War Brides: A Play in One Act

War Brides: A Play in One Act

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Title: War Brides: A Play in One Act
Author: Marion Craig Wentworth
Release Date: January 5, 2005 [EBook #14602]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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[Illustration: Good-by! good-by!]

WAR BRIDES

A Play in One Act
BY
MARION CRAIG WENTWORTH
ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PLAY AS
PRESENTED BY MME. NAZIMOVA
NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1915

Copyright, 1915, by
THE CENTURY CO.
Acting rights controlled by
DRAMATISTS' PLAY AGENCY,
145 West 45th Street,
NEW YORK CITY
Published, February 1915

TO MY LITTLE BOY BRANDON

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Good-by! good-by! Frontispiece FACING PAGE Arno: You are
wanted 42

Hedwig: Franz? } Amelia: Franz, too } 62
Amelia: No, you must not! You have too much to live for 66

This play was first produced on January 25, 1915, at B.F. KEITH'S
PALACE THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY, with the following cast:
Hedwig (Joan) Mme. Nazimova Amelia (Amy) Mary Alden Mother
Gertrude Berkeley Hoffman (Joseph Kerman) Charles Bryant Minna
Edith Speare Arno C. Brown Hertz (Captain Bragg) William Hasson
Peasants, Women and Soldiers.
Time--Present. Place--A War-Ridden Country.
Personal Manager for Madame Nazimova William F. Muenster

WAR BRIDES
The war brides were cheered with enthusiasm and the churches were
crowded when the wedding parties spoke the ceremony in
concert.--PRESS CLIPPING.
SCENE: _A room in a peasant's cottage in a war-ridden country. A
large fireplace at the right. Near it a high-backed settle. On the left a
heavy oak table and benches. Woven mats on the floor. A door at left
leads into a bedroom. In the corner a cupboard. At the back a wide
window with scarlet geraniums and an open door. A few firearms are
stacked near the fireplace. There is an air of homely color and neatness
about the room._
_Through the open door may be seen women stacking grain. Others go
by carrying huge baskets of grapes or loads of wood, and gradually it
penetrates the mind that all these workers are women, aristocrats and
peasants side by side. Now and then a bugle blows or a drum beats in
the distance. A squad of soldiers marches quickly by. There is

everywhere the tense atmosphere of unusual circumstance, the anxiety
and excitement of war._
_Amelia, a slight, flaxen-haired girl of nineteen, comes in. She brushes
off the hay with which she is covered, and goes to packing a bag with a
secret, but determined, air. The Mother passes the window and appears
in the doorway. She is old and work-worn, but sturdy and stoical. Now
she carries a heavy load of wood, and is weary. She casts a sharp eye at
Amelia._
Mother:
What are you doing, girl? [_Amelia starts and puts the bag in the
cupboard._] Who's going away? They haven't sent for Arno?
Amelia:
No.
Mother: [Sighs, and drops her load on the hearth.]
Is the hay all in?
Amelia:
Yes. I put in the last load. All the big work on our place is done, and
so--[_Looks at her mother and hesitates. Her mother begins to chop the
wood into kindling._] I'll do that, Mother.
Mother:
Let be, girl. It keeps me from worrying. Get a bite to eat. What were
you doing with that bag? Who were you packing it for?
Amelia: [With downcast eyes.]
Myself.
Mother: [Anxious.]

What for?
Amelia:
Sit down, Mother, and be still while I tell you--
[Pushes her mother into a chair.]
Mother: [Starts.]
Is there any news? Quick! Tell me!
Amelia:
Not since yesterday. Only they say Franz is at the front. We don't know
where Emil and Otto are, and there's been a battle; but--
Mother: [Murmurs, with closed eyes.]
My boys! my boys!
Amelia:
Don't, Mother! They may come back. [A cheer is heard.]
Mother: [Starting.]
What's that?
Amelia: [Running to the door and looking out.]
They are cheering the war brides, that's all.
Mother:
Aye. There's been another wedding ceremony.
Amelia:
Yes.

Mother:
How many war brides to-day?
Amelia:
Ten, they said.
Mother: [Nodding.]
Aye, that is good. Has any one asked you, Amelia? [_Amelia looks
embarrassed._] Some one should ask you. You are a good-looking girl.
Amelia: [In a low voice.]
Hans Hoffman asked me last night.
Mother:
The young and handsome lieutenant? You are lucky. You said yes?
Amelia: [Shakes