THE CABINET MINISTER

A FARCE
In Four Acts
By ARTHUR W. PINERO
LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN
MDCCCXCII

Entered at Stationers’ Hall.

Entered at the Library of Congress, Washington, U.S.A.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

It is well known that Mr. Pinero holds decided views of his own as to the nature and function of farce; indeed, he claims for it a wider scope and a more comprehensive purpose than have ever been associated with farce of the old Adelphi type, or the more modern genus of the Palais Royal. He has openly expressed his opinion that farce must gradually become the modern equivalent of comedy, since the present being an age of sentiment rather than of manners, the comic playwright must of necessity seek his humour in the exaggeration of sentiment. Thus Mr. Pinero holds that farce should treat of probable people placed in possible circumstances, but regarded from a point of view which exaggerates their sentiments and magnifies their foibles. In this light it is permitted to this class of play, not only to deal with ridiculous incongruities of incident and character, but to satirise society, and to wring laughter from those possible distresses of life which might trace their origin to fallacies of feeling and extravagances of motive.

"The Cabinet Minister" is the latest of Mr. Pinero’s series of farces, and it may be regarded as the direct development of ideas which he began to put into practice when he wrote "The Magistrate." Since then these ideas have undergone a process of gradual evolution, which may be clearly traced through the successive productions of "The Schoolmistress," "Dandy Dick," and "The Cabinet Minister," in each of which it will be seen that the author has aimed less at the exposition of a plot than at the satirising of particular types of character in a possible social atmosphere.

"The Cabinet Minister" was written early in 1889, and produced by Mrs. John Wood and Mr. Arthur Chudleigh at the Court Theatre, on April 23, 1890.

The following is a copy of the Programme:—

ROYAL COURT THEATRE.

Under the Management of Mrs. John Wood.

ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23rd,

At 8 o’clock,

WILL BE ACTED FOR THE FIRST TIME

AN ORIGINAL FARCE IN FOUR ACTS, CALLED

THE CABINET MINISTER,

A. W. PINERO.

Earl of Drumdurris (in the Guards)	Mr. Richard Saunders.
Viscount Aberbrothock (his Son)	* * * *
Right Hon. Sir Julian Twombley, G.C.M.G., M.P. (Secretary of State for the —— Department)	Mr. Arthur Cecil.
Brooke Twombley (his Son)	Mr. E. Allan Aynesworth.
Macphail of Ballocheevin	Mr. Brandon Thomas.
Mr. Joseph Lebanon	Mr. Weedon Grossmith.
Valentine White (Lady Twombley’s Nephew)	Mr. Herbert Waring.
Mr. Mitford [A] (Sir Julian’s Private Secretary)	Mr. Frank Farren.
The Munkittrick	Mr. John Clulow.
Probyn (A Servant)	Mr. Ernest Paton.

Dowager Countess of Drumdurris	Miss R. G. Le Thière.
Lady Euphemia Vibart (her Daughter)	Miss Isabel Ellissen.
Countess of Drumdurris	Miss Eva Moore.
Lady Twombley	Mrs. John Wood.
Imogen (her Daughter)	Miss Florence Tanner.
Lady Macphail	Mrs. Edmund Phelps.
Hon. Mrs. Gaylustre (a Young Widow trading as Mauricette et Cie., 17a, Plunkett Street, Mayfair)	Miss Rosina Filippi.
Angèle	Miss Marianne Caldwell.
Miss Munkittrick	Miss Florence Harrington.

[ [A] Subsequently changed to Melton.

ACT I.

DEBT.

At Sir Julian Twombley’s, Chesterfield Gardens. May.

ACT II.

DIFFICULTIES.

At Sir Julian’s again. July.

ACT III.

DISASTER.

At Drumdurris Castle, Perthshire. August.

ACT IV.

DANCING.

The same place. The next day.

THE SCENERY IS DESIGNED AND PAINTED BY T. W. HALL.

The reception on the first night was of a half-hearted character, for the play had been described simply as a farce, and the audience found itself laughing at seemingly serious situations which it felt should properly provoke tears, feeling sympathetically interested in passages of sentiment one moment, only to mock at them the next, and, in fact, experiencing constant perplexity as to its emotional duties. The programme certainly said “farce” in black and white, and what could that mean but unmitigated nonsense and laughter? Yet, here was actual drama with a whimsical twist that was most surprising; here were bits of pathos which were positively comic. Could this be farce? But happily that kind of criticism is soon forgotten whose principle is, like that of Mr. Punch's navvy, “Here’s a stranger, let’s ’eave ’alf a brick at him.” The “mixed” greeting of “The Cabinet Minister” gave place to very enthusiastic receptions on succeeding nights, and, in spite of the perplexity confessed in many of the criticisms of the play, the theatre was crowded night after night, and the fashionable and political worlds flocked to the Court, many leading politicians being frequent visitors.

The season terminated on August 8, and the theatre re-opened on October 11, from which time the popularity of Mr. Pinero’s play continued as great as ever. But, after 197 performances, Mrs. John Wood decided to withdraw “The Cabinet Minister” on February 14, 1891, in the very zenith of its success, while a further long run was still to be reasonably expected. This play has not yet been seen in the provinces, but Mr. Augustin Daly has arranged to produce it, with his famous company, at his theatre in New York early in the present month.

Malcolm C. Salaman.
January 1892.

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Right Hon. Sir Julian Twombley, G.C.M.G., M.P., Secretary of State for the * * * Department

Lady Twombley

Brooke Twombley, their son

Imogen, their daughter

Dowager Countess of Drumdurris

Lady Euphemia Vibart, her daughter

Earl of Drumdurris

Countess of Drumdurris

Viscount Aberbrothock, their son

Lady Macphail

Macphail of Ballocheevin, her son

Valentine White, Lady Twombley’s nephew

Hon. Mrs. Gaylustre, trading as Mauricette et Cie., 17a Plunkett Street, Mayfair

Mr. Joseph Lebanon

Mr. Melton

The Munkittrick

Miss Munkittrick

Probyn

Angèle

[THE FIRST ACT]
DEBT
[THE SECOND ACT]
DIFFICULTIES
[THE THIRD ACT]
DISASTER
[THE FOURTH ACT]
DANCING