ONE-ACT PLAY "Little Paradise"

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 12, 2 October 1931, Page 7

ONE-ACT PLAY "Little Paradise"

By

I.

BROOK

This is the last play to be published in the joint "Radio Record" and "Dairy Exporter" play competition, Among those specially commended by Mr. Victor Lloyd was this dainty little fantasy by a young country authoress, Miss I. Brook, Motu, Gisborne.

CHARACTERS: OLD FATHER TIME (a woman with a deep voice), dressed in a fon cloak and carrying a scythe. SPRING, in flowing, pale green, carrying a bunch of violets. SUM M. ER, in pink, carrying pink roses. AU TUMN, in rich brown, wearing trails of crimson and yellow leaves. WINTER, in white. 4A WOMAN of about forty, in drab, serviceable dress. Her hair is done up at the back in a tight bun.

SCENE: A farm kitchen, with table in centre, thair left, and door right. A calendar or small picture hangs on the wall. The woman is scrubbing the floor, and suddenly lifts and moves the bucket with impatience, letting the handle fall with a clatter (a zine bucket does admirably). She flings the scrubbing brush and the cloth on to the floor and strikes a tragic attitude. Woman: ; "I’m sick of this-the same every dav.

And no one ever gives me thanks for it! I’ve not a joy or happiness to boastI don’t go out, and no one visits me; — I scrub, and clean, and cook, and wash, and sew, Yet I am treated like a useful piece Of furniture!-I won’t be treated thus! I'll hang myself, and they shall find my corpse, All white and stretched, and dangling down. Then they Shall have their sorrow!" (Sinks into chair, continues hysterically.) "Yes, to think of me Hung like a thief-it’s just a wicked shame!" (Folds arms on table, drops her head on to them, and weeps violently.) (A knock at the door.) Woman (looking up): "Now, who is that? And just when I am in This pickle, too!" (Quickly dries her eyes, and hastens to open the door. Enter Old Father Time, who takes her right hand.) Otp F.T.: My dear, I’ve come at last! I waited till your patience had eloped, Your mind rebellious waxed, your eyes were filled With angry tears. Now hearken, child, to meMy hair is hoary, and my sight is dim, My days in number as the very stars That shine in Heaven; my wisdom, too, can count Its days from the beginning of the world. So hear my words! I gave you youth and grace Which won for you the purest joys in Life! I gave you love, and you were sweeter then Than e’er before! Your home was Paradise; Your garden was a place of loveliness, And Life was full of pleasantness and peace. jBut now your fairest dreams are skeletons

The stars are cold; your garden waits in vain For fragrant scents, and colours richly blent,. And moths at night, when moonbeams flicker low! The children’s laughter is no longer sweet, And ’tis a task to tend your Paradise. (Woman sits, and leans head on hand.) Child, I have pity, and I shall restore Your old delight in every lovely thing. Maids of the Year, come in!" (Enter Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Spring places her violets in woman’s lap.) SPRING: "My lady fair, Sweets to the sweet! But do I see the girl, Laughing and gay, who loved in olden days My golden hair and changing eyes of blue, My tiny, buds, in wisps of frailest green? Where are the hands that used to wave to me Far o’er the hills, where blew my ’witching breath? Scrubbing the floor? ’Twere better left undone, And you with me were shouting on the hills! Playmate, a smile! And let us make a trystDown by the trees, where grew these violets!" (Homan smiles, and Summer comes forward and gives her the roses.) SUMMER: "They’re lovely, dear; but not so live and sweet As once your blushes on a summer eve! Those golden hours!-when gracious fragrances, Mingled with peace, made meditation sweet; Sunny my days, and gay my meadows are; Crimson my poppies, pure my sapphire skies ; Lark on a dewy morn sings ecstasy! Come back with me, to feel my olian breath,. . To dream your dreams, and hear the minstrelry Born of the birds. Come, hie away with me To find your olden loves!" (Woman laughs.) Woman: "Oh, but, I eam’sa" (Auiumn gies her a trail of leaves.) AUTUMN: "Then I am sure that you will come with me! My treasures are the richest of the yearI’ve stores of gold, and rubies flaming red, Flashing in ev’ry place where leaves are blown Lightly and far, from trees that wish to sleep! Mellow and rich my sun, and gay my hair, Crispy my nights, and pure my evening starLover of flying oak leaves, spiced and brown, ie Come, come with me, and share my glorious wealth!’ (Concluded on page 8.)

"Little Paradise" (Continued from page 7,) (Woman smiles and nods, and Win- ter takes her hand.) WINTER "I have no gift to bring; but just my love. My heart is pure, my gems are fair and white Pale frosted pearls; and flashing dia- monds Brighter than stars 4 My breath is chill, Yet Walrm and loving is the heart of me. Red, glowing' fires express my fellow- ship Ou stormy nights ; So when the tem- pests r0a1, Come to the fire ~enjoy the cosy rest Given to earth in Winter 8 chilly reign "" (TVoman rises, and with outstretched hands loolts happily at all. ) WVOMAN "Thank Jou Oh, thank you 2 I am very glad ! OLD FJ "My dea1, youl' heart has lost its bit- terness Pray that your soul be ever full of light Pray , and your fervent words shall high ascend, Far past the stars; unto the feet of God 1 Maids of the Year; give her a new array, Then let uS haste_ (The seasohls take {Ie uomluil out left, wnd Old FI sits in chair and i8 Zost i1l meditatiom, elbow 01l table and head eaning on hond. The others retun 1, the toomanl laughing and dress- ed in 0 pretty; but sinple, frocl , full and fairly Zong. Her hwir i8 softl and becomingly wrranged. ) SPRING (gaily) "Old Father Time , I ask Is she vot sweet, and as she used to be 2" OLD r "Aye, ewen So ; and Woman; do not keep Those ugly things which shroud your" soul in gloom_ Hold #ast to Llght and Beauty, and with Love Make every day 0 living grateful prayer To (od, WVho gives you all thats beau- tiful Home shall become # little Paradise, And all your Ways and all your paths be peace. (Riscs stilfly: ) Farewell " (Maids of thc Year kiss the aomlu il Old F.T: shakes hcr hand and moves toward door.) SPBING (to woman) "Good-bye, and don t forget to come Il meet you on the first October dlay SUMMER "Good-bye, my dear_I4l mneet Yyou in the fields Where poppies are !" AUTUMN "(ood-bye, my sister gay "Ih call you when my riches come to me !" WINTER "Farewell, dear frien 4 And some- times think of 012 Who, cold and chill, yet holds 4 world of lifo |"

WoMAN (gaily , following them to door ) : "Thank You again ! I cannot half ex press My thanks to you for op'ning wlde and free The gate to Beauty, Iong closed fast to me ! Ies, we shall meet at every trysting place ! Yes, I will come and take your friendly hands. There, we shall live our golden houra again Here, I shall make my Little Para- dise W' (PIey pass Out oe by one, Old Father Time being tast, and wonlan stands waving . for 0 mimute. Them t6rn8 and bools at buclet, etc:) WoMAN (gaily) : "My Paradisc? Id better scrub the flvor !" UURTAIN