31 Plays in 31 Days, #19 - "The Party Met"

[breakinglight11]

This is the scene where the first real plot issue kicks off for Justin's adventure. It comes after Day #8 - "A Caper in Venice", Day #14 - "Man of Philosophy", Day #15 - “Reputation Precedes”, and Day #18 - "The Honorable Cash", in that order, though not immediately. The family to whom the house belongs is first introduced, as is something important about Rosaline Pembroke, which gives Justin the first complication he's facing in his adventure.

I notice there are seven of characters in this scene. Historically I have found blocking with more than five characters to be challenging, but since we'll be doing this socially distanced through video recordings, it won't give me the usual problems.


Photo by Anna Munch

Day #19 - "The Party Met"
From A Libertine Abroad
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~

JUSTIN HAWKING, a liberated gentlemen, late thirties
The Honorable ROSALINE PEMBROKE, of Pembroke's of London, early thirties
The Honorable CASSIUS EVANS, a socialite and old school friend, mid thirties
THEO PRYCE, Lord Cornin, the groom-to-be and an old school friend, mid thirties
ANNABEL BROADWATER, the bride-to-be, late twenties
MRS. EMMELINE BROADWATER, Annabel's guardian aunt and mistress of the house, early fifties
MARTIN QUINCY, Mrs. Broadwater's butler, late twenties

Venice, 1889
~~~

(Enter JUSTIN and CASSIUS to THEO with ANNABEL and MRS. BROADWATER.)

THEO: Is that my old friend Justin Hawking, or a highwayman wearing his clothes?

JUSTIN: A bit of both, perhaps, if it will impress these lovely ladies with you.

THEO: Ah, yes! You’ve met my old schoolfellow the Honorable Cassius Evans. And Justin Hawking, of Hawking Capital and Investments— permit me to introduce my fiancee, Miss Annabel Broadwater, and her esteemed aunt, Mrs. Emmeline Broadwater.

JUSTIN: The pleasure’s all mine, madame and mademoiselle. I should have known the mistresses of this beautiful house would be ladies of such beauty and taste.

ANNABEL: My, all your friends are most charming, Theo.

MRS. BROADWATER: One might have hoped over the years they’d have rubbed off on you.

THEO: (Laughing) Oh, if only, madam!

CASSIUS: You are generous, madam, to host us here for the festivities.

MRS. BROADWATER: Yes, well, my late husband saddled us with this white elephant in this country of oily Papists. Might as well see some use of the place.

JUSTIN: Madam is a romantic.

ANNABEL: Oh, indeed. You know, it would have been Auntie and Uncle’s thirtieth wedding anniversary this coming week. What a better way to celebrate than a raucous party where no one can see anyone else’s face? Theo is so clever about these things.

CASSIUS: You shall have to give us the complete tour. Justin, old boy, have you seen the Broadwaters' famous statue?

JUSTIN: I haven’t, what is it?

MRS. BROADWATER: It was a wedding present. My late husband’s pride.

THEO: Oh, it’s a most magnificent piece. A robust Italic marble depicting the heroic death of Hector.

ANNABEL: It is quite the engineering marvel. You can see the veins standing out in agony as Hector is dragged behind Achilles’s chariot.

JUSTIN: It sounds a treat. I shall be delighted to take it in… anytime except after dinner. Shall we go through to cocktail hour?

CASSIUS: Oh, but where’s the last member of our party tonight? The charming young lady Justin encountered in the courtyard.

ANNABEL: Oh, have you met Rosaline already?

JUSTIN: Briefly. Is she a friend of yours?

CASSIUS: Oh, her family and Theo’s have been close for a long time. Surely you must have heard of the Pembrokes, haven’t you?

JUSTIN: I say, Pembroke? As in—?

(Enter ROSALINE.)

ROSALINE: Pembroke’s of London, yes. Lord Harry is my uncle.

CASSIUS: Oh, didn’t you know?

JUSTIN: Am I to take it you’re acting on his behalf?

ROSALINE: I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Hawking. I’m simply here to attend a lovely party. I will say, however, you weren’t the only one hoping to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Broadwater.

ANNABEL: And why wouldn’t she? Auntie is such a charmer. Now, I believe that’s all of us for dinner met. Quincy!

(Enter MARTIN QUINCY, the Broadwaters’ butler.)

ANNABEL: We’ll be in for cocktails now, before we change for dinner.

QUINCY: Of course, miss. If the ladies and gentlemen will kindly follow me.

(QUINCY exits, followed by ANNABEL, THEO, and MRS. BROADWATER. JUSTIN intercepts CASSIUS.)

JUSTIN: Is Miss Pembroke the little secret you were crowing over?

CASSIUS: Do you really think everything I do is about you? It’s just a delightful bonus.

(CASSIUS exits.)