^mall 
Oown  folk  perfectlr  pictured.  Full  of  types  of  varied  sorts,  eacl« 
9iie  done  to  &  turn  and  served  with  zestful  sauce  An  idea 
»atertainment  for  amusement  purposes.  The  story  is  about  a  higli 
&latin'  daughter  who  in  a  fit  of  pique  marries  the  young  plumbef 
^Architect,  who  come"  to  fix  the  water  pipes,  just  because  hi 
* 'understands"  he  Aaving  read  her  book  and  having  sworn  t<{ 
marry  the  authoress.  But  in  that  story  lies  all  the  humor  th»».- 
cept  the  audience  laughing  every  second  of  every  act.  Of  courses 
ihere  are  lots  of  ramifications,  each  of  which  bears  its  own  bran4 
d  laughter-making  potentials.  But  the  plot  and  the  story  aiv? 
jot  the  main  things.  There  is,  for  instance,  the  work  of  ths 
company.  The  fun  growing  out  of  this  family  mizup  is  lively  anl 
slean       ^Royalty,  twenty-five  dollars^  Price,  75  CestL, 


SAMinSL  FRENCH,  2ft   vVest  46tli  Street,  New  York  City 
New  and  Explicit  Deecrtptive  Catalogue  Mailed  Free  on  Beanest 


A  Sunny  Morning 

A  COMEDY  OF  MADRID 

IN  ONE  ACT       \  ;•  '..    •    . 


BY 

SERAFIN  AND  JOAQUIN  ALVAREZ 
QUINTERO       ; 

Translated  from   the  Spanish  by   Lucrctia  Xavier  Floyd 

Arranged  for  The  Civic  Repertory   Theatre,  New  York, 
by  John  Garrett   Underhill 


Copyright,  1914,  by  Lucretia  Xavier  Floyd 


All  Rights  Reserved 

CAUTION:  Professionals  and  amateurs  are  hereby  warned  that 
"A  SUNNY  MORNING,"  being  fully  protected  under  the  copy- 
right laws  of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  British  Empire, 
including  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  the  other  countries  of 
the  Copyright  Union,  is  subject  to  a  royalty,  and  anyone  pre- 
senting the  play  without  the  consent  of  the  owners  or  their 
authorized  agents  will  be  liable  to  the  penalties  by  law  pro- 
vided. Applications  for  the  acting  rights  must  be  made  to 
Samuel  French,  at  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York  City,  or  at 
811    West   7th    Street,    Los   Angeles,   Calif. 


SAMUEL    FRENCH,    Inc. 

25  West  4.jth  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

811  West  Ttii  Street,  Los  Angeles,  Calif. 

SAMUEL  FRENCH,  Ltd. 

26  Southampton  Street,  Strand,  W.C.2,  London 


'A  SUNNY  MORNING" 
ALL  RIGHTS  RESLRVED 


Especial  notice  should  be  taken  that  the  possession  of  this 
book  without  a  valid  contract  for  production  first  having 
been  obtained  from  the  publisher  confers  no  right  or  license 

,'t^  prof'^ssipR^fs'Or  amateurs  to  produce  the  play  publicly  or 

*4n  priva'te  for/  ga'in'  or  charity. 

;•  tJAa'tVlpr^esept/^Corrn^  this  play  is  dedicated  to  the  reading 
public  bnYy;  'and  Vo' 'performance,  representation,  production, 
recitation,  public  reading  or  radio  broadcasting  may  be  given 
except  by  special  arrangement  with  Samuel  French,  at  25 
West  45th  Street,  New  York,  or  at  811  West  7th  Street,  Los 
Angeles,  Calif. 

This  play  may  be  presented  by  amateurs  upon  payment  of 
a  royalty  of  Ten  Dollars  for  each  performance,  payable  to 
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West  7th  Street,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  one  week  before  the 
date  when  the  play  is  given. 

Professional  royalty  quoted  on  application  to  Samuel 
French,  at  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York,  or  at  811  West 
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play :  "Produced  by  special  arrangement  with  Samuel  French." 

Attention  is  called  to  the  penalty  provided  by  law  for  any 
infringement  of  the  author's  rights,  as  lollows: 

"Section  4966 : — Any  person  publicly  performing  or  repre- 
senting any  dramatic  or  musical  composition  for  which  copy- 
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of  said  dramatic  or  musical  composition,  or  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  shall  be  liable  for  damages  thereof,  such  damages  in 
all  cases,  to  be  assessed  at  such  sum,  not  less  than  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  the  first  and  fifty  dollars  for  every  subse- 
quent performance,  as  to  the  court  shall  appear  to  be  just. 
If  the  unlawful  performance  and  representation  be  wilful  and 
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Title  60,  Chap.  3. 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America  b^/ 
The  Richmond  Hill  Record.  Richmond  Hill.  N.  Y. 


