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A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE
Short Play, Comedy / 5w, 2m
Arnold Ridley
One-act comedy in which drama unfolds at the home of Rodney Morcambe, after his wife, Agatha, is accused of cheating at the local church whist game in order to win the top prize; a Geranium.
Saturday evening at the home of Rodney and Agatha Morcambe. Agatha is widely regarded by the family, as a forgetful, simple woman of little intellect and is taken for granted by her husband and family. Rodney and Agatha are taking tea with their precocious daughter, Phyllis, when Rodneys son from his first marriage, Derek, arrives with the news that he is to be himself, married. Once the shock is over, talk turns to Agatha’s recent win at the St Jude’s whist drive, in which she took the first prize of a Geranium, which she now treasures. There are many comments from the family alluding to their shock at Agatha’s win, as they simply believed she was incapable of beating anyone, at anything. As the evening progresses, Rodney’s sister, Elizabeth arrives and sensationally claims that Rodney should never have married Agatha, owing to a rumour she has heard from Lady Seaton-Clowes, who runs the church whist drive. The rumour is that Agatha won by the geranium by cheating. Derek and Rodney are outraged by the accusation and threaten to take Lady Seaton-Clowes to court for slander. Later, Lady Seaton-Clowes arrives and Elizabeth is asked to leave the room. Meanwhile, the party demand Lady Seaton-Clowes withdraw the accusation. She highlights that she cannot do this, as she would be lying and she cannot morally allow for this. When questioned why she has spread this wicked rumour, she explains, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Agatha must have cheated, for she has proof. She declares that Agatha is permanently banned from attending the church whist for her crime. Much to the astonishment of the party, eventually, it is revealed that Agatha did in fact, cheat at the church whist, as she desperately wanted to win the Geranium, proving to her family that she is good enough win something for herself. She acknowledges that it was wrong to cheat and prepares to admit the truth to Elizabeth. However, Lady Seaton-Clowes feels such empathy for Agatha, that when Elizabeth enters the room, lady Seaton-Clowes tells her that it was all a misunderstanding and that Agatha is welcome anytime at the church whist drive and Agatha is allowed to keep her prized Geranium.
Rodney Morcambe, a retired businessman (aged 65)Agatha Morcambe, his second wife (aged 40) Phyliss Morcambe, their daughter (aged 16) Derek Morcambe, Rodney's son. A solicitor (aged 30)Elizabeth Bolton, Rodney's sister. A widow (aged 55) Lady Seaton-Clowes, a local celebrity (aged 50) Lavinia, a maidservant (aged 25)
ARNOLD RIDLEY, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984)
Born in Bath – and always a proud West Countryman – Arnold Ridley is best known today for playing the part of Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. This came at the end of a long and varied career in the theatre. He was a prol ...