Clair de Lune. Michael Strange

      Printed in the United States of America

      All acting rights are reserved by the author. Application for the rights of performing this play should be made to Michael Strange, who may be addressed in care of the publishers.

CHARACTERS

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THE COURT

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THE MOUNTEBANKS

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CLAIR DE LUNE

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      Note—Suggestions for the play, also the names of mountebanks and villain, are taken from L'Homme qui Rit, by Victor Hugo.

ACT I

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CLAIR DE LUNE

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Act I

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Scene 1

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      [An old park with avenues of trees leading away in all directions. Directly in background of stage there is a sheet of water fringed by willow and poplar trees. On the right and left is a high box hedge formed in curves with the top clipped in grotesque shapes mostly of birds. A statue is placed in the centre of each hedge, and beneath the statues are seats.

      When the curtain rises several courtiers are discovered wandering or sitting about. There is much laughing and whispering behind fans.]

      2d Courtier

      What an extraordinary evening! How calm the water is! It makes the swans look exactly like topaz clouds reflecting in a titanic mirror.

      A Lady

      Yes. The sky is just as clear as the Queen's ear-rings of aquamarine. A storm could hardly blow up out of such blueness, so the masque is bound to be heavenly.

      3d Courtier [approaching]

      I hate to interrupt your celestial jargon with human speech, but does anybody know whether Phedro has been able to find the Prince and give him the Queen's command?

      Lady [answering with frigid distinction]

      Probably not, but the Prince can never be found and is