^Yje
LOST PRINCE
A
iiSFEiTACULAR LYRIC CDMEDY,
' IN TWO ACTS,
BY
F. WEBER BENTON
oY}C
LOST PRINCE
A
SPECTACULAR LYRIC COMEDY,
IN XWO ACTS,
BY
F'*^ WEBER BENTON
jUN ;4 1883.'
SAINT LOUIS : ^>^^r WASHlt^i^*.
F. WEBER BENTON S: CO.
iSS3.
P%,s.
*=- ;**^ ■
Copyricrht and Playrio'ht Applied For
iriitL, LOST PRIJMCE
ORIGINAL CAST OF CHARACTERS.
Tkince Jack, — Prince of the House of Cucumber,
Miss Jessie Hall
Sunflower -A Fairy Queen j ^,^.^^ j^y^^ Larcari
Oklando, — Sunflower m disguise S -'
Panther, — Imp of the fairies, Mr. Oscar Hall
Pansy. — A Fairy Miss Tillie Chambers
Tulip, " Miss Delia Fox
Rose, " Miss Blanche Hall
Daisy, "
PoLLYWOG,— Valet to Prince Jack, Mr. Harry Berg-er
FAIRIES, ETC.
SCENE PLOT.
ACT I, PLAXET VENUS.
SCENE I. — Woods and mountains, large blooming
plants in the baekground, each enveloping a Fairy.
SCENE II.— Wood set in I. SCENE III— Same as first.
ACT II — THE SAME,
SCENE I — Boudoir in the Palace of the Fairy Queen.
SCENE II— Hallway in Palace. SCENE III— Same as
Act I. Scene I.
COSTUMES.
Prince jack. — Hunting garb, with Bow, Quiver and
Bugle.
Orlando. — Ducal attire.
POLLYWOG. — Comic colored garb {Male.)
Panther. — Plain, close fitting green suit and hood with
horns.
Fairies. — {Named,') White, short frocks, short sleeves,
wands and dresses trimmed with the flowers they represent
Fairies. — {In the chorus) White, short frocks, short
sleeves, wands and dresses trimmed with miscellaneous
flowers {except those navied.)
THE LOST PRINCE.
ACT I
SCENE I — Biig^le is heard in the dista7ice—,
gradually coining- 7iearer.
Prince Jack (^from ivithout') — Hello there,
good Pollywog, whither art thou? {pause) Hilli!
hilli! hi — ho — ^h-o-o! (^Enter^ifi chase of an ar-
row. ) Where has my arrow gone? I fear I
have lost that too, as well as my way. What
shall I do? Mj' arrow^s all gone, no game, and
lost from Pollywog: I shall die here alone in
the forest. Ah, what do I hear? (Jo%v chanting.)
Surely angels or fairies are singing; and oh,
how like Fairyland this seems! how beautiful,
how very beautiful! such a charming place for
a nap, and I am so weary, I think I'll try it;
perhaps Pollj'wog will find me while I sleep.
Sing on^ good fairies; I will listen while I
slurnbero (^Sleeps.)
Entzr Panther through a trap; shows surprise
at seeing thai* Rn^CE; touches him, sp> rings back
in alar }n as he moves ^ then sujumons the Fairies,
IV ho appear fro7n ivithin leaves of great plants;
they dravj ?iear.
Fax RiES — Oh^ my ! {retreat and the?i adva?ice.)
Sunflower, the Fairy Queen — What is this
that has thus invaded our realm?
Fairies — Oh, dear, a real, live man.
SuNF. — You have spoken truly, my maidens.
It is a man, and he is of earth. Know ye that
never betore has mortal entered our realm, and
ye are furthermore forbidden to hold converse
with a human, so let us away till he has passed
from beyond our domain.
Fairies— But he is so gentle.
SuNF. — I have spoken.
Pansy, a fairy — Good Sunfiower, let us speak
to him. It will surely do no harm. He looks
so young and gentle.
Tulip — And handsome.
Fairies — Oh, so handsome .
