Play Suggestions

Plays and other dramatic works
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Salvationist
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Post by Salvationist »

SonOfTheExiles wrote: December 21st, 2020, 11:02 pm Two plays of J.M. Barrie (author of "Peter Pan" and "The Admirable Crichton"), as yet undone by Librivox:

"What Every Woman Knows" https://archive.org/details/whateverywomankn00barr_0

"Alice Sit-by-the-Fire" https://archive.org/details/alicesitbythefir19barr/page/n1/mode/2up
I have read both of these and would love for them to be performed on LibriVox; they're quite fun! I'd especially like to narrate "Alice Sit-by-the-Fire", although COVID-19 restrictions are currently keeping me away from my recording space and equipment, and I won't have access to them again until at least late January.
Salvationist

Current focus: Acadia, The Watsons, and Pollyanna of the Orange Blossoms
SonOfTheExiles
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Post by SonOfTheExiles »

mightyfelix wrote: December 24th, 2020, 7:24 pm
SonOfTheExiles wrote: December 24th, 2020, 7:17 pm "The Cinderella Man", by Edward C. Carpenter (1844 – 1929)

"The poet and playwright lives in an attic and will have naught to do with his rich neighbours. But the millionaire's daughter next door pretends she is a servant, as over the roof she brings him food and even inspiration. She will doubtless succeed in winning his love in this reversal of the sexes in the old fairy tale". 4 acts, 8 men, 3 women
Got a link?
https://archive.org/details/cinderellamancom00carp/page/n1/mode/2up

Actually, I think I may have got the wrong Edward Carpenter's DOB-DOD, but it's still okay PD-wise, because this one's DOD is 1950, so it's PD a week or so from now.

Chris
Currently on sabbatical from Librivox
SonOfTheExiles
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Post by SonOfTheExiles »

Lady Huntworth's Experiment : a comedy in three acts
by Carton, R. C. (Richard Claude), 1856-1928

https://archive.org/details/ladyhuntworthsex00cartiala/page/n3/mode/2up

"Caroline, the cook at the vicarage of Rev. Audley Pillenger (run by his sister Hannah), is evidently above her station. She is proposed to by four men in one evening, one of them being her ex-husband (who wants her back since he has heard she is to inherit some money). She hides the four in the various kitchen closets, much to Miss Hannah's dismay. She also helps Lucy to elope. Not waiting to be discharged, she resigns the next morning, when she reveals she is really Lady Huntsworth, cooking being her only asset when funds failed; but now she need not continue her experiment." 3 acts, 6 men, 4 women


The Saving Grace, by Charles Haddon Chambers (1860-1921)

https://archive.org/details/savinggracecomed00chamuoft

"Buoyed through every crisis by his sense of humour, Blinn Corbett regains his place in the army though his wife". 4 acts, 3 men, 4 women


The Tyranny of Tears, by Charles Haddon Chambers (1860-1921)

https://archive.org/details/tyrannyoftearsco00chamuoft

"With sly humour and pleasing freshness relates how Clement Parbury is ruled by a loving but tearful wife, Mabel. He is inclined to rebel at last, when his wife becomes jealous of his secretary, Hyacinth and desires her dismissal. The question is solved when her brother returns and marries Hyacinth." 4 acts, 4 men, 3 women


"Seven Keys to Baldpate", the novel by Earl Derr Biggers (August 26, 1884 – April 5, 1933) has already been recorded by Librivox in this novel form, but there was also a play written by George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878[1] – November 5, 1942) that was based on Biggers' novel. And the play has not yet been recorded by Librivox.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924022326114/page/n5/mode/2up

Synopsis (Wikipedia)
"Novelist Billy Magee makes a bet with a wealthy friend that he can write a 10,000 word story within 24 hours. He retires to a summer mountain resort named Baldpate Inn, in the dead of winter, and locks himself in, believing he has the sole key. However he is visited during the night by a rapid succession of other people (melodrama stock types), including a corrupt politician, a crooked cop, a hermit, a feisty girl reporter, a gang of criminals, etc., none of whom have any trouble getting into the remote inn—there appear to be seven keys to Baldpate.

Magee gets no work done, instead being drawn into the hijinks of the other visitors. He eventually foils a plot by the crooks to steal money from the hotel safe that is earmarked for a city street railroad deal, and he falls in love with the reporter. He observes derisively that all of these complicated incidents and characters are ones that he has written over and over again. Just before midnight, he finds out that everyone is an actor hired to perpetrate a hoax, orchestrated by Magee's friend to keep him from completing the story.

