The Great Adventure: A Play of Fancy in Four Acts

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Great Adventure, by Arnold Bennett

SPECIAL NOTE.— Each Act is divided into two scenes, separated by a passage of time more or less short. The passage of time is indicated by darkening the stage for a few moments. No change of scenery is involved.
The play was produced for the first time in London at the Kingsway Theatre, by Granville Barker, on Tuesday, March 25th, 1913.
Front room on ground floor at 126 Redcliffe Gardens. An apartment furnished richly but in an old-fashioned way. Fine pictures. Large furniture. Sofa near centre. General air of neglect and dustiness. Carpet half-laid. Trunks and bags lying about in corners, some opened. Men's wearing apparel exposed. Mantelpiece , R., in disorder. At back double doors (ajar) leading to another room. Door , L., leading to hall and front door.
Time.— Evening in August.
Albert Shawn is reclining on the sofa, fully dressed, but obviously ill: an overcoat has been drawn over his legs. A conspicuous object is a magnificent light purple dressing-gown thrown across a chair.
Door bangs off. Enter Ilam Carve in his shirt sleeves, hurriedly. Shawn feebly tries to get up.
Carve. Now, don't move. Remember you're a sick man, and forget you're a servant.
(Shawn shivers . Carve, about to put on his dressing-gown, changes his mind, and wraps it round Shawn as well as he can . Carve then puts on an oldish coat .)
Shawn. ( Feebly .) You've been very quick, sir.
Carve. I found a red lamp only three doors off. He'll be along in half a minute.