The Triple Marriage

Produced by Dagny and Frank J. Morlock
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Translated and Adapted
By Frank J. Morlock C 1982
Mr. Matthews, an old man Elizabeth, his daughter Walter, his son Mr. Manly, Elizabeth's husband Anna, Elizabeth's maid The Countess Polly, Walter's wife Sophie, Matthew's wife Trim, Walter's valet Jeremy, Manly's valet Belinda, a little girl about ten years of age Mr. Nugent A troop of dancers
Matthews No, I cannot be perfectly happy. I had a wife and she died. Out of decency, I mourned her. Secretly, I rejoiced to be delivered from a tyrant who controlled my slightest breath and wanted to rule my inclinations after twenty years of marriage. I thought her death would leave me free.— Now, I am a slave to my children, who force me to go against my own wishes, and to preserve decency, without which I dare not proceed. I have to be careful my affairs are not noised about all over town. I have a son who is bigger than I am: what a mortification for a father who doesn't wish to renounce the world! I have a sweet and pretty daughter—who doesn't want to be a nun. So, to preserve decency, I have to marry her off. What an aggravating necessity for a father who loves his own comfort more than his daughter! What role should I play?— For the time being better keep them amused, so as to have time to arrange matters in the way I wish.
(Enter Anna.)
Anna What's going on, sir? I've just seen I don't know how many men down there getting drunk. What guzzlers! They've already emptied more than thirty bottles, and they complain they are dying of thirst. Who are they?