Si^NF. — Well, be it so. But forget not the
hour when the sunflower turns her face to the
setting sun : then seek ye each thy plant in
time, lest the leaves close without thee, for
such a misfortune ye well know would trans-
form thee into common mortals. Adieu; re-
member. {Bxt^ SuNF. L. U. E,
Fairies — We shall remember arid obey, good
Queen.
Pansy — How shall we awaken him?
Tulip — Let us try the effect of music.
Fairies— So let it be.
Chorus of Fairies.
Awake, gentle stranger.
Open your eyes;
The sunlight is on thee.
And blue are the skies:
The daylight is fading
The night dravveth near;
Awake, gentle stranger,
Come join in our cheer. •
Awake! awake! awake!
3
Prince Jack ynbs ///s ryrs, sifs upriirJit^ looks
aroiitid^ and rises to hh fvct .
Pr. J. 'ydside) — My eyes I what have we here?
as I live, they are girls.
Paxsey — He is lookijig .it me.
Tulip — No, he is looking at me.
Rose — You arc all mistaken: it is I that
caught his eye.
Pr. J. — Excuse me, I was looking at all of
you.
Fairies — Oh -hi {cluster about and nearly
S7iffocate him v.ntk embraces ^
Pr. J. — Enough, enough, you muss my cuff.
My dear ladies, you quite surprise me.
Pansy — Ladies indeed! he calls us ladies.
Pr. J. — Well, this is rich; they object to be-
ing called ladies.
Tulip — Indeed we do: we are flowers.
Pansy — And I am a Pansy.
Rose — And I a Rose.
Tulip— I'm the Tulip.
Lily — And I the Lily.
Daisy — Pm a Daisy.
Pr. J. — So you are, to be sure.
Pansy — Now who are you, Mr. Mortal.^
Pr. J. (^aside) — How rude! they call me mor-
tal, {aloud.^ My pretty blossoms, my front
name is Jack, and I'm Prince of the House
of Cucumber,
Fairies — k. real Prince. {^Again they etnbrace
hifn; he strangles .)
Pr. J. — Come off, come off; you make me
cough.
Tulip — Corne, Prince, tell us how you came
to leave the world.
Pr. J. — Goodness! I am not dead.
Tulip— But jou are not on the earth.
Pr. J. — Pray tell me, where am I, then?
Pansy— On Venus, the evening' star.
Pr. J. — How came I here?
Daisy — Do jou not know?, .
Pr. J, — Indeed I do not.
Pansy — Then we shall ask Panther; 'he
knows all things. Panther, appear.
Enter VmX^tia^^ with a leap and sprimr.
Pansy — How came the Prince among us?
Panther rubs his eyes, points to the earth in
the air, leaps up, a7id falls to the ground.
Pansy — He says you fell from the earth
while sleeping. ^
Pr. J. — Oh, dear! how shall I return.
Pansy— Never fear; oui' good queen, Sun-
flower, will send you safely horn p
Pr. J. — Perhaps I may wish to remain, espe-
cially if you will sing for me.
Fairies — But we have all got colds.
Pr. J. — ^'That's what they' say on earth, but
never mind the colds. I wrill. look leniently
upon all defects arising from that indisposition.
{aside.^ I guess that's a stunner.
The Fairies look at each other in zvonder.
Pansy— Will you have the kindness to favor
us with a repetition of your observation?
Pr. J-— Do the best you. can under the cir-
cumstances.
TuLiP~Oh, certainly; what shall we sing?-
Pr. J. — Anything you like^ let me see, do
you sing Olivette? .
Tulip— Never heard it.
Pr. J. {inusifigly^ — Do you sing a Pin-
aore? ;
5
Panther y' /V/ a fit.
Tulip — No, Panther objects.
Pr. J. — Well, make yourovvn selection.
Tulip — Then I will tell vou a secret, "but for
goodness sake don't say I told vou."
Song.
Pr. J. — Bravo. By mv troth, fair blossom,
you sing right merrily; but who is to favor us
now.? Ah, methinks the pretty Pansy will not
refuse.
Pansy — His Highness has but to command;
it gives us pleasure to obey. What shall I sing,
my lord .'^
Pr. J. — -I cannot dictate, except to suggest
that it be ot j'ourself, the flowers, the leaves,
the trees — of nature when most beautiful.
