Selected drama. Second edition

Vitaliy Vladimirovich Voskoboinikov

“�збранная драма” (второе издание) – сборник любительских пьес для любителей драмы на английском языке, постановка которых была осуществлена студентами-языковедами одного из ведущих университетов Казахстана.

Selected drama

Second edition

Vitaliy Vladimirovich Voskoboinikov

© Vitaliy Vladimirovich Voskoboinikov, 2017

ISBNВ 978-5-4483-3322-4

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

FOREWORD

Four long years have elapsed since the first edition has been produced inВ one copy, yet that attempt has made an enduring and promising path for the booklet you, dear reader, are now handling. The main thing is aВ continuity and tradition which have persisted and, perhaps, more or less steadily kept the author afloat and enabled him come toВ whatever end, believably, aВ goodВ one.

This edition includes four dramatic pieces, the three of them were staged, and RIDING HOOD was recited by your humble servant once at a certain event. Herein I state, that the drama was singularly produced to be staged by students’ amateur theatrical groups in the framework of special activities students’ life is so famous for.

If just you really want some fun and some little enjoyable pastime, this opus is forВ you.

My true acknowledgements are toВ the FL students who did much toВ help these things produced, toВ their tutors who provided necessary advice, toВ my colleagues and friends who inspired me toВ achieve, and God Almighty whose reliance and spiritual support IВ sought and gained.

AВ Surprise ( aВ burlesque inВ oneВ actВ )

Cast:

Miss Elisa Scott,В 18

Mrs. Scott, Elisa’s mother, 43

Mr. Eugene Sunderland, aВ young man inВ love with Elisa,В 21

Mr. Alexander Burps, aВ friend ofВ Mrs. Scott,В 44

Mr. Zachary Higgs, aВ neighbor downstairs

The drawing room at the Scotts’. Elisa and her mother sitting on the sofa expect the arrival of Eugene who intends to ask the hand of Elisa, it’s a sort of formal engagement.

Elisa: Mom, you know, I’m in two minds: should I accept Eugene or reject him?

Mrs. Scott: Elisa, your heart knows better than I do. You’re old enough to make such a decision, and Eugene seems to be a decent match as you describe him.

Elisa: Of course, Mama. You see, my taste is quite perfect. And he’s such a beaut!

But should IВ look better around, perhaps, picking someone else exceptВ him?

Mrs. Scott: Around? Your too wide circle of beaux with whom you’re damnably popular, my sweetie? Tut-tut! You have to decide now. You know, the bird in the hand…

Elisa: Ha! He is a gay bird, always cracking jokes, with some trick up his sleeve and ever talking “big”! Yet a bit simple. Sometimes I find him so unbearable!

Mrs. Scott: Better toВ have aВ wag, aВ modest chap rather than some bore or aВ taciturn bloke, honey.

Elisa: Yes, you’re right, Mummy. Well, where can be Eugene? Late?

Mrs. Scott: Coming any minute. By the way, Lisa, you remember Mr. Burps of whom I told you once or twice? He has some plans on you, darling. He’ll be a surprise…

Elisa: Mama, I never saw the man. Leave it off. As soon as I’m concerned, my treat is the young Mr. Sunderland.

Mrs. Scott: And I neither saw your man. We shall see. We shall see… (smiling enigmatically)

Doorbell rings. Eugene with aВ bunch ofВ flowers enters.

Elisa: Mama, meet Eugene.

Eugene gives flowers toВ Elisa and shakes hands with Mrs. Scott

Eugene: Nice toВ meet you, Madam. How areВ you?

Mrs. Scott: I’m OK. Hope you also?

All sit on the sofa.

Eugene: Fine weather, isn’t it?

Mrs. Scott: Refreshing. Hmm…

An awkward pause follows.

Elisa: Oh, Eugene, come on! (encouraging him toВ speak)