31 Plays in 31 Days, #8 - “A Caper in Venice”

[breakinglight11]

I really need to formally announce this since I haven’t yet, but our plan for our Mrs. Hawking play this year is not to continue onto part 7, since it’s probably going to be pretty heavy and would not be suited to a socially distanced performance. Instead, we’re doing a light, fun Wodehousian spinoff story starring Nathaniel’s brother Justin Hawking on a romantic sexy adventure abroad.

The framing device we’re imagining for it is an exchange of letters between Justin and Nathaniel. It allows for including the relationship between the brothers, which is one of my favorites in the series, and can be used as an interesting little narrative intrusion to add layers of perspective or commentary. It’s not something we’ve ever done before in a Hawking-adjacent property, little flourishes like that. But this piece is supposed to be funny and light, plus it might make use of the socially distanced performance necessities we’ll have to utilize in a way that feels artful rather than forced.

This is the planned first scene, kicking things off with one such letter between the Hawking boys.



Day #8 - “A Caper in Venice”
From The Libertine Abroad
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~

Rome and London, 1889

JUSTIN HAWKING, a liberated gentleman, late thirties
NATHANIEL HAWKING, his younger brother and business partner, mid thirties
~~~

(JUSTIN HAWKING and his brother NATHANIEL HAWKING sit in their respective studies, writing letters back and forth.)

JUSTIN: Am I correct in understanding that you’ve become something of an amateur detective?

NATHANIEL: I beg your pardon?

JUSTIN: You know— ever since that business with the murdered ballerina, and you pointing the policeman in the direction of the murderess.

NATHANIEL: You mean, the murderess that you had a dalliance with. Yes, I suppose so.

JUSTIN: I take it you’ve kept up with it in the years since?

NATHANIEL: You could certainly say that. Why do you ask?

JUSTIN: Well, I was wondering. Judging by your letters, you’ve not been in the highest spirits of late.

NATHANIEL: It’s been a hard several years.

JUSTIN: Yes, since your— what was it, a mugging?

NATHANIEL: I’d rather not talk about it.

JUSTIN: And it must not be easy to lose that Stone girl. I’d be low too if I had to manage Auntie all on my own again.

NATHANIEL: Is there a point to all this?

JUSTIN: Yes. Do you recall my last trip?

NATHANIEL: Of course. The one to Venice.

JUSTIN: Venice during Masquerade. Can you understand what that means, or have you forgotten as an old married London man?

NATHANIEL: Have I mentioned that I’ve had a difficult time?

JUSTIN: Forgive me, I don’t mean to rub it in. But during my little jaunt I’ve had a rather interesting adventure and I thought you might be interested to hear.

NATHANIEL: Oh, God. This isn’t going to be one of those letters, is it? Because Reggie found the last on my desk, and that is not how I’d hoped to have that talk with him.

JUSTIN: Ha! No, not this time. Although… there may be a touch of that at some point.

NATHANIEL: I should expect no less.

JUSTIN: But I’d had rather a caper of my own, and it took a touch of detective work.

NATHANIEL: Did it, now?

JUSTIN: It rather did. And if you’ve a moment, I thought it might cheer you to hear about.