ABOUT THE PLAY.
Costumes of the day. No special make-up is needed and the only direction to be given is that each person should dress in character.
The dialect of Ginger is largely that of the conventional stage darky, which is absurdly unlike the real thing. It is used here for two reasons. First because it is the conventional type that people in the north expect; and second, because the real negro speech is very hard to express in print, and would be very difficult for an amateur to render with such slight study as is usual. In fact the negro dialect of the south consists largely in the peculiar sonorous quality of the negro voice and in the use of quaint expressions. To pronounce “Massa” “Massy” is to fail utterly in imitating the African. It is broad and rich, Mas’r (nearly). Their grammar is frequently very good, but the penchant of the African to use high-sounding words often leads to very ludicrous results. Topp’s Twins will require careful rehearsal. Owing to the peculiar nature of the humor and the droll situations, anything like lagging will ruin the effect. The man who plays Cadwalader Topp must not forget that he is always a gentleman, even in his anger, but he is a genial gentleman and not an icicle. Tick’s assurance always has good nature in it, while Spratt’s is malicious. Mrs. Dubbledam is slow, heavy and serious in all she does.
The author has endeavored to follow the old style and let the humor of the play flow continuously rather than to depend on startling climaxes for effect.
The duel scene may be made very effective, but it must not descend to “horse play.”
PATSY O’WANG
An Irish Farce with a Chinese Mix-Up
By T. S. DENISON
Author of
Odds with the Enemy, Initiating a Granger, Wanted, a Correspondent, A Family Strike, Seth Greenback, Louva, the Pauper, Hans Von Smash, Borrowing Trouble, Two Ghosts in White, The Pull-Back, Country Justice, The Assessor, The Sparkling Cup, Our Country, Irish Linen Peddler, The School Ma’am, Kansas Immigrants, An Only Daughter, Too Much of a Good Thing, Under the Laurels, Hard Cider, The Danger Signal, Wide Enough for Two, Pets of Society, Is the Editor In? The New Woman, Patsy O’Wang, Rejected, Only Cold Tea, Madam P’s Beauty Parlors, Topp’s Twins, A First-Class Hotel, It’s all in the Pay-Streak, The Cobbler, A Dude in a Cyclone, Friday Dialogues.