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The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson
William Ernest Henley and Robert Louis Stevenson
Henley is best known for this quote from Invictus:
"I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul."
INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I think whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson
Contents
Deacon Brodie
Beau Austin
Admiral Guinea
Robert Macaire
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Play: DEACON BRODIE - OR THE DOUBLE LIFE. A MELODRAMA IN FIVE
ACTS AND EIGHT TABLEAUX
PERSONS REPRESENTED
WILLIAM BRODIE, Deacon of the Wrights, Housebreaker and Master
Carpenter.
OLD BRODIE, the Deacon's Father.
WILLIAM LAWSON, Procurator-Fiscal, the Deacon's Uncle.
ANDREW AINSLIE, }
HUMPHREY MOORE } Robbers in the Deacon's gang.
GEORGE SMITH, } C
APTAIN RIVERS, an English Highwayman.
HUNT, a Bow Street Runner.
A DOCTOR.
WALTER LESLIE.
MARY BRODIE, the Deacon's Sister.
JEAN WATT, the Deacon's Mistress.
VAGABONDS, OFFICERS OF THE WATCH, MEN-SERVANTS.
The Scene is laid in Edinburgh. The Time is towards the close of
the Eighteenth Century. The Action, some fifty hours long,
begins at eight p.m. on Saturday and ends before midnight on
Monday.
NOTE. - PASSAGES SUGGESTED FOR OMISSION IN REPRESENTATION ARE
ENCLOSED IN SQUARE BRACKETS, THUS [ ].
SYNOPSIS OF ACTS AND TABLEAUX
ACT I.
TABLEAU I. The Double Life.
TABLEAU II. Hunt the Runner.
TABLEAU III. Mother Clarke's.
ACT II.
TABLEAU IV. Evil and Good.
ACT III.
TABLEAU V. King's Evidence. TABLEAU VI. Unmasked.
ACT IV.
TABLEAU VII. The Robbery.
ACT V.
TABLEAU VIII. The Open Door.
LONDON: PRINCE'S THEATRE 2D JULY 1884
DEACON BRODIE, MR. E. J. HENLEY.
WALTER LESLIE, MR. CHARLES CARTWRIGHT.
WILLIAM LAWSON, MR. JOHN MACLEAN.
ANDREW AINSLIE, MR. FRED DESMOND.
HUMPHREY MOORE, MR. EDMUND GRACE.
GEORGE SMITH, MR. JULIAN CROSS.
HUNT, MR. HUBERT AKHURST.
OLD BRODIE, MR. A. KNIGHT.
CAPTAIN RIVERS, MR. BRANDON THOMAS.
MARY BRODIE, MISS LIZZIE WILLIAMS.
JEAN WATT, MISS MINNIE BELL.
MONTREAL 26TH SEPTEMBER 1887
DEACON BRODIE, MR. E. J. HENLEY.
WALTER LESLIE, MR. GRAHAM STEWART.
WILLIAM LAWSON, MR. EDMUND LYONS.
ANDREW AINSLIE, MR. FRED DESMOND.
HUMPHREY MOORE, MR. EDMUND GRACE.
GEORGE SMITH, MR. HORATIO SAKER.
HUNT, MR. HENRY VERNON.
CAPTAIN RIVERS, MR. BRUCE PHILIPS.
MARY BRODIE, MISS ANNIE ROBE.
JEAN WATT, MISS CARRIE COOTE.
ACT I.
TABLEAU I. THE DOUBLE LIFE.
The Stage represents a room in the Deacon's house, furnished
partly as a sitting-, partly as a bed-room, in the style of an
easy burgess of about 1780. C., a door; L. C., a second and
smaller door; R. C., practicable window; L., alcove, supposed to
contain bed; at the back, a clothes-press and a corner cupboard
containing bottles, etc. MARY BRODIE at needlework; OLD BRODIE,
a paralytic, in wheeled chair, at the fireside, L.
SCENE I
To these LESLIE, C.
LESLIE. May I come in, Mary?
MARY. Why not?
LESLIE. I scarce knew where to find you.
MARY. The dad and I must have a corner, must we not? So when my
brother's friends are in the parlour he allows us to sit in his
room. 'Tis a great favour, I can tell you; the place is sacred.
LESLIE. Are you sure that 'sacred' is strong enough?
MARY. You are satirical!
LESLIE. I? And with regard to the Deacon? Believe me, I am not
so ill-advised. You have trained me well, and I feel by him as