In the epilogue, the inn is empty, and a typewriter is clattering upstairs: Magee has finished his story before midnight and won the bet. He reveals that nothing had happened during the 24 hours; all the preceding melodrama, including the actors and hoax, constitute the story.
"


The Clandestine Marriage, a comedy, by Colman, George, 1732-1794; Garrick, David, 1717-1779; Townley, James, 1714-1778
https://archive.org/details/clandestinemarri00incolm/page/n7/mode/2up

"Fanny Sterling has been secretly married to penniless Lovewell against her father's wishes. Meanwhile a couple of lords make love to her, as they want to get some of the merchant's money. The final act is considered a masterpiece, when Lovewell is caught in his wife's room." 5 acts, 10 men, 6 women


The "Demi-monde:" a satire on society
by Dumas, Alexandre, 1824-1895; Leslie, Frank, Mrs., d. 1914

https://archive.org/details/demimondesatireo00dumaiala/page/n5/mode/2up

"Suzanne, calling herself a Baroness, seeks to forget the past and obtain security through a respectable marriage. She is well on her way in her design through marriage with a young soldier until her shady past is revealed to him by a friend, a former lover of Suzanne." 5 acts, 7 men, 5 women
Currently on sabbatical from Librivox
ToddHW
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Post by ToddHW »

Some of these play suggestions look very enticing. But with ~15 plays in my signature line, perhaps 12 of which still have open unclaimed part sections, I can't add anything. Claim and submit more, I can finish more, and then there will be more....

Alternately, any of you can volunteer to BC or DPL one of these play suggestions (or your own thoughts). You'll get help when you need it. I'll start a new One Act Play Collection so you can try it out by starting small before taking off the training wheels....

Thanks, Todd
AngeliqueAnja
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Post by AngeliqueAnja »

ToddHW wrote: December 25th, 2020, 5:48 am
Alternately, any of you can volunteer to BC or DPL one of these play suggestions (or your own thoughts). You'll get help when you need it. I'll start a new One Act Play Collection so you can try it out by starting small before taking off the training wheels....

Thanks, Todd
I would love the chance to try putting something small together!

Annie
DR: The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (Readers Wanted)
SOLO The Fairy Latchkey

I am without internet at the moment. Not sure for how long.
SonOfTheExiles
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Post by SonOfTheExiles »

The Marriage of Kitty

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89093713626&view=1up&seq=5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marriage_of_Kitty

“Kitty Silverton’s problem is how to find a means to live since she has been left unprovided for. Sir Reginald’s problem is the reverse -- he has been left a fortune provided he marry at once, but she must not be a widow or a Peruvian (this clause being aimed at Mme de Semiano with whom he is much in love.) It is not difficult to see that complications may follow, up to a surprising outcome." 3 acts, 4 men, 3 women



Fanny and the Servant Problem
By Jerome K. Jerome

https://archive.org/details/fannyservantprob00jerorich/page/n3/mode/2up

“Fanny has run away from home to escape her relatives, marries a supposed artist, who proves to be Lord Bantock. She is surprised to discover her new rank, but more so that the retinue of many servants are the relatives from whom she tried to escape." 4 acts, 5 men, 6 women
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ToddHW
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Post by ToddHW »

Ooh. Fanny sounds good. Too little time! But ....

Thanks, Todd
alanmapstone
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Post by alanmapstone »

We must do The Marriage of Kitty just so that Sonia can be the star leading lady :lol:
Alan
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ToddHW
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Post by ToddHW »

ToddHW wrote: December 31st, 2020, 4:50 am Ooh. Fanny sounds good. Too little time! But ....

Thanks, Todd
I am prep'ing Fanny.

EDIT: launched - viewtopic.php?f=28&t=84556 NEED A DPL!

Thanks, Todd
ChuckW
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Post by ChuckW »

Hi all. Now that we've officially 2021, I suppose we're free to talk about doing the works of George Bernard Shaw, as he's since entered the 70+ year copyright threshold in Europe. In particular, I had intended to launch Back to Methuselah sometime this year, which is an enormously ambitious project with a lot of characters and moving parts. I've been harboring a desire to do this for years, but currently don't have a lot of time to dedicate to projects. This year has been a difficult one for me (with quarantining, homeschooling, family dilemmas, and a divorce all sucking up much of my personal energy), and although I'd love to do this one eventually, I'm also happy to encourage someone else with more bandwidth to take this on as well. If anyone's interested, please contact me. I've broken the play (which is quite large) into discreet, digestible chunks and color-coded all of the dialogue. I've also broken up the prologue, which is also the length of a novella. Send me a PM if you're interested. Otherwise, I might get to this one... eventually... if things get less hectic.
PROJECTS
Current Solo:Septimius Felton (Hawthorne's final novel)
Help Needed: Strange Interlude (O'Neill's Freudian melodrama - roles available!)
SonOfTheExiles
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Post by SonOfTheExiles »

