THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYS
By Celebrated European Authors
A NEW SERIES OF AMATEUR PLAYS BY THE BEST AUTHORS, ANCIENT AND MODERN, ESPECIALLY TRANSLATED WITH HISTORICAL NOTES, SUGGESTIONS FOR STAGING, Etc., FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND DRAMATIC CLUBS
Barrett H. Clark
General Editor
With the immensely increased demand for new plays for purposes of production by amateurs comes a correspondingly great demand for a careful selection of those plays which can be easily and well presented by clubs and colleges. The plays in the present series have been chosen with regard to their intrinsic value as drama and literature, and at the same time to their adaptability to the needs and limitations of such organizations.
The Series, under the personal supervision of Mr. Barrett H. Clark, instructor in the department of Dramatic Literature at Chautauqua, New York, assistant stage manager and actor with Mrs. Fiske (season 1912-1913), now comprises 44 titles, more will make their appearance during the year. Eventually there will be plays from ancient Greece and Rome, Italy, Spain, France, Russia, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries, representative of some of the best drama of all ages and lands.
Each Play is prefaced by a concise historical note by Mr. Clark and with a few suggestions for staging.
Plays Now Ready
INDIAN SUMMER, a comedy in one act by Meilhac and Halevy. This little play, by two of the most famous writers of comedy of the last century, has been played at the Comédie Francaise at Paris for upwards of forty years, and remains one of the brightest and most popular works of the period. Price 25 Cents.
ROSALIE, by Max Maurey. A “Grand Guignol” comedy in one act, full of verve and clever dialogue. Rosalie, the stubborn maid, leads her none too amiable master and mistress into uncomfortable complications by refusing to open the front door to a supposed guest of wealth and influence. Price 25 Cents.
MODESTY, by Paul Hervieu. A delightful trifle by one of the most celebrated of living dramatists. Price 25 Cents.
THE ART OF BEING BORED, (Le Monde où l’on s’Ennuie), a comedy in three acts by Edouard Pailleron. Probably the best-known and most frequently acted comedy of manners in the realm of nineteenth century French drama. It is replete with wit and comic situations. For nearly forty years it has held the stage, while countless imitators have endeavored to reproduce its freshness and charm. Price 25 Cents.
A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL, by Anton Tchekhoff, a comedy in one act, by one of the greatest of modern Russian writers. This little farce is very popular in Russia, and satirizes the peasants of that country in an amusing manner. Price 25 Cents.
THE GREEN COAT, by Alfred De Musset and Emile Augier. A slight and comic character sketch of the life of Bohemian artists In Paris, written by one of France’s greatest poets and one of her best-known dramatists. Price 25 Cents.
THE WAGER, by Giuseppe Giacosa. This one act poetic comedy, written by the most celebrated dramatist of modern Italy, was the author’s first work. It treats of a wager made by a proud young page, who risks his life on the outcome of a game of chess. Price 25 Cents.
THE LITTLE SHEPHERDESS, a poetic comedy in one act, by Andre Rivoire. A charming pastoral sketch by a well-known French poet and dramatist. Played with success at the Comédie Francaise. Price 25 Cents.
PHORMIO, a Latin comedy by Terence. An up-to-date version of the famous comedy. One of the masterpieces of Latin drama: the story of a father who returns to find that his son has married a slave girl. Phormio, the parasite-villain who causes the numerous comic complications, succeeds in unraveling the difficulties, and all ends happily. Price 25 Cents.
THE TWINS, a Latin farce by Plautus, upon which Shakespeare founded his Comedy of Errors. Price 25 Cents.
THE BOOR, by Anton Tchekhoff. A well-known farce by the celebrated Russian master; it is concerned with Russian peasants, and portrays with masterly skill the comic side of country life. Price 25 Cents.
THE BLACK PEARL, by Victorien Sardou. One of Sardou’s most famous comedies of intrigue. A house has, it is thought, been robbed. But through skilful investigation it is found that the havoc wrought has been done by lightning. Price 25 Cents.
CHARMING LEANDRE, by Theodore de Banville. The author of “Gringoire” is here seen in a poetic vein, yet the Frenchman’s innate sense of humor recalls, in this satirical little play, the genius of Moliere. Price 25 Cents.
