Section 1

NO PLAYS EXCHANGED
French’s International Copyrighted (in England, her Col¬ onies, and the United States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors
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No. 447
The First of May
A GIRL SCOUT PLAY
BY
VIRGINIA PARK MATTHIAS
Girl Scout Captain of Westport, Conn.
Copyright, 1922, by Samuel French
Amateurs may present this play without payment of royalty. All other rights reserved.
PRICE 30 CENTS
New York SAMUEL FRENCH Publisher
28-30 West 38th Street
London
SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 26 Southampton Street STRAND
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The Charm School
A fascinating comedy in three acts by Alice Duer Mill¬ er and Robert Milton. 6 males, 10 females. (May be played by 5 males and 8 females). Any number of school girls may be used in the ensembles. Scenes, two inter¬ iors. Costumes, modern. Plays 2x/2 hours.
The story of “The Charm School” is familiar to Mrs. Miller’s readers. It relates the adventures of a hand¬ some young automobile salesman scarcely out of his ’teens who, upon inheriting a girl’s boarding school from a maiden aunt, insists on running it himself, according' to his own ideas, chief of which is, by the way, that the dominant feature in the education of the young girl of today should be CHARM.
The situations that arise are teeming with humor — clean, wholesome humor. In the end the young man gives up the school and promises to wait until the most precocious of his pupils reaches a marriageable age.
“The Charm School” has the freshness of youth, the inspiration of an extravagant but novel idea, the charm of originality, and the promise of wholesome, sanely amusing, pleasant entertainment. We strongly recom¬ mend it for high school production.
“The Charm School” was first produced at the Bijou Theatre, New York, and then toured the country. Two companies are now playing it in England. Price, 75 cents.
Daddy Long- Legs
A charming comedy in four acts, by Jean Webster. The full cast calls for 6 males, 7 females and 6 orphans, but the play, by the easy doubling of some of the char¬ acters may be plaj^ed by 4 males, 4 females and three orphans. The orphans appear only in the first act and may be played by small girls of any age. Four easy interior scenes. Costumes modern. Plays 2% hours.
The New York Times reviewer, on the morning fol¬ lowing the Broadway production, wrote the following comment:
“If you will take your pencil and write down, one be¬ low the other, the words delightful, charming, sweet, beautiful and entertaining, and then draw a line and add them up, the answer will be ‘Daddy Long-Legs.’ To that result you might even add brilliant, pathetic and humorous, but the answer even then would be just what it was before — the play which Miss Jean Webster has made from her book, ‘Daddy Long-Legs,’ and which was presented at the Gaiety last night. To attempt to describe the simplicity and beauty of ‘Daddy Long-Legs' would be like attempting to describe the first breath of Spring after an exceedingly tiresome and hard Winter.”
“Daddy Long-Legs” enjoyed a two-years’ run in New York and was then toured for over three years, and is now published in play form for the first time.
Price, 75 cents.
(The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced)
S AMUEL FRENCH, 2S-30 West 3Stli Street, New York City
New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request
The First of May
A GIRL SCOUT PLAY
BY
VIRGINIA PARK MATTHIAS
Girl Scout Captain of Westport, Conn.
Copyright, 1922, by Samuel French
Amateurs may present this play without payment of royalty.
All other rights reserved.
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New York
SAMUEL FRENCH Publisher
28-30 West 38th Street
London
SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 26 Southampton Street STRAND
Cast of Characters
King, Queen, Princess Marguerita, Dorinda, daughter of the chief cook ; Minstrel, Griselda, nurse ; Oberon, king of the fairies ; Titania, queen of the fairies.
Fairies — Blossom, Rose Petal, Drop o’ Dew, Sunbeam, Orchis, Lilicup.
JAN 29 ’23
©CIO 63508 'U'fc P
The First of May
ACT I
Time: Many , many years ago.
Place : A land far away — a wood near the palace.
Enter: Oberon, Titania and fairies, dancing (music, Mendelssohn s Spring Song).
Oberon. (As dance ceases) To-day is the first of May, and all the world is glad ! Dids’t hear the song the buttercups were singing as we passed across the meadow?
Titania. And the little brook quite overflowed with happiness and joy !
Blossom. And as I came by the palace I heard the little princess singing most merrily of all !
