The Provincetown Plays (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... the string of the samisen A play By Rita Wellman Copyright, 1917, By Rita Wellman All Rights Reserved Applications for the right of performing "The String of the Samlsen" must be made to Miss Rita Wellman, 142 East Eighteenth St., New York. the string of the samisen Scene: Large room in the merchant's house. Three screens at back forming the walls. A space for an entrance between the foremost screens, the other placed in the background to form a passage. These screens are painted silver, with sprays of azaleas in faint pink. Shoji (paper windows) occupy the whole of the walls right and left. On the back screen left a kakemono. Beneath it a tall, white porcelain jar with a single iris flower. Mats on the floor right and left. A small lacquer table at left forward. It is afternoon. Hatsu, the maid, wearing a cotton crepe kimono, enters at back, and bows to the ground before Sutsumi, who comes in slowly, pointing his cane before him, as he is blind. He wears a grey crepe kimono and a scarf over his head; this he removes. He is old and grey. sutsumi Hatsu-San, where is your mistress? Is she here? hatsu She is here, Sutsumi-San. I will call her. Your health is good, Sutsumi? sutsumi If the blind and old can be well. And you, Hatsu-San? hatsu I am young and strong and no evil spirit touches me. (Bows) I will call my lady. (She bows again and goes out entrance at back. Tama enters. She is a pretty, dainty creature, dressed in an exquisite embroidered kimono of cherrycolored silk. Her hair is arranged elaborately.) sutsumi (bowing) O-Kami-San. ta