Program    of    "A    SUNNY    MORNING,"    as    produced    by 
The   Civic   Repertory  Theatre,  April   13,    1929 : 


THE    CIVIC   REPERTORY    THEAIRE;,    Inc. 
(Eva  Le  Gallienne,  Director) 

Present 

"A  SUNNY  MORNING" 

A  One  Act  Play 

By 

SERAFIN  AND  JOAQUIN  ALVAREZ  QUINTERO 

Translated  from  the  Spanish  by  Lucretia  Xavier  Floyd 

Arranged    for    The    Civic    Repertory   Theatre   by 
John  Garrett   Underbill 

CAST  OF  CHARACTERS 

DoxA  Laura Ei'a  Le  Gallienne 

Petra,  her  maid Josephine  Hutchinson 

Don  Gonzalo   Egon  Brecher 

JuANiTO,  Jiis  scri'aiit  Robert  Ross 

Scene  :   ^i  retired  corher  in  a  Park  in  Madrid. 

Time  :    The  present. 


^ioyaity  on  this  play  payable  tu  ou^ 
Los  AnireleB  O&ce 

SAMUEL  FRENCH 

f<Ni  Arts  Bldo..  811  West  ?th   8'fi»fei?f 

ttUfttflM   VAMOIKK  6684  Uoe  ANOKt^KJp.   GA  i  I  ' 

826928 


A  Sunny  Morning 


Scene  :  A  sunny  morning  in  a  retired  corner  of  a 
park  in  Madrid.  Autumn.  A  bench  at  Right. 
DoxA  Laura,  a  handsome,  white-haired  old 
lady  of  about  seventy,  refined  in  appearance,  her 
bright  eyes  and  entire  manner  giving  evidence 
that  despite  her  age  her  mental  faculties  are 
iimmpaircd,  enters  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  her 
maid,  Petra.  In  her  free  hand  she  carries  a 
parasol,  which  serves  also  as  a  cane. 

DoxA  Laura.  I  am  so  glad  to  be  here.  I  feared 
my  seat  would  be  occupied.  What  a  beautiful  morn- 
ing ! 

Petra.   The  sun  is  hot. 

DoxA  Laura.  Yes,  you  are  only  twenty.  (She  sits 
dozvn  on  the  bench.)  Oh,  I  feel  more  tired  today 
than  usual.  (Noticing  Petra,  ivho  seems  impatient) 
Go,  if  you  wish  to  chat  with  your  guard. 

Petra.  He  is  not  mine,  sefiora;  he  belongs  to  the 
park. 

DoxA  Laura.  He  belongs  more  to  you  than  he 
does  to  the  park.  Go  find  him,  but  remain  within 
calling  distance. 

Petra.   I  see  him  over  there  waiting  for  me. 

DoxA  Laura.  Do  not  remain  more  than  ten  min- 
utes. 

Petra.    Very  well,  sefiora.    (Walks  toward  R.) 

DoxA  Laura.    Wait  a  moment. 
5 


6  A  SUNNY  MORNING 

Petra.  What  does  the  senora  wish  ? 

Dona  Laura.   Give  me  the  l)read  crumbs. 

Petra.    I  don't  know  what  is  the  matter  with  me. 

DoxXA  Laura.  (Smiling)  I  do.  Your  head  is 
where  your  heart  is — with  the  guard. 

Petra.  Here,  senora.  (SJic  hands  Doxa  Laura  a 
small  bag.  Exit  Petra  by  R.j 

Dona  Laura.  Adios.  (Glances  tozvard  trees  at  r.) 
Here  they  comc^.l/They  know  just  when  to  expect 
me.  (She  rises,  zmlks  tozuard  r.,  and  throzvs  three 
handfuls  of  bread  crumbs)  These  are  for  the  spry- 
est,  these  for  the  gluttons,  and  these  for  the  httle 
ones  which  are  the  most  persistent.  (Laughs.  She 
returns  to  licr  seat  and  watclies,  zvith  a  pleased  ex- 
pression, the  pigeons  feeding)  There,  that  big  oae 
is  always  lirst !    I  know  him  by  his  big  head.    Now 

one,  now  another,  now  two,  now  three That 

little  fellow  is  the  least  timid.  I  believe  he  would 
eat  from  my  hand.  That  one  takes  his  piece  and 
flies  up  to  that  branch  alone.  He  is  a  philosopher. 
But  where  do  they  all  come  from?  It  seems  as  if 
the  news  had  spread.  Ha,  ha  !  Don't  quarrel.  There 
is  enough  for  all.    I'll  bring  more  tomorrow. 

(Enter  Don  Gonzalo  and  Juanito  from  l.c.  Don 
GoNZALO.  is  an  old  gentleman  of  seventy,  gouty 
and  impatient.  He  leans  upon  Juanito's  arm 
and  drags  his  feet  soniezuJiat  as  lie  zvalks.) 

Don  Gonzalo.  Idling  their  time  away !  They 
should  be  saying  mass. 

Juanito.  You  can  sit  here,  senor.  There  is  only 
a  lady.    (Dona  Lautja  turns  her  head  and  listens.) 

Don  Gonzalo.  I  won't,  Juanito.  I  want  a  bench 
to  myself. 

Juanito.   But  there  is  none. 

Don  Gonzalo.  That  one  over  there  is  mine. 

Juanito.    There  are  three  priests  sitting  there. 


