In One Act.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 49

In One Act.

"What I want is a bright, short play," said Toole to the amateur who had brought him a six-act drama with lucid intervals.

" How do you mean a short, bright drama ? " said the author.

"Well, something with what the Americans call snap — a thing with point to it ; I don't care whether it is farce, comedy, or dtama if it has effective situations and good, telling climaxes."

" Can you give mo an idea of the sort of thing you mean ? " asked the budding author.

"Oh, yes," said Toole, "I remember one of the shortest and certainly the best play of its kind imaginable ; it was so direct, you know, and ytt left so much to the imagination.

1 ' It was in one act,

" When the curtain went up two persons were discovered on a sofa : one was a pretty young woman, the other a nice-looking young fellow.

"They embraced each other silently; neither of them, you understand, said a word.

" Then the door opened at the back and a traveller entered.

" He wore an overcoat, and carried an umbrella.

"You could tell at once by his manner, and without looking at the programme, that he was the husband of the young woman ; at least that would be the inference of every intelligent piaygoer present. "The husband took off his coat, laid aside his umbrella, and drew from his breast pocket a heavy Colt's revolver.

" In the midst of a silent embrace of the hero and heroine, he fired. " The young woman fell dead. "He fired again, and the young man was similarly disposed of.

" Then the traveller came forward, put on a pair of eyeglasses, and contemplated his sanguinary work.

" ' Great heavens ! ' he exclaimed, 'lam on the wrong floor.' " — Joseph Hatton.