Pansy — Then I will sing of the happiest
time in all the year, "When the Leaves Return
Again."
Song.
Pr. J. — Excellent, most excellent; fully as
well as I could have done it myself.
Daisy — Do you reallj^ sing.?
Pr. J. — Not often.
Pansy— Panther, does the Prince sing?
Panther {sigfis hi the a^rinative^
Pansy — Panther says yes. Do sing for us.
Tulip — Oh, yes.
Rose— Please.
Daisy — Do sing; that's a dear,
Pr. J. — Since you have so kindlj' entertained
me, I cannot refuse to make some return. I
will sing you about one of my girls.
Tulip— One of them.?
pR. J. — Yes, I have several; my latest is **My
summer girl."
Song.
Pairies applaud,
Daisy — Oh, Prince, sing it again.
Pr. J. — No, I am quite fatigued. It is now
the turn of the Rose, where has she gone? Oh,
peek-a-boo! I see you hiding there. (Rose
.;// to the earth.
^Sunflower risee frmn behind her plant .^
SuNF. — Ye have disobeyed, my comrades, ye
have heeded not my commands; henceforth
are ye mortals. Away, away. (Fairies extend
their hands in supplication,
ACT II.
SCENE I. — Boidoir in the Palace of the
Fai^y ^ueen; Sunflower in ?nale attire, dis-
guised as Orlando, hefore mirror, arranging
toilet,
Orl.^ — At last my toilet is complete. Who
now shall suspect me as the Fairy Queen? ex-
cept Pantner, he knows all things. But how
long they tarry, 'tis time they should have ar-
rived. Ah, what if the Prince should
learn to love one of my maidens. Unhappy
thought, I shall not harbor it, but wait and hope
that I alone may win his love.
i?;//^r Panther ; motions that someone ap^
proaches ?)
Orl. — What now Panther? are the guests ar-
riving? (Panther affirms^
Okl. — Bid them enter. (Panther zvaves his
hand; enter PoL. drtmk and dressed tcp. B, 2 E.^
Pol.— Lookee he-re Satan where's 'is nibs?
you know oo I mean-hie. I shay did the prince
get fuU-hic-I'll have to-hic-lecture him bout that
hie thats something-hic-I never do and I never
4ow^s him to-hic-either. Its disgracetul-hic-its-
hello-who have we here {to Orl.) I shay gov-
nor your 'and.
i6
Tulip.— Well, I do kind 'o like you, Pollv-
wog. , ,
Pol.— Come tome arms, jumr yum!
Enter Va^sy on Panther's arm, R. i E.
Pansy. — Ha! ha! I caught you that time,
(Panther ^r/z?s, sla^ps his knee and also makes
merry over the scene.)
Pol.— Not so rapid, my pretty Pansy, allow
me to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Pollywog,
to be.
Pansy.-^So itbas,come to that has it, weli
we are just a little ahead ot you. Here you be-
hold Mr. and Mrs. Panther, already united.
Tulip. — You don't mean it.
Pansy. — Indeed I do. Its true he is dumb
but he is awfi^l cute, Au revoir, we must be
going.
P9L.— Where ?
Pansy.— To the earth; we have both become
mortals and will sail on the first air current
to-morrow.
Pol. — We will be with you on the same train.
Enter Ya^sy and YANTiiKis.. L.
Sketch by Pollywog ^//^jTulip, or exeunt. R.
SCENE III. — Sajne as Act 1, Scene i.
chorus OF fairies FROM WITHOUT.
Merrily, merrily, oh, how cherrily, .
Sing we now for our hearts are light;
Hail, oh, hail the happy bridegroom —
Happy bridegroom and the bride.
Enter fairies^ R. 2 E. March around stag-e
and then form line from L. U. E., to E. i. E.
Lovingly, gayly we, ever fondly we
Greet our queen and the noble knight.
Sing, oh sing, the highest praises,
Of the bridegroom and the bride.
Pr. J. — How glad I am to see jou, Polljwog.
I thought I would never set eyes on you again.