Oberon. Ay, to-day is the little princess’s birth¬ day —
Titania. And she will be crowned queen of the May ! How gaily will the peasants disport them¬ selves upon the green, singing and dancing and flinging wreaths and bouquets at their queen ! Oh, the whole world is happy to-day !
Rose Petal. Is it true, oh King, that the rulers of this land, the parents of the little princess, do not look upon us with favor?
5
6
THE FIRST OF MAY
Oberon. (Sadly) More than that, Rose Petal! They do not believe that we fairies exist !
(Fairies exclaim excitedly and indignantly together.)
0
Rose Petal. Oh, why? why?
Drop o’ Dew. Oh how could they be so foolish !
Sunbeam. They must be made to believe!
Orchis. Mortals are so ignorant !
Lilicup. Let us punish them.
Blossom. We must show these foolish rulers that we really do exist.
Drop o’ Dew. Yes, let us punish them !
Fairies. Yes, let us punish them!
Oberon. Think you they will believe if we pun¬ ish them ?
Fairies. Yes, yes !
Oberon. Then what plan woulds’t thou propose?
Titania. Knowest thou the little princess, how obedient she Is, and modest and sweet?
Fatries. Yes, she is a good princess.
Titania. And knowest thou the little Dorinda, daughter of the chief cook, how naughty she is, and bold and disobedient?
Fairies. Yes, yes!
Titania. She is the same age as the little prin¬ cess. They are four years old to-day.
Oberon. Ah, thou wouldst make Dorinda become the princess, and change Marguerita to a little wench !
Fairies. (Together, enthusiastically)'.
Blossom. Fine! Fine!
Rose Petal. A good plan !
Drop o’ Dew. Oh, wise Titania!
Sunbeam. Let us do it at once!
Orchis. Come, let us go now !
LilIcup. Let us find the princess !
THE FIRST OF MAY
7
Oberon. Let us not be too hasty ! Let us first consider well.
Titan ia. Hark! The mortals approach ! Away, fairies, away !
("Fairies scamper off. Enter King and OueenJ
Queen. How beautiful is the day! So peaceful, so happy, so bright !
King. And how wondrous will be the scene — the crowning of the May Queen — our little daugh¬ ter !
Queen. It will surely be quite fairy-like in its beauty and splendor.
King. Say not “fairy-like,” dear Queen. Dost thou not know that we have no fairies? Such fool¬ ish notions our peasant folk entertain. They believe in myths — ghosts, goblins, elves, fairies and other magic.
Queen. Yes, dear King, we are above such idle imaginings. But will it not be beautiful — our little daughter drawn in her flower-decked coach to her throne of roses on the hill! Come, let us go!
(Exit King and Queen. Enter Oberon, who blows whistle. Fairies appear.)
Blossom. Dids’t hear them?
Rose Petal. What further proof do we need of their folly?
Drop o’ Dew. Come, let us hasten to punish them!
All. Yes, do not delay!
(Chant by the Fairies. )
“Oh, gracious and good are the king and the queen
3
THE FIRST OF MAY
But we’ll punish them, yes indeed.
They’re gentle and kind and they’re just we have seen —
But we’ll punish them, yes indeed !
For they think that no fairies e’er romp through the wood,
Or flit o’er the meadow, as gay fairies should,
Or dance as the wee fairies could,
And we’ll punish them, yes, indeed !”
Oberon. The little princess will pass this way with her waiting maid on the way to the festivities.
Titania. We shall cause a deep sleep to fall upon the maid, while we weave our spells about the two babes.
Oberon. Go, Orchis and Lilicup and fetch the cook’s child !
(Exit Orchis and Lilicup .)
Titania. Hark, the princess comes!
Oberon. Hide, fairies, hide!
(^Fairies hide behind trees and rocks. Enter Gris- elda with Marguerita. J
Griselda. Thou needst be a good girl, Your Highness, when they come to make thee Queen o’ the May ! But there ! Thou art ever such a sweet princess, that I need not admonish thee to be good !
Marguerita. And what must I do, Griselda?
Griselda. Let us sit here, dear princess, and I shall tell thee.
Marguerita. Yes, Griselda. f Griselda and Marguerita arc seated on rock.)