THE POST-SCRIPTUM, by Emile Augier. Of this one-act comedy Professor Brander Matthews writes: “... one of the brightest and most brilliant little one-act comedies in any language, and to be warmly recommended to American readers.” Price 25 Cents.
THE HOUSE OF FOURCHAMBAULT, by Emile Augier. One of the greatest of recent French family dramas. Although the play is serious in tone, it contains touches which entitle it to a position among the best comedies of manners of the times. Price 50 Cents.
MASTER PATELIN, SOLICITOR, a comedy in three acts. Special version by Brueys. One of the most famous of early French farces. The setting and character belong to the late Middle Ages. The play is concerned with the crooked dealings of a clever lawyer. 7 men, 2 women. Price 25 Cents.
CRISPIN, HIS MASTER’S RIVAL, a comedy in one act by Le Sage. A famous comedy by the author of “Gil Blas,” concerned with the pranks of two clever valets. 18th century costumes and settings. 4 men, 3 women. Price 25 Cents.
THE LEGACY, a comedy in one act by Marivaux. A delicate high comedy of intrigue. Marivaux one of the masters of old French comedy, and this play is full of deft touches of characterization. 2 women, 4 men. Price 25 Cents.
AFTER THE HONEYMOON, a farce in one act by Wolfgang Gyalui. A Hungarian farce full of brilliant dialogue and movement. 1 man, 1 woman. Price 25 Cents.
A CHRISTMAS TALE, a poetic play by Maurice Bouchor. A beautiful little miracle play of love and devotion, laid in 15th century Paris. 2 men, 2 women. Price 25 Cents.
CRAINQUEBILLE, a play in three scenes by Anatole France. A delightful series of pictures of Parisian street life, by the author of “The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife.” 12 men, 6 women. Price 25 Cents.
JEAN-MARIE, a poetic play in one act by Andre Theuriet. A pathetic play of Norman peasant life. 2 men, 1 woman. Price 25 Cents.
THE REBOUND, a comedy in one act by L. B. Picard. A clever comedy of intrigue, and a satire of social position. 2 women, 5 men. Price 25 Cents.
THE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF, by Moliere. A famous farce by the greatest of French dramatists. Sganarelle has to be beaten before he will acknowledge that he is a doctor, which he is not. He then works apparently miraculous cures. The play is a sharp satire on the medical profession in the 17th Century. Price 25 Cents.
BRIGNOL AND HIS DAUGHTER, by Capus. The first comedy in English of the most sprightly and satirical of present-day French dramatists. Price 50 Cents.
CHOOSING A CAREER, by G. A. de Caillavet. Written by one of the authors of “Love Watches.” A farce of mistaken identity, full of humorous situations and bright lines. Price 25 Cents.
FRENCH WITHOUT A MASTER, by Tristan Bernard. A clever farce by one of the most successful of French dramatists. It is concerned with the difficulties of a bogus-interpreter who does not know a word of French. Price 25 Cents.
PATER NOSTER, a poetic play in one act, by Francois Coppee. A pathetic incident of the time of the Paris Commune, in 1871. Price 25 Cents.
THE ROMANCERS, a comedy in three acts, by Edmond Rostand. New translation of this celebrated and charming little romantic play by the famous author of “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Chantecler.” Price 25 Cents.
THE MERCHANT GENTLEMAN (Le Bourgeois Gentil-homme), by Moliere. New translation of one of Moliere’s comic masterpieces, a play which is peculiarly well adapted to amateur production. Price 50 Cents.
THE HOUSE OF FOURCHAMBAULT, by Emile Augier. One of the greatest of recent French family dramas. Although the play is serious in tone, it contains touches which entitle it to a position among the best comedies of manners of the times. Price 50 Cents.
PANURGE’S SHEEP, a comedy in one Act by Meilhac and Halevy. A famous and often-acted little play based upon the obstinacy of a charming woman, who is finally induced to marry. 1 man, 2 women. Price 25 Cents.
THE LAW-SUIT, (Der Prozess), a comedy in one act by Roderich Benedix. A famous comedy by the well-known German-dramatist—author of “The Obstinate Family,” and “The Third Man.” The play is full of amusing situations and bright lines. 5 men. Price 25 Cents.