A  SUNNY  MORNING  7 

Don  Gonzalo.   Rout  them  out.    Have  they  gone? 

JuANiTO.    No,  indeed.   They  are  talking. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Just  as  if  they  were  gkied  to  the 
seat.  No  hope  of  their  leaving.  Come  this  way, 
Juanito.    (They  zvulk  tozmrd  the  birds,  Right.) 

DoxA  Laura.   (Indignantly)   Look  out ! 

Don  Gonzalo.   Are  you  speaking  to  me,  seiiora? 

DoxA  Laura.   Yes,  to  you. 

Don  Gonzalo.  What  do  you  wish? 

DoxA  Laura.  You  have  scared  away  the  birds 
who  were  feeding  on  my  crumbs. 

Don  Gonzalo.   What  do  I  care  about  the  birds? 

DoxA  Laura.    But  I  do. 

Don  Gonzalo.   This  is  a  public  park. 

Dona  Laura.  Then  why  do  you  complain  that  the 
priests  have  taken  your  bench? 

Don  Gox'zalo.  Sefiora,  we  have  not  met.  1  cannot 
imagine  why  you  take  the  liberty  of  addressing  me. 
Come,  Juanito.    (Both  go  out  r.) 

Doxa  Laura.  What  an  ill-natured  old  man  !  Why 
must  people  get  so  fussy  and  cross  when  they  reach 
a  certain  age?  (Looking  toward  R.j  I  am  glad.  He 
lost  that  bench,  too.  Serves  him  right  for  scaring 
the  birds.  He  is  furious.  Yes,  yes ;  find  a  seat  if 
you  can.  Poor  man !  He  is  wiping  the  perspiration 
from  his  face.  Here  he  comes.  A  carriage  would 
not  raise  more  dust  than  his  feet.  (Enter  Don  Gon- 
zalo and  Juanito  by  r.  and  walk  tozvavd  l.  j 

Don  Gonzalo.  Have  the  priests  gone  yet,  Juanito  ? 

Juanito.   No,  indeed,  seiior.   They  are  still  there. 

Don  Gonzalo.  The  authorities  should  place  more 
benches  here  for  these  sunny  mornings.  Well,  I  sup- 
pose I  must  resign  myself  and  sit  on  the  bench  with 
the  old  lady.  (Muttering  to  himself,  he  sits  at  the 
extreme  end  of  Dona  Laura's  bench  and  looks  at 
her  indignantly.  Touches  his  hat  as  he  greets  her) 
Good  morning. 

Doxa  Laura.  What,  you  here  again  ? 


8  A  SUNNY  MORNING 

Don  Gonzalo.   I  repeat  that  wc  have  not  met. 

Dona  Laura.    I  was  responding  to  your  salute. 

Don  Gonzalo.  "Good  morning"  should  be  an- 
swered by  "good  morning,"  and  that  is  all  you 
should  have  said. 

DoxA  Laura.  You  should  have  asked  permission 
to  sit  on  this  bench,  which  is  mine. 

Don  Gonzalo.  The  benches  here  are  public  prop- 
erty. 

Dona  Laura.  Why,  you  said  the  one  the  priests 
have  was  yours. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Very  well,  very  well.  I  have 
nothing  more  to  say.  (Between  Jiis  teeth)  Senile  old 
lady !  She  ought  to  be  at  home  knitting  and  counting 
her  beads. 

Dona  Laura.  Don't  grumble  any  more.  I'm  not 
going  to  leave  just  to  please  you. 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Brushing  tJic  duct  from  Jiis  shoes 
with  his  handkerchief)  If  the  ground  were  sprinkled 
a  little  it  would  be  an  improvement. 

Dona  Laura.  Do  you  use  your  handkerchief  as  a 
shoe  brush? 

Don  Gonzalo.   Why  not? 

Dona  Laura.  Do  you  use  a  shoe  brush  as  a  hand- 
kerchief ? 

Don  Gonzalo.  What  right  have  you  to  criticize 
my  actions? 

Dona  Laura.   A  neighbor's  right. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Juanito,  m}^  book.  I  do  not  care 
to  listen  to  nonsense. 

Dona  Laura.    You  are  very  polite. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Pardon  me,  ccnora,  but  never  in- 
terfere with  what  does  not  concern  you. 

Dona  Laura.   I  generally  say  what  I  think. 

Don  Gonzalo.  And  more  to  the  same  effect. 
Give  me  the  book,  Juanito. 

Juanito.  Here,  senor.  (Juanito  takes  a  hook 
from  his  pocket,  hands  it  to  Don  Gonzalo,  then 


A  SUNNY  MORNING  9 

exits  by  R.  Don  Gonzalo,  casting  indignant  glances 
at  Dona  Laura,  puts  on  an  enormous  pair  of 
glasses,  takes  from  his  pocket  a  reading-glass,  ad- 
justs both  to  suit  him,  and  opens  his  hook.) 

Dona  Laura.  I  thought  you  were  taking  out  a 
telescope. 

Don  Gonzalo.   Was  that  you? 

Dona  Laura.    Your  sight  must  be  keen. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Keener  than  yours  is.  — 

Dona  Laura.    Yes,  evidently. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Ask  the  hares  and  partridges. 

