LOVE’S COMEDY
PERSONS OF THE COMEDY
- Mrs. Halm, widow of a government official.
- Svanhild,
Anna, } her daughters. - Falk, a young author,
Lind, a divinity student, } her boarders. - Guldstad, a wholesale merchant.
- Stiver, a law-clerk.
- Miss Jay, his fiancée.
- Strawman, a country clergyman.
- Mrs. Strawman, his wife.
- Students, Guests, Married and Plighted Pairs.
- The Strawmans’ Eight Little Girls.
- Four Aunts, a Porter, Domestic Servants.
Scene.—Mrs. Halm’s Villa on the Drammensvejen at Christiania.
LOVE’S COMEDY
PLAY IN THREE ACTS
ACT FIRST
The Scene represents a pretty garden irregularly but tastefully laid out; in the background are seen the fjord and the islands. To the left is the house, with a verandah and an open dormer window above; to the right in the foreground an open summer-house with a table and benches. The landscape lies in bright afternoon sunshine. It is early summer; the fruit-trees are in flower.
When the Curtain rises, Mrs. Halm, Anna, and Miss Jay are sitting on the verandah, the first two engaged in embroidery, the last with a book. In the summer-house are seen Falk, Lind, Guldstad, and Stiver: a punch-bowl and glasses are on the table. Svanhild sits alone in the background by the water.
Falk [rises, lifts his glass, and sings].