THE FIRST OF MAY
9
Griselda. The peasant folk will come to thee with a cart which will be covered with flowers, and thou must step upon it.
Marguerita. Yes, Griselda.
Griselda. And then — ( Oberon advances , zvav- ing zvand.) And then — ( Sleepily.) — thou must — ( Y awns.) — thou — thou — ( Sleeps.)
Marguerita. (Secs Oberon J Oh, look! look!
("Oberon blozvs zvhistle. Fairies appear.)
Oberon. Come, let us to work !
("Fairies circle round princess , waving wands. Mar¬ guerita sleeps. Orchis and Lilicup enter dragging Dorinda, who is kicking and scream- mg.)
Dorinda. No! no! I won’t come! I won’t! I won’t !
("Dorinda is placed beside Marguerita. Fairies circle around waving wands. Dorinda sleeps. Fairies move closer. Marguerita and Do¬ rinda change garments. Fairies serving as screen zvhile Fairies chant ) : “Hm-m-m-m-m-m-Wink-te - wunk - te - wy - noodle ny nonny no
Hm-m-m-m-m-m- Princess change to wench and wench to princess O.”
Oberon. Now, Orchis and Lilicup, take away the princess who has become a wench.
("Orchis and Lilicup take away Marguerita.
Fairies exeunt.)
IO
THE FIRST OF MAY
Griselda. (Awakes) Oh, me! I have slept! Come, Your Highness! (Shakes princess.) Let us hasten !
Princess. (Awakes) No, no. I won’t! Griselda. Why, princess, what is. the matter ! (Stands her on her feet and takes her hand.) Come ! ("Princess screams and draws away.)
Griselda. Why, Your Highness, I have never known you thus ! Come, come, I say !
Princess. I won’t! I won’t! I won’t!
("Griselda drags Princess away, kicking and
screaming.)
(CURTAIN)
ACT II
Time: Several years later.
Place : Same.
("King and Queen seated on rustic bench.)
Queen. Yes, indeed, dear King, it is quite time we curbed the bold arrogance of our daughter, and brought her haughty spirit to a fall. Alas, that one of such sweet promise should so disappoint, us ! Re¬ member you how, obedient and innocent, our Mar- guerita disported herself about this wood when a babe, heeding our every word ?
King. Ay, and then the quick change which came o’er her. On her fourth birthday, was it not, dear Queen ?
Queen. The first of May, it was.
King. And since that day she has been naught but a source of suffering and distress.
Queen. Mayhap, oh King, there are fairies who flit through the wood and dance upon the green as the peasants say. Were it possible, think you, that angered by our denial of their existence, they caused our daughter to become the bold, haughty princess that she is?
King. I know not — it may be. Strange tales have come to me. One good man stumbled coming from the pasture, spilling the milk, but when he reached his door, he found the pail full to the brim,
- - - V . * - .
II
/
12
THE FIRST OF MAY
Another — a rascal — was in the act of carrying away a bag of gold which he had stolen, when the bag turned to a huge rock, nigh crushing him with its weight.
Queen. And peasant folk often declare that they have seen fairies dancing upon this very green.
King. It may be — it may be. (Sounds of an approach without.) Hark! Someone comes ! (En¬ ter Princess, Wench and Griselda.)
Princess. Come now, wench, tell me, am I not the most beautiful lady in the whole land?
Wench. The most beautiful, Your Highness.
Princess. But thou speakest not those words as- if they were thy true thoughts. Come, wench, none of thine insolence.
King. Nay daughter, speak not so ! The wench is obedient and respectful. Nay, more! She is gently forbearing with the ungraciousness which marks thine every word. Thou wouldst do well to learn from her virtue and modesty. Then, belike thou would’st find favor in the sight of the people of this realm, who now both despise and hate thee.
Princess. What! I learn from this impudent hussy ! Nay, rather would I hang from yonder tree!
Queen. Oh come, let us away ! for to see her thus is more than I can bear !
(Exit King and Queen J
Princess. Give me my mirror, wench. ('Wench gives it to her f glancing into it herself.) What ! Darest thou to gaze into my mirror ? Canst thou imagine thyself good to look upon? Ha! Then even the toads may flaunt their beauty. (Music is heard approaching.) Who comes? Haste, wench, and see !