Dona  Laura.  Ah  !  Do  you  hunt  ? 

Don  Gonzalo.   I  did,  and  even  now 

Dona  Laura.   Oh,  yes,  of  course ! 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes,  sefiora.  Every  Sunday  I  take 
my  gun  and  dog,  you  understand,  and  go  to  one  of 
my  estates  near  Aravaca  and  kill  time. 

Dona  Laura.   Yes,  kill  time.   That  is  all  you  kill. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Do  you  think  so?  I  could  show 
you  a  wild  boar's  head  in  my  study 

Dona  Laura.  Yes,  and  I  could  show  you  a  tiger's 
skin  in  my  boudoir.    What  does  that  prove? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Very  well,  senora,  please  allow 
me  to  read.    Enough  conversation. 

Dona  Laura.  Well,  you  subside,  then. 

Don  Gonzalo.  But  first  I  shall  take  a  pinch  of 
snuff.  (Takes  out  snuff  box)  Will  you  have  some? 
(Offers  box  to  Dona  Laura. J 

Dona  Laura.   If  it  is  good. 

Don  Gonzalo.   It  is  of  the  finest.  You  will  like  it. 

Dona  Laura.  (Taking  pinch  of  snuff)  It  clears 
my  head. 

Don  Gonzalo.  And  mine. 

Dona  Laura.  Do  you  sneeze  ? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes,  senora,  three  times. 

Dona  Laura.   And  so  do  I.   What  a  coincidence! 
(After  taking  the  snuff,  they  azvait  tJie  sneezes,  both   f(^{j^ 
anxiously,  and  sneeze  alternately  three  times  each.)  ,.    /,. 


10  A   SUNNY  MORNING 

Don  Gonzalo.  There,  I  feel  l)etter. 

Dona  Laura.  So  do  I.  (Aside)  The  snuff  has 
made  peace  between  us. 

Don  Gonzalo.  You  will  excuse  me  if  I  read 
aloud  ? 

Dona  Laura.  Read  as  loud  as  you  please  ;  you  will 
not  disturb  me. 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Reading)  "All  love  is  sad,  but 
sad  as  it  is,  it  is  the  best  thing  that  we  know."  That 
is  from  Campoamor. 

Dona  Laura.   Ah! 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Reading)  "The  daughters  of 
the  mothers  I  once  loved  kiss  me  now  as  they  would 
a  graven  image."  Those  lines,  I  take  it,  are  in  a 
humorous  vein. 

Dona  Laura.   (Laughing)   I  take  them  so,  too. 

Don  Gonzalo.  There  are  some  beautiful  poems 
in  this  book.  Here.  "Twenty  years  pass.  He  re- 
turns." 

Dona  Laura.  You  cannot  imagine  how  it  affects 
me  to  see  you  reading  with  all  those  glasses. 

Don  Gonzalo.    Can  you  read  without  any? 

Dona  Laura.    Certainly. 

Don  Gonzalo.  At  your  age?  You're  jesting. 

Dona  Laura.    Pass  me  the  book,  then.    (Takes 
]njj^\  book;  reads  aloud) 
,.  ',;  ■'■'-  "Twenty  years  pass.   He  returns. 

And  each,  beholding  the  other,  exclaims — 
Can  it  be  that  this  is  he  ? 
Heavens,  is  it  she?" 
(Dona  Laura  returns  the  hook  to  Don  Gonzalo.  j 

Don  Gonzalo.  Indeed,  I  envy  you  your  wonder- 
ful eyesight. 

Dona  Laura,  (Aside)  I  know  every  word  by 
heart. 

Don  Gonzalo.  I  am  very  fond  of  good  verses, 
very  fond.   I  even  composed  some  in  my  youth. 

Dona  Laura.   Good  ones? 


"A  Sunny  Morning" 


See  Page  7 


A  SUNNY  MORNING  ii 

Don  Gonzalo.  Of  all  kinds.  I  was  a  great  friend 
of  Espronceda/Zorrilla,  Becquer,  and  others.  1  first 
met  Zorrilla  in  America. 

Dona  Laura.    Why,  have  you  been  in  America? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Several  times.  The  first  time  I 
went  I  was  only  six  years  old. 

Dona  Laura.  You  must  have  gone  with  Colum- 
bus in  one  of  his  caravels ! 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Laughing)  Not  quite  as  bad  as 
that.  I  am  old,  I  admit,  but  I  did  not  know  Ferdi- 
nand and  Isabella.  (TJiey  both  laugh.)  I  was  also  a 
great  friend  of  Campoamor.  I  met  him  in  Valencia. 
I  am  a  native  of  that  city. 

Dona  Laura.   You  are? 

Don  Gonzalo.  I  was  brought  up  there  and  there  I 
spent  my  early  youth.  Have  you  ever  visited  that 
city? 

Dona  Laura.  Yes,  senor.  Not  far  from  Valencia 
there  was  a  villa  that,  if  still  there,  should  retain 
memories  of  me.  I  spent  several  seasons  there.  It 
was  many,  many  years  ago.  It  was  near  the  sea, 
hidden  away  among  lemon  and  orange  trees.  They 
called  it — let  me  see,  what  did  they  call  it — Maricela. 