Pol. — Never fear, my lad; I am after you
wherever you go, though you were rather rapid
for me this time. But how on earth are we to
get home.?
Pr. J. — Through the air, good Polly wog, of
course; I have secured a safe and rapid transit;
but let us not hasten our return.
Pol. — Why do you wish to remain. f*
Pr, J. — I have an engagement for to-morrow.
Pol* — Where, my lord.^*
Pr. J. — At the Palace of the Fairy Queen.
She holds a reception there in honor of my
visit, even though such proceeding is^contrary
to the laws of this country: the fact is, I think
she is sweet on me.
Pol. — And can I go?
Pr. J. — Yes; I met her a few moments ago,
and she told me to invite you also.
Pol. — Good. But how about your lessons.-^
I fear you will lose much by your absence from
school.
Pr. J. — Oh, I shall soon catch up.
Pol. — I will give you some practice now.
Pr.J. — I should not mind; proceed. Professor.
Pol. — Well, to begin with, I will try you on
geography. What is a monarcy.?
Pr. J. — A country governed by a king.
Pol. — Right, but who would reign if the
king should die.^*
Pr. J. — Why, the queen, of course.
Pol. — You are right again. But if the queen
should die, who would then reign?
Pr. J.— The Jack.
: H
Orl. — She is indisposed but sends by me a
message to your highness.
P. J.— ^Whatl a message to me.?
Orl. — Even so, but it is for no ears but yours.
P. J. — Then let us walk in the air, I am eager
to hear it.
Orl. — Be patient, my Lord. I will tell you
presently. We must not mar the pleasure of
the maidens by your absence, Let the music
play and the dance begin. Imagine I am the
Fairy Queen and waltz with me.
P. J. — Indeed were it not for your attire I
should really think you were the queen, your
voice, your gentle ways, those lovely eyes, all
speak to me of her.
All Waltz.
(Pol. and Panther ^-^zf^r and take partners^
P. J. — How merry that was.
Tulip. — The Prince and Duke dance well to-
gether.
Pansy.— If they sing as well together they
could afford us great enjoyment.
Tulip. — We should so love to hear you sing.
P. J. — Then let the music play and the Mas-
cot is with you.
duet! gobble, gobble.
At the e7id of the duet Orl. faints in P. J's.
arms.
P. J. — He has fainted.
The fairies in alarm cluster about^ loose?i his
tresses and discover Sunk,
Pansy.— It is the queen.
Fairies. — The Queen!
P. J.; — The Queen, and why this garb.?
Tulip. — She loves the Prince.
Fairies — ^She loves the Prince.
^
Picture] c/osr in Ti'it// plain hall ,
SCENE \\.—Plai7ihallivayi?i the Palace of
the Fairy ^uee7i. Enter Pollywog. L. i E.
Pol — Well, here's a pretty muSvS. His Royal
Highness is done for, absolutel}' and teetotally
harnessed; actually marries a Fairy Queen.
What a romance, let me see. First, he tumbles
off of the earth, takes a trip through the air,
alights on Venus, falls in love with all the
fairies, and winds up by marrying their queen.
What will his ma and pa saj- when he takes his
bride home.? They'll lay it all to me, that's
what they'll do, and me — alas, poor me — 1 will
still be single — no one to love me — no one to
call me
(^?//^rTuLTp, R. I E.)
TuLip.-^Pollywog.
Pol. — (aside) Bless my ears, there is some
one after all, if I can only get her to consent,
(to TULIP.) You called me fair blossom.
Tulip. — You are mistaken, I called you Pol-
lywog.
Pol. — I'll not dispute you. Why did you
call me?
Tulip. -^I wanted you to tell me about the
ear^h, oh, how I should like to go there.
Pol. — There is only one way I know of to
gratify your desire.
Tulip. — And that is
Pol. — To marry a mortal.
Tulip. — But I only know one.
Pol.— Who.?
Tulip.— I don't like to tell.
Pol. — Fair Tulip, say it is me, and make me
forever happy.
12.
Orl. (aside,) This mortal has become intox-
icated, what shall I do, he will disgrace us all.