THE THIRD MAN (Der Dritte), a comedy in one act by Roderich Benedix. A highly amusing little comedy based upon the obstinacy of human beings, and proves the truth of the saying that “love finds a way.” 3 women, 1 man. Price 25 Cents.
THE GENTLEMAN TRADESMAN (Le Bourgeois Gentil-homme), a comedy in four acts by Moliere. One of the best-known comedies of the celebrated master of comedy. “The Gentleman Tradesman” ridicules the affectations of M. Jourdain, a rich parvenu. 9 men, 5 women. Price 50 Cents.
THE SICILIAN (Le Sicilien), a farce in two scenes by Moliere. One of the lighter comedies of intrigue. This play is laid in Sicily, and has to do with the capture of a beautiful Greek slave from her selfish and tyrannical master. 4 men, 3 women. Price 25 Cents.
DOCTOR LOVE (L’Amour Medecin), a farce in three acts by Moliere. An uproarious farce, satirizing the medical profession. Through it runs the story of a young girl who pretends to be ill in order that she may marry the man she loves. 5 men, 4 women. Price 25 Cents.
THE AFFECTED YOUNG LADIES (Les Precieuses Ridicules), a comedy in one act by Moliere. The famous satire on intellectual and social affectation. Like most of Moliere’s plays, the theme in this is ever modern. 3 women, 6 men. Price 25 Cents.
I’M GOING! A comedy in one act by Tristan Bernard. A delightful bit of comedy of obstinacy and reconciliation. 1 man, 1 woman. Price 25 Cents.
THE FAIRY (La Fee), a romantic comedy in one act by Octave Feuillet. Laid in a hut in Normandy, this little comedy is full of poetic charm and quiet humor. The element of the supernatural is introduced in order to drive home a strong lesson. 1 woman, 3 men. Price 25 Cents.
THE VILLAGE (Le Village), a comedy in one act by Octave Feuillet. The author here paints the picture of an elderly couple, and shows that they have not realized their happiness until it is on the point of being taken from them. 2 women, 2 men. Price 25 Cents.
THE BENEFICENT BEAR, a comedy in three acts, by Goldoni. One of the best-known comedies of the Father of Italian Comedy. A costume piece laid in 18th century France, the principal character in which is a good-hearted, though gruff, old uncle. 4 men, 3 women. Price 25 Cents.
GRAMMAR (La Grammaire), a farce in one act by Labiche. An amusing and charming comedy by one of the greatest of 19th century French dramatists. 4 men, 1 woman. Price 25 Cents.
THE TWO COWARDS (Les Deux Timides), a comedy in one act by Labiche. A very amusing and human little comedy, in which a strong-willed girl helps her father choose for her the man she wishes to marry. 2 women, 3 men. Price 25 Cents.
THE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF, by Moliere. A famous farce by the greatest of French dramatists. Sganarelle has to be beaten before he will acknowledge that he is a doctor, which he is not. He then works apparently miraculous cures. The play is a sharp satire on the medical profession in the 17th Century. Price 25 Cents.
BRIGNOL AND HIS DAUGHTER, by Capus. The first comedy in English of the most sprightly and satirical of present-day French dramatists. Price 50 Cents.
CHOOSING A CAREER, by G. A. de Caillavet. Written by one of the authors of “Love Watches.” A farce of mistaken identity, full of humorous situations and bright lines. Price 25 Cents.
FRENCH WITHOUT A MASTER, by Tristan Bernard. A clever farce by one of the most successful of French dramatists. It is concerned with the difficulties of a bogus-interpreter who does not know a word of French. Price 25 Cents.
PATER NOSTER, a poetic play in one act, by Francois Coppee. A pathetic incident of the time of the Paris Commune, in 1871. Price 25 Cents.
THE ROMANCERS, a comedy in three acts, by Edmond Rostand. New translation of this celebrated and charming little romantic play by the famous author of “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Chantecler.” Price 25 Cents.
THE MERCHANT GENTLEMAN, (Le Bourgeois Gentil-homme), by Moliere. New translation of one of Moliere’s comic masterpieces, a play which is peculiarly well adapted to amateur production. Price 50 Cents.