Don  Gonzalo.    (Startled)    Maricela? 

Dona  Laura.  Alaricela.  Is  the  name  familiar  to 
you? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes,  very  familiar.  If  my  mem- 
ory serves  me  right,  for  we  forget  as  we  grow  old, 
there  lived  in  that  villa  the  most  beautiful  woman  I 
have  ever  seen,  and  I  assure  you  I  have  seen  many. 
Let  me  see — what  was  her  name?  Laura — Laura — 
Laura  Llorente. 

Dona  Laura.   (Startled)  Laura  Llorente  ? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes.  (They  look  at  each  other 
intently.) 

Dona  Laura.  (Recovering  herself)  Nothing. 
You  reminded  me  of  my  best  friend. 


f 


12  A  SUNNY  MORNING 

Don  Gonzalo.    How  strange ! 

Dona  Laura.  It  is  strange.  She  was  called  "The 
Silver  Maiden." 

Don  Gonzalo.  Precisely,  **The  Silver  Maiden." 
By  that  name  she  was  known  in  that  locality.  I 
seem  to  see  her  as  if  she  were  before  me  now,  at 
that  window  with  the  red  roses.  Do  you  remember 
that  window? 

DoxA  Laura.  Yes,  I  remember.  It  was  the  win- 
dow of  her  room. 

Don  Gonzalo.    She  spent  many  hours  there.    I 
mean  in  my  day. 
^      Dona  Laura.    (Sighing)    And  in  mine.  too. 

Don  Gonzalo.  She  was  ideal.  Fair  as  a  lily,  jet 
black  hair  and  black  eyes,  with  an  uncommonly  sweet 
expression.  She  seemed  to  cast  a  radiance  wherever 
she  was.  Her  figure  was  beautiful,  perfect.  "What 
forms  of  sovereign  beauty  God  models  in  human 
clay  !"    She  was  a  dream. 

Dona  Laura.  (Aside)  If  you  but  knew  that 
dream  was  now  by  your  side,  you  would  realize 
what  dreams  come  to.  (Aloud)  She  was  very  un- 
fortunate and  had  a  sad  love  afifair. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Very  sad.  (TJiey  look  at  each 
other.) 

Dona  Laura.  Did  you  hear  of  it  ? 

Don  Gonzalo.   Yes. 

DoxA  Laura.  The  ways  of  Providence  are  strange. 
(Aside)    Gonzalo! 

Don  Gonzalo.  The  gallant  lover,  in  the  same  af- 
fair  

Dona  Laura.    Ah,  the  duel? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Precisely,  the  duel.  The  gallant 
lover  was — my  cousin,  of  whom  I  was  very  fond. 

DoxA  Laura.  Oh,  yes,  a  cousin?  ?^Iy  friend 
told  me  in  one  of  her  letters  the  story  of  that  afifair, 
which  was  truly  romantic.    He,  your  cousin,  passed 


A  SUNNY  MORNING  13 

by  on  horseback  every  morning  down  the  rose  path 
under  her  window,  and  tossed  up  to  her  balcony  a 
bouquet  of  flowers  which  she  caught. 

Don  Gonzalo.  And  later  in  the  afternoon  the  gal- 
lant horseman  would  return  by  the  same  path,  and 
catch  the  bouquet  of  flowers  she  would  toss  him. 
Am  I  right? 

DoxA  Laura.  Yes.  They  wanted  to  marry  her  to 
a  merchant  whom  she  would  not  have. 

Don  Gonzalo.  And  one  night,  when  my  cousin 
waited  under  her  window  to  hear  her  sing,  this  other 
person  presented  himself  unexpectedly. 

Doxa  Laura.   And  insulted  your  cousin. 

Don  Gonzalo.   There  was  a  quarrel. 

Doxa  Laura.  And  later  a  duel. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes,  at  sunrise,  on  the  beach,  and 
the  merchant  was  badly  wounded.  My  cousin  had 
to  conceal  himself  for  a  few  days  and  later  to  fly. 

Doxa  Laura.    You  seem  to  know  the  story  well. 

Don  Gonzalo.   And  so  do  you. 

Doxa  Laura.  I  have  explained  that  a  friend  re- 
peated it  to  me. 

Don  Gonzalo.  As  my  cousin  did  to  me.  (Aside) 
This  is  Laura ! 

Doxa  Laura.  (Aside)  Why  tell  him?  He  does 
not  suspect. 

Don  Gonzalo.    (Aside)    She  is  entirely  innocent. 

Doxa  Laura.  And  was  it  you,  by  any  chance, 
who  advised  your  cousin  to  forget  Laura? 

Don  Gonzalo.   Why,  my  cousin  never  forgot  her! 

Doxa  Laura.  How  do  you  account,  then,  for  his 
conduct  ? 