SonOfTheExiles wrote: December 24th, 2020, 10:44 pm "Seven Keys to Baldpate", the novel by Earl Derr Biggers (August 26, 1884 – April 5, 1933) has already been recorded by Librivox in this novel form, but there was also a play written by George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878[1] – November 5, 1942) that was based on Biggers' novel. And the play has not yet been recorded by Librivox.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924022326114/page/n5/mode/2up

Synopsis (Wikipedia)
"Novelist Billy Magee makes a bet with a wealthy friend that he can write a 10,000 word story within 24 hours. He retires to a summer mountain resort named Baldpate Inn, in the dead of winter, and locks himself in, believing he has the sole key. However he is visited during the night by a rapid succession of other people (melodrama stock types), including a corrupt politician, a crooked cop, a hermit, a feisty girl reporter, a gang of criminals, etc., none of whom have any trouble getting into the remote inn—there appear to be seven keys to Baldpate.

Magee gets no work done, instead being drawn into the hijinks of the other visitors. He eventually foils a plot by the crooks to steal money from the hotel safe that is earmarked for a city street railroad deal, and he falls in love with the reporter. He observes derisively that all of these complicated incidents and characters are ones that he has written over and over again. Just before midnight, he finds out that everyone is an actor hired to perpetrate a hoax, orchestrated by Magee's friend to keep him from completing the story.

In the epilogue, the inn is empty, and a typewriter is clattering upstairs: Magee has finished his story before midnight and won the bet. He reveals that nothing had happened during the 24 hours; all the preceding melodrama, including the actors and hoax, constitute the story.
"
What do you know, Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone did a one-hour radio version of this play back in the day... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH0S37zL6T0&list=PL1f2_uLXgb2dGbd3x1CKondBAUwLTky_m&index=44

Cheers,
Chris
Currently on sabbatical from Librivox
jennlea
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Joined: February 10th, 2019, 9:44 pm

Post by jennlea »

SonOfTheExiles wrote: December 24th, 2020, 10:44 pm "Seven Keys to Baldpate", the novel by Earl Derr Biggers (August 26, 1884 – April 5, 1933) has already been recorded by Librivox in this novel form, but there was also a play written by George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878[1] – November 5, 1942) that was based on Biggers' novel. And the play has not yet been recorded by Librivox.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924022326114/page/n5/mode/2up
This one is actually on my list to do in the near future unless someone else launches it first! It's great fun!
-Jenn B.
My Recordings
ChuckW
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Location: Ohio

Post by ChuckW »

A few plays from 1925 that just became available to us...

The Jazz Singer (Samson Raphaelson)
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/002709520
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jazz_Singer_(play)

Spring Cleaning (Frederick Longsdale)
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/101864450
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Cleaning

Processional: A Jazz Symphony of American Life in Four Acts (John Howard Lawson)
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001373115
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processional_(play)
PROJECTS
Current Solo:Septimius Felton (Hawthorne's final novel)
Help Needed: Strange Interlude (O'Neill's Freudian melodrama - roles available!)
ToddHW
LibriVox Admin Team
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Post by ToddHW »

I'm getting complaints about access restrictions and/or viewing speed for various play texts at Hathi making it hard to record and PL. Got any Archive or Gutenberg links?

Thanks, Todd
ChuckW
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Joined: January 22nd, 2012, 7:47 am
Location: Ohio

Post by ChuckW »

ToddHW wrote: January 10th, 2021, 11:50 am I'm getting complaints about access restrictions and/or viewing speed for various play texts at Hathi making it hard to record and PL. Got any Archive or Gutenberg links?

Thanks, Todd
Haha. I guess I never notice because I have university access and just download the PDFs directly.

None of these are available on Archive.org, but I wouldn't mind downloading the PDFs and uploading them elsewhere, if anyone is interested in reviewing these for future adoption.
PROJECTS
Current Solo:Septimius Felton (Hawthorne's final novel)
Help Needed: Strange Interlude (O'Neill's Freudian melodrama - roles available!)
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