Wench. (Turns to look) It is a minstrel, Your Highness.
THE FIRST OF MAY
i3
Princess. Ah, he is come, doubtless, to sing my praises. Sit you on yonder rock, but first arrange my robes becomingly about me.
( Princess scats herself on rustic bench. Wench arranges robes, then retires to rock which should be at one side and toward the front of stage. Wench turns face away from Princess. Enter Minstrel singing and playing. Ukelele, banjo or mandolin may be used. Minstrel’s Song — Tunc : Oh, Winds of the Southern Sea.)
“Oh, I am a minstrel gay,
I come from a land far away,
Through all the world I go,
Singing to friend and foe,
Seeking a lady fair,
With wondrous shining hair,
And when I find her I’ll ask her hand,
The prettiest maid in the land.”
Princess. What art thou, fellow?
Minstrel. But a wandering minstrel, fair lady, as my song did say. I go singing through the whole land, and seeking, as I go, the most beautiful lady on earth.
Princess. That am I, minstrel. Let thy search be ended. Now sing me a lay that shall concern itself with my beauty.
Minstrel. (Tune, Here Comes a Duke a-Riding) : “There is a wondrous maiden, a maiden, a maiden,
There is a wondrous maiden,
With a rum-de-dum-de-diddle-de-de, and a rum-de-diddle-de-de.”
(Second verse.)
This maiden is a princess, a princess, a princess, This maiden is a -
THE FIRST OF MAY
i4
(^Wench tarns her head toward minstrel, who sees her, breaks off his song, and takes a few steps tozvard her.)
Minstrel. ^TYWenchJ Ah, beautiful maiden ! Fairest of -
Princess. (Rising and stamping foot ) Wretch! To call any beautiful but me! (Advancing tozvard Wench, who shrinks azvay.) Vile creature ! Ver¬ min ! To continually flaunt thine insolence before mine eyes! (Strikes her.) Take thy punishment, wench, and keep thyself from my presence. (Strikes her again. Wench sinks to ground and covers face ■ with hands.)
Minstrel. (Starts tozvard zvcnch) Ah, Prin¬ cess, what hast thou done!
Princess. Nay, minstrel, come thou with me and sing uninterrupted.
( Exit Princess followed by Minstrel reluctantly . )
Wench. (Rises slowly and sits upon rock) His eyes did look upon me and he called me fair ! Me — Dorinda — the wench — he called me beautiful! Oh, that I were a princess — that he might sing to me ! And perhaps — perhaps -
(Enter Minstrel swiftly — stops suddenly, and on seeing Wench advances quickly.)
Minstrel. Ah, wondrous maiden, the arrogant princess could not keep me from thee! Throughout the world have I sought thee !
Wench. Thou has sought me?
Minstrel. Ay — have sought thee — have sought through all earth’s furthest corners the most beauti¬ ful maiden in the world, and now do mine eyes feast themselves upon her !
THE FIRST OF MAY
15
Wench. (Looking around) I do not see her. Where is she?
Minstrel. Oh, modest, winsome, little wench, thou art that maiden !.
Wench. Oh! Thou callest me beautiful? Me? — Dorinda — who am I but the least of the waiting maids that dwell within the castle? Thou callest me beautiful ?
Minstrel. The most beautiful upon earth and — - (Kneeling.) — I am come to ask thy love. Ah, sweet¬ est maiden, look thou into mine eyes and tell me if -
Wench. Thou askest me to love thee?
Minstrel. (Rising) Nay, more! I ask thy hand. Tong have I searched for thee — deny me not !
Wench. (Wonderingly) He asks me that ! Me — who thought myself unworthy to give my hand to even the least of his majesty’s shepherds that keep their flocks upon yonder hills. (Hesitatingly takes a step toward minstrel.) Minstrel, I — I love thee !
Minstrel. (Kisses her hand) Ah, love, we will hie us forth to the realm that awaits me -
Wrench. (Startled) The realm that awaits thee !
Minstrel. Ay — the realm that awaits me ! Know, then, that I am no minstrel, but am Mysaling, Prince of Banziroon, whose borders lie to the east. Dressed as a minstrel I have sought far and wide one fitted to rule my kingdom with me. Now I have found her! Come — let us hie us hence !