Don  Gonzalo.  I  will  tell  you.  The  young  man 
took  refuge  in  my  house,  fearful  of  the  consequences 
of  a  duel  with  a  person  highly  regarded  in  that  lo- 
cality. From  my  home  he  went  to  Seville,  then  came 
to  Madrid.    He  wrote  Laura  many  letters,  some  of 


14  f 


SUNNY  MORNING 


them  in  verse.  But  undou1)te(lly  they  were  inter- 
cepted by  her  parents,  for  she  never  answered  at  all. 
Gonzalo  then,  in  despair,  believing  his  love  lost  to 
him  forever,  joined  the  army,  went  to  Africa,  and 
there,  in  a  trench,  met  a  glorious  death,  grasping 
the  flag  of  Spain  and  whispering  the  name  of  his 
beloved  Laura 

DoxA  Laura.   (Aside)    What  an  atrocious  lie  ! 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Aside)  I  could  not  have  killed 
myself  more  gloriously. 

DoxA  Laura.  You  must  have  been  prostrated  by 
the  calamity. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes,  indeed,  senora.  As  if  he 
were  my  brother.  I  presume,  though,  on  the  con- 
trary, that  Laura  in  a  short  time  was  chasing  butter- 
flies in  her  garden,  indifferent  to  regret. 

DoxA  Laura.    No,  senor,  no ! 

Don  Gonzalo.   It  is  woman's  way. 

DoxA  Laura.  Even  if  it  were  woman's  way,  **The 
Silver  Maiden"  was  not  of  that  disposition.  My 
friend  awaited  news  for  days,  months,  a  year,  and 
no  letter  came.  One  afternoon,  just  at  sunset,  as  the 
first  stars  were  appearing,  she  was  seen  to  leave  the 
house,  and  with  quickening  steps  wend  her  way 
toward  the  beach,  the  beach  where  her  beloved  had 
risked  his  life.  She  wrote  his  name  on  the  sand, 
then  sat  down  upon  a  rock,  her  gaze  fixed  upon  the 
horizon.  The  waves  murmured  their  eternal  thren- 
ody and  slowly  crept  up  to  the  rock  where  the  maiden 
sat.  The  tide  rose  with  a  boom  and  swept  her  out 
to  sea. 

Don  Gonzalo.   Good  heavens ! 

DoxA  Laura.  The  fishermen  of  that  shore  who 
often  tell  the  story  affirm  that  it  was  a  long  time  be- 
fore the  waves  washed  away  that  name  written  on 
the  sand.  (Aside)  You  will  not  get  ahead  of  me  in 
decorating  my  own  funeral. 


A  SUNNY  MORNING  15 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Aside)   She  lies  worse  than  I  do. 

Dona  Laura.    Poor  Laura ! 

Don  Gonzalo.    Poor  Gonzalo ! 

Dona  Laura.  (Aside)  I  will  not  tell  him  that  I 
married  two  years  later. 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Aside)  In  three  months  I  ran 
off  to  Paris  with  a  ballet  dancer. 

Dona  Laura.  Fate  is  curious.  Here  are  you  and 
I,  complete  strangers,  met  by  chance,  discussing  the 
romance  of  old  friends  of  long  ago !  We  have  been 
conversing  as  if  we  were  old  friends. 

Don  Gonzalo.  Yes,  it  is  curious,  considering  the 
ill-natured  prelude  to  our  conversation. 

Dona  Laura.   You  scared  away  the  birds. 

Don  Gonzalo.  I  was  unreasonable,  perhaps. 

Dona  Laura.  Yes,  that  was  evident.  (Szveetly) 
Are  you  coming  again  tomorrow  ? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Most  certainly,  if  it  is  a  sunny 
morning.  And  not  only  will  I  not  scare  away  the 
birds,  but  I  will  ])ring  a  few  crumbs. 

Dona  Laura.  Thank  you  very  much.  Birds  are 
grateful  and  repay  attention.  I  wonder  where  my 
maid  is?  Petra  !   (Signals  for  her  maid.) 

Don  Gonzalo.  (Aside,  looking  at  Laura,  whose 
back  is  turned)  No,  no,  I  will  not  reveal  myself.  I 
am  grotesque  now.  Better  that  she  recall  the  gallant 
horseman  who  passed  daily  beneath  her  window  toss- 
ing flowers. 

Dona  Laura.   Here  she  comes. 

Don  Gonzalo.  That  Juanito!  He  plays  havoc 
with  the  nursemaids.  (Looks  r.  and  signals  ivith  his 
hand.) 

Dona  Laura.  (Aside,  looking  at  Gonzalo.  whose 
back  is  turned)  No,  I  am  too  sadly  changed.  It  is 
better  he  should  remember  me  as  the  black-eyed  girl 
tossing  flowers  as  he  passed  among  the  roses  in  the 
garden.  (Juanito  enters  by  r.,  Petra  by  l.  She  has 
a  bunch  of  violets  in  her  hand.) 


i6  A   SUNNY  MORNING 

Dona  Laura.   Wdk-^Petcial^ALlast! 

Don  Gonzalo.   Juanito,  you  are  late. 