(/ Pol.) Go thou mortal and return not un-
til jou are in proper condition, Pantheir away
with him. "(Panther motions away ,) -
Pol. — Now shee 'ere-hic-hits hall right, don't
you shee h'im so-ho-ber as a-hic-judge^look at
me (aside) brace up ole boy you'll disgrace my-
self.
(Orl. points to the door, Panther slaps
Jnm on tUe shoulder and points to the door. Pol.
stumbles around, takes Panther's hand and
shakes it.)
Yer *and. guvnor, yer —
(Panther withdraws his hand, stamps on
the floor and points again to the door.) ho, git
ho'ut his hit, {moves tozvards the door B. 2 M.)
Shirtainly, shirtainly, anything to please the
boys, hic-sd long guvnor, ta! ta! shee yer later
—come 'long Satan-hie lets have another-hic-
drink, (sings.) Oh I feel so awfully jolly.
(Exit FdL followed by Panther.)
Orl.— What fools these mortals be;
oh dear I hope the Prince is sober, but I fear he
is not for the maidens approach without him,
unhappy day, unhappy day.
(Enter fairies and rush to OrL. wh:0 has his
back turned.)
Pansy — Oh prince, we have looked every where
for you.
Tulip — Why did you run away from us.'*
Rose— and leave us without an escort.
(Orl. faces the fairies.)
Fairies. — Oh it is not the Prince.
1 7
Merrily, merrily, oh, so cherrily.
Sing we now for our hearts are light..
Hail, oh, hail the happy hridegrooni —
Happy bridegroom and the bride.
E)itc}' Sunflower on the anii of P. J. R. i E .
Sunflower. — {To Fairies.) We thank you
for your joyous greeting.
P. J. — I also thank you and hope to meet you
all sometime on earth.
Pansy. — Please sir, we are all going there
to-morrow with you and Sunflower.
P. J. — What, Sunflower, is that possible.?
SuNF. — Yes, my lord, I have secured their re-
leabe from Fairyland, and tomorrow they will
all be mortals and meet us on the earth where —
P. J. — They will live long and happy lives-
even as we.
Enter Panther R. 2 E., and takes Pansy's
hand.
Pansy. — Panther and I have alread imitated
you.
Enter Pollywog and takes Tulip's hand.
Tulip. — Likewise Pollywog and I.
P.J. — Well, well, this is indeed a surprise.
You have my congratulations and blessings.
SuNF. — And mine, my maidens.
P. J. — But you. Fair Blossoms — you are single
yet.
Fairies. — Good reason.
P. J.— Ha! ha! I see. Well we will And you
plenty ot s^allants on the earth.
SuNF. — x\nd now, we must away to our plants,
the sun is setting and the sunflower bends its
head. Aw^ay.
Fairies e?iter their respective plants. Panth-
er and Foj^J^YWOG fait to the ground.
i8
P. J. — And must you indeed leave me?
SuNF. — Only for a little time; the few hours
of separation will but unite us on earth. While
sleeping within our plants we quietly and un-
consciously pass from this home to yours.
P. J. — Are you sure I will go too.?
SuNF. — Oh, yes, fear not, all of us will awaken
there on the morrow; good night. (They em-
brace. Sunflow^er approaches her plant.)
P.J. — Sunflower, my bride!
SuNFL. — My husband. (Again embrace)
farewell, farewell (goes — blowing kisses.)
P. J. — Stay but a little longer.
SuNF. — Would that I could, but already the
leaves begin to move; a moment more and I
may be too late; farewell. Love. (Enters plant.)
i
P. J. kneels and holds out his ha?ids to her .
P. J. — Then come, sleep, quickly to mine
eyes, that I may the sooner forget we are parted
till the morrow brings us together never again
to part while life shall last. Come, sleep,
come. (^Falls aiid sleeps. Fairies zvave their
vja7ids.)
Chorus of Fairies.
Sleep, gentle stranger,
Close thou thine eyes;
The darkness is on thee
And clouded the skies.
The daylight has faded,
The stars alone gleam; {Slow Curtain.)
Sleep, gentle stranger, {^Red -ftre.)
Of fairies to dream.
Sleep! sleep! sleep!
Curtain — Picture.
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