HERNANI. COSTUMES: PERIOD_1520 CARLOS, 1st Dress: Plumb colored doublet-short trunks-ruffcloak, broad brimmed low crown hat and feather-high bootssword and dagger in waist belt-disguise cloak. 2nd Dress: Black velvet doublet, full and short trunks-black velvet arm-hole cloak, black silk tights, high black boots-black hat and short featherruff-gold chain and order of the Golden Fleece-jewelled waistbelt with gilt sword and dagger. 3rd Dress: Cloak, gilt helmet with jewelled circlet crown, complete suit of gilt armour of the time. LEO, 1st Dress: Furred dressing-gown over black velvet doublet, trunks, hose and shoes-sword and dagger in waist belt. 2nd Dress: Arm-hole cloak of black velvet. 3rd Dress: Black and flowing disguise cloak. HERNANI.-1st Dress: Grey hunting shirt -leathern hauberk and shoulder guards-grey tights and high buff boots-flat grey cap and eagle's feather-shoulder belt and sword-chain and horn. 2nd Dress: Black velvet doublet and trunks trimmed with gold- silver grey stockings, ankle shoes, black velvet and gold-arm-hole robe of black and gold-jewelled sword and dagger--small velvet hat and white feather. THE ELECTORS.-Splendid suits of armour-long robes, crowns. NOBLES.-Richly embroidered cloaks, doublets, &c. DONNA ZANTHE, 1st Dress: White satin, trimmed with gold lace, open at sides-long hair, small pearl circlet. 2nd dress: Black velvet over white satin, splendidly embroidered, jewelled coronet, &c. JOSEPHA.- Duenna's costume-brown double dress-lace lappets Bearnois head dress and veil. A Comedy, IN ONE ACT. BY HORACE WIGAN, Esq. AUTHOR OF A FRIENDS OR FOES, WIDOW'S WEEDS, CONJUGAL LESSON, REAL THOMAS HAILES LACY, ALWAYS INTENDED. First Performed at the Olympic Theatre, (under the management of Mr. Horace Wigan) on 3rd April, 1865. ALWAYS INTENDED. SCENE.-Modern Villa. Elegantly furnished morning room opening on lawn, c.-doors, R. and L. Enter through c., MRS. MARKWELL, ushered in by JANEduring the first portion of the dialogue, a piano is heard off as of some one running the scale and modulating the instrument. JANE. Mr. Muddle is not in, ma'am, he's fishing, and Mr. Charles is after the rabbits. MRS. M. What on a day like this! JANE. Oh, yes, ma'am, every day master and master's nephew are always a sporting, as they call it. MRS. M. And where's your young lady. But, of course, dressing for the ceremony-tell her I'm here, but don't disturb her; say I can wait, and take my things to my room. JANE. Oh, ma'am, you won't disturb Miss Mary-she's only a practising, and she's been at it for hours and them scales is enough to tire anybody. MRS. M. What is that your mistress that I hear ! JANE. Yes, mum, that's Miss Mary, and she keeps all on like that for hours, and says it's an execution—I'm sure it worrits one to death. MRS. M. Very good, say I am here, Mrs. Markwell. (Exit L., with travelling-bag, bonnet, shawl, &c. MRS. M. This is incredible-the announcement of the marriage must be a hoax-this was the day fixed for the wedding, and there's not the slightest appearance of stir or preparation in the house. The uncle out fishing, the bridegroom out shooting, and the bride practising the piano-there must be some strange mistake. Enter MARY, L. MARY. (runs to, and kisses her) Ah, my dear Julia, what a long, long time since we met. MRS. M. Ah, it is long, indeed. Since my marriage in Paris, I have only paid one visit to dear old mud Babylon -la, my dear, people may talk as they like about continental residence, but there's no place like London after all; so as soon as my poor dear husband's affairs were settled abroad, I determined to come back, and my first visit is to you. Ah, how differently we meet you were a child and I a wife when we parted, and now, I am a widow and you on the eve of marriage. MARY. Eve! you may say morning! MRS. M. Then it is to-day! MARY. Yes, of course, to-day, and how kind of you to come, for I don't think there'll be any one else. I've sent for my uncle, he's somewhere in the neighbourhood, and I don't think cousin Charles will be long. MRS. M. Then the gentlemen are out! (they sit.) MARY. Out! oh, yes, they're always out in the morning. MRS. M. And leave you! MARY. Oh, yes, I was busy practising my sonata in D minor. MRS. M. A bride in the minor key on her wedding morning! but my love you're not dressed! MARY. Oh, there's plenty of time, so I took the opportunity of practising while I was alone, for Charles can't bear anything in the minor, though I think he's wrong, don't you? MRS. M. I think he is indeed. MARY. Why how you look at me-is there anything extraordinary about me ? MRS. M. Yes, very extraordinary-you seem very little moved at the solemnity of this occasion. MARY. I see nothing solemn-why should I be moved? MRS. M. Why, my love, you are incomprehensible. Is it not natural at such a moment to feel alarmed! anxious, and ere it is too late to catechise one's heart! MARY. (astonished) Too late! catechise! I don't understand. MRS. M. Yes, to ask if your girlish hopes will be realised -if he whom you wed will love you as you would be loved -if he will understand, and understanding will appreciate, you, and if you yourself love him sufficiently to find happiness at his side. |