Petra.  (To  Dona  Laura;  The  guard  gave  me 
these  violets  for  you,  sefiora, 

Doxa  Laura.  How  very  nice  !  Thank  him  inr  me. 
They  are  fragrant.  (As  she  takes  the  violets  jyom 
her  maid  a  few  loose  ones  fall  to  the  ground.) 

Don  Gonzalo.  My  dear  lady,  this  has  been  a 
great  honor  and  a  great  pleasure. 

Dona  Laura.   It  has  also  been  a  pleasure  to  me. 

Don  Gonzalo.   Goodbye  until  tomorrow. 

Dona  Laura.   Until  tomorrow. 

Don  Gonzalo.   If  it  is  sunny. 

Dona  Laura.  A  sunny  morning.  \M11  you  go  to 
your  bench? 

Don  Gonzalo.  No,  I  will  come  to  this — if  you  do 
not  object? 

Dona  Laura.    This  bench  is  at  your  disposal. 

Don  Gonzalo.  And  I  will  surely  bring  the 
crumbs. 

Dona  Laura.  Tomorrow,  then? 

Don  Gonzalo.  Tomorrow ! 

(Laura  walks  away  toivard  r.,  supported  by  her 
Maid.  Gonzalo,  before  leazmg  with  Juanito, 
trembling  and  wnth  a  great  effort,  stoops  to  pick 
up  the  violets  Laura  dropped.  Just  then  Laura 
turns  her  head  and  surprises  him  picking  up  the 
flowers.) 

Juanito.  What  are  you  doing,  senor? 

Don  Gonzalo.   Juanito,  wait 

Dona  Laura.    (Aside)  Yes,  it  is  he! 
Don  Gonzalo.    (.Iside)   It  is  she,  and  no  mistake. 
(Dona  Laura  and  Don  Gonzalo  wave  farewell.) 
Dona  Laura.   "Can  it  be  that  this  is  he?" 
Don  Gonzalo.  "Heavens,  is  it  she?"  (They  smile 


A  SUNNY  MORNING  17 

once  more,  as  if  she  were  again  at  the  windozv  and 
he  belozv  in  the  rose  garden,  and  then  disappear  upon 
the  arms  of  their  servants.) 

CURTAIN 


"A  SUNNY  MORNING" 

"A  Sunny  Morning,"  the  most  popular  of  the 
shorter  Quintero  plays,  is  especially  adapted  to 
Amateur  and  Little  Theatre  production.  Few  light 
comedies  have  been  so  successful  internationally, 
whether  presented  in  Spanish,  Italian,  English, 
French  or  German. 

"A  Sunny  Morning"  has  been  a  feature  in  Eva 
Le  Gallienne's  repertory  since  the  season  of  1928- 
1929.  With  Miss  Alice  Lewisohn  as  Doua  Laura, 
it  was  a  favorite  during  several  seasons  at  the 
Neighborhood  Playhouse,  New  York  City.  Among 
other  performances,  those  of  the  Amateur  Comedy 
Club,  New  York,  and  the  Toy  Theatre,  Boston,  de- 
serve mention.  The  foreign  productions  are  num- 
berless. With  the  exception  of  Miss  Jane  Cowl's 
**]\lalvaloca,"  offered  under  the  auspices  of  the  Act- 
ors' Theatre,  "A  Sunny  Morning"  is  the  only  .one 
of  the  more  widely  known  Quintero  plays  to  be  acted 
in  English. 


18 


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VD    -> 

COME  OUT  OF  THE  KITCHEN 

A  charming  comedy  in  3  acts.  Adapted  by  A.  E.  Thomas 
from  the  story  of  the  same  name  by  Alice  Duer  Miller. 
6  males,  5  females.  3  interior  scenes.  Costumes,  modern. 
Plays  214  hours. 

The  story  of  "Come  Out  of  the  Kitchen"  is  written  around  a 
Virginia  family  of  the  old  aristocracy,  by  the  name  of  Dainger- 
field,  who,  finding  themselves  temporarily  embarrassed,  decide  to 
rent  their  magnificent  home  to  a  rich  Yankee.  One  of  the  con- 
ditions of  the  lease  by  the  Avell-to-do  New  Englander  stipulates 
that  a  competent  staff  of  white  servants  should  be  engaged  for 
his  sojourn  at  the  stately  home.  This  servant  question  presents 
practically  insurmountable  difficulties,  and  one  of  the  daughters 
of  the  family  conceives  the  mad-cap  idea  that  she,  her  sister  and 
their  two  brothers  shall  act  as  the  domestic  staff  for  the  wealthy 
Yankee.  Olivia  Daingerfield,  who  is  the  ringleader  in  the  merry 
scheme,  adopts  the  cognomen  of  Jane  Allen,  and  elects  to  preside 
over  the  destinies  of  the  kitchen.  Her  sister,  Elizabeth,  is  ap- 
pointed housemaid.  Her  elder  brother,  Paul,  is  the  butler,  and 
Charley,  the  youngest  of  the  group,  is  appointed  to  the  position  of 
bootboy.  When  Burton  Crane  arrives  from  the  North,  accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  Faulkner,  her  daughter,  and  Crane's  attorney, 
Tucker,  they  find  the  staff  of  servants  to  possess  so  many  methods 
of  behavior  out  of  the  ordinary  that  amusing  complications  begin 
to  arise  immediately.  Olivia's  charm  and  beauty  impress  Crane 
above  everything  else,  and  the  merry  story  continues  through  a 
maze  of  delightful  incidents  until  the  real  identity  of  the  heroine 
is  finally  disclosed.  But  not  until  Crane  has  professed  his  love 
for  his  charming  cook,  and  the  play  ends  with  the  brightest 
prospects  of  happiness  for  these  two  young  people.  "Come  Out 
of  the  Kitchen,"  with  Ruth  Chatterton  in  the  leading  role,  made 
B  notable  success  on  its  production  by  Henry  Miller  at  the  Cohan 
Theatre,  New  York.  It  was  also  a  great  success  at  the  Strand 
Theatre,  London,  A  most  ingenious  and  entertaining  comedy, 
and  we  strongly  recommend  it  for  amateur  production.  (Royalty, 
twenty-five  dollars.)  Price,  75  Cents. 

