Part 73 (1/2)
_Professor Ward, roused at daybreak after a night at his desk, shows intense disappointment and nervous fatigue._
_In brief scene with Phronie, he shows the essential part she plays in his life as one on whom he can absolutely depend; but when he expresses his disapproval of her admirer, Keith Sanford, she shows clear signs of rebellious spirit._
_In rapid scene with Phronie and Keith, their spirit of youthful romance is made clear; and Keith indicates his college ambition, his predicament regarding his ”cribbed” thesis, and his new att.i.tude therein, ending with his evident resolve to make a clean breast of the matter...._
There follows a scenario which is somewhat clearer than the others because it identifies the figures, but it certainly leaves their relations rather confused.
_An old white-haired man, the Sire de Maletroit, is seated in the chair to right of fireplace, in a listening att.i.tude. The sound of a heavy door banging is heard and a minute later a young man, sword in hand, parts the curtains on left and stands blinking in the opening.
He enters and explains that he has accidentally gained entrance to the house and is unable to re-open the door. His name is Denis de Beaulieu. He seems amazed to have the old man say that he has been waiting for him. Denis suggests that he must be going, at which the old man bursts into a fit of laughter. Denis is insulted and offers to hew the Maletroit's door to pieces. He is convinced that this is folly; the place is full of armed men. The old man rises, goes to door on right and calls upon his niece to leave her prayers and receive her lover. She comes in attended by a priest and protests that this is not the man. The uncle is incredulous and withdraws with a leer_.
Again a good list of _dramatis personae_ would be helpful.
Prefix to this the following:
THE SIRE DE MALETROIT'S DOOR
_Place: Chateau Landon._ _Time: Fourteenth century._
_Dramatis Personae_
_Blanche, orphan niece of Sire de Maletroit._ _A Priest, chaplain to Sire de Maletroit._ _The Sire de Maletroit._ _Denis de Beaulieu, a stranger._
With this prefixed we can read the scenario just quoted far more comprehendingly.
Note how clearly the following two lists of _dramatis personae_ take us to the scenario proper:
THE LEGACY
_The Persons_
_David Brice, a young attorney._ _Reene Brice, his uncle._ _Benjamin Doyle, his fiancee's father._ _Dr. w.a.n.gren, family physician._ _Mrs. Brice, the mother._ _”Ditto” Brice, the sister._ _Katherine Doyle, fiancee._
THE CAPTAIN: A MELODRAMA
_Dramatis Personae_
_Captain La Rue, a little sea captain._
_Bromley Barnes, former special investigator for the U.S. customs service.
Patrick Clancy, his friend.
A burly Butler.
John Felspar, junior partner of the firm of Felspar & Felspar, wine merchants.
Two Dinner Guests, members of the firm.
Carl Cozzens, the firm's Canadian representative._
It is easy, however, to let this list of characters go too far descriptively. For instance, this next list tells much which might better appear first in the body of the scenario. The danger here is one already mentioned in this book, namely, that such careful characterizing in the _dramatis personae_ or program is likely to make the characterization of the scenario or play inadequate.[3]