GOING   SOME 

Play  in  4  acts.  By  Paul  Armstrong  and  Eex  Beach. 
12  males,  4  females.  2  exteriors,  1  interior.  Costumes, 
modern  and  cowboy.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

Described  by  the  authors  as  the  "chronicle  of  a  certain  lot  of 
college  men  and  girls,  with  a  tragic  strain  of  phonogi-aph  and 
cowboys."  A  rollicking  good  story,  full  of  action,  atmosphere, 
comedy  and  drama,  redolent  of  the  adventurous  spirit  of  youth. 
(Royalty,  twenty-five  dollars.)  Price,  75  Cents. 

SAMUEL  FRENCH,  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York  City 
Vew  and  "toplicit  Descriptive  Catalogue  Mailed  Free  on  Request 


MRSo  PARTRI1.GE  PRESENTS 


eomtdj  ki  3  aots.     Bj  Maif  Kennedy  iBind  Buth 
\|l»rn«.    6  males,  6  feinaleSo    Modern  costumes     2  interiom 

flay 8  2^  hcHTBo 

The  characters,  scenes  and  situations  are  thoroughly  ap=«© 
M^e  in  this  altogether  delightful  American  comedy  The  hero.imc 
!]iS  ft  woman  of  tremendous  energy,  who  manages  a  business— *l- 
rfii«  manages  everything — with  great  success^  and  at  home  pr.f 
(DMsb  over  the  destinies  of  a  growing  son  and  daughter.  Hes. 
Ofeiaggle  to  give  the  children  the  opportunities  she  herselt  &&« 
oESssed,  and  the  children's  ultimate  revolt  against  her  well-measi- 
aiaaagement — that  is  the  basis  of  the  plot.  The  son  who  it  c:&s 
^Mi  the  part  of  artist  and  the  daughter  who  is  to  go  on  the  staff 
3)SFer  numerous  opportunities  for  the  development  of  nhf^  iot:  • 
iiKDSsihilities  in   the  themOc 

The  play  is  one  of  the  most  delightful,  yet  thoughtprovoiii:  j 
:^iiaaerican  comedies  of  recent  years^  and  is  warmly  recommen  a<=^ c 
(fe all  amateur  groups      (Royalty  on  application,)     Price    75   ''^r-^ 


:n  the  next  room 

Melodrama   ii>  3  acts.     By    Eleanor  RobsoD  and    Hanu.*' 
ifmd.     8  maleSj  3  femalea     2  interiors      Modern  costunie^' 

i?llayg  2%   hours 

'"Philir  Vantinf  has  bought  a  rare  copy  of  an  original  BtM 
'^ii:.aet  and  ordered  it  shipped  tc  hie  New  York  home  from  Pa^tt 
VixBB  St  arrives  it  is  found  to>  be  the  original  itself,  the  p(is 
r8,(g§ioD  of  whifb  18  desired  by  many  strange  people^  Before  IL«i 
■>-*si'^->-  ■  oncerned  with  the  cabinet's  shipment  can  be  cleaf^> 
!.]$>  twr  persons  meet  mysterious  death  fooling  with  it  and  ';5 
jappinesft  of  many  otherwise  happy  actors  is  threatened'  (Bum 
lIsmMe)  A  first-rate  mystery  play,  comprising  all  the  elemeti 
•5  siiiispense;  curiosity^  comedy  and  drama.  "In  the  Next  Roon 
'.  |iiiil46  easy  tc  stage.  It  can  be  unreservedly  recommended  ^ 
agj.     j^ioolft    ftnd     eoUegnic.       (Boyaltyc     twenty-five     dol^&i^J 


SAMITEL  FRENCH,  tS  West  45th  Street.  New  York  City 
New  and  Explicit  Descriptive  Catalogue  Mailed  Free  on  Bequest 


\3SB 


LrD  2 1-5  Or 

(.C8481sl0, 


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%U^o^^''' 


dr^^ 


/  York  City 


Manufaelund  by 

©AYLORD  BROS.  I«c 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Ci.ockton,  Calif. 


GENERAL  LIBRARY  -  U.C.  BERKELEY 


BDDD8flS317 


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