Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Mrs. Dot: A Farce
    Mrs. Dot: A Farce
    Mrs. Dot: A Farce
    Ebook164 pages1 hour

    Mrs. Dot: A Farce

    By W. Somerset Maugham

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    This fantastic comedy explores the story of Mrs. Dot, a wealthy young widow who falls in love with a man named Gerald. The young man is already engaged after an unfortunate romantic night but the lovers have some faith after he loses everything, and believe that the mother of Gerald's fiancé won't allow the marriage to take place. They hope this will clear the way for them to be together. However, things take an unexpected turn when Gerald comes into some untimely good luck, and it's up to Mrs. Dot to arrange things to her liking.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGood Press
    Release dateMay 19, 2021
    ISBN4057664606402
    Mrs. Dot: A Farce
    Author

    W. Somerset Maugham

    William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris, on January 25th, 1874. Orphaned by the age of ten, he moved to England to live with an uncle. He received his education in England and Germany, studying medicine and graduating as a physician.Eschewing his education, Maugham instead became a full-time writer. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, was published in 1897, but he soon established his reputation as a successful playwright. In time he wrote 32 plays, and abandoned the theater scene by 1933.He wrote nineteen novels, of which Of Human Bondage (1915), The Moon and Sixpence (1919), The Painted Veil (1925), Cakes and Ale (1930), and The Razor's Edge (1944), are considered classics of early 20th century literature.Maugham was a restless and inquisitive soul, and his travels and his sympathies with the working class often formed the basis of characters and settings. Maugham also had a tendency to insert auto-biographical aspects into his work, most infamously in the Ashenden stories, based on his time with the British Secret Service during WWI.Throughout his life, Maugham faced many personal challenges. Romantic struggles and speculation of his sexual identity were only exacerbated publicly by his popularity amongst readers. He had an extended affair with Syrie Wellcome, who gave birth to his only child, May Elizabeth "Liza," in 1915, formalizing their relationship by marriage in 1917. Maugham's relationship with Frederick Gerald Haxton-his long-standing secretary/companion-& constant traveling, eventually caused a rift in the marriage, ending in divorce in 1929.He experienced great financial success with his works, many of which were adapted for radio, stage, film & TV; though the same could not be said for critical approval amongst the literary community, which was uneven at best. He died December 16th 1965, in Nice, France.In his later years, Maugham continued to beguile critics and fans alike-as author Pico Iyer writes, "The riddle he presents us with is how a stammering, conventional-seeming Edwardian, writing in civil service prose, could somehow become the spokesman of hippies, black magicians and stockbrokers throwing it all over for Tahiti. His books are measured explorations of extravagance."

    Read more from W. Somerset Maugham

    Related to Mrs. Dot

    Related ebooks

    Performing Arts For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      A Nest Of VIPERS

      Feb 1, 2023

      A Nest Of VIPERS
      9 min read

    • Article

      Too Much Ado About NOTHING

      Jun 8, 2022

      Too Much Ado About NOTHING
      3 min read

    • Article

      A summons FROM AUNTIE

      Jan 25, 2023

      ‘I know a fat old policeman, he’s always on our street,’ sang Mr Dear at the top of what I suppose we must call his voice. ‘A large and jolly red-faced man, he really is a treat.’ Then, suddenly, the only sounds were the gentle hum of the engine, th

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Tichborne Case

      Mar 8, 2024

      The Tichborne Case
      5 min read

    • Article

      Ladies, BEWARE!

      Feb 22, 2023

      Mr Dear needed clarification. ‘Tell me again – what does he look like?’ I was telling him about David, the new volunteer at our charity shop, immediately nicknamed Captain Birdseye by his new colleagues. We’re kind like that. If he stopped shaving f

      3 min read

    • Article

      Search PARTY

      Jan 13, 2021

      You find me hunched over the ironing board in the kitchen and thinking dark thoughts about Mrs Bertha Berman. Tell me honestly, is there any more soul-destroying occupation known to womankind than the ironing and attempted folding of fitted bed shee

      3 min read

    • Article

      Decluttering

      Dec 9, 2020

      Decluttering
      6 min read

    • Article

      Fair To Middling

      Oct 29, 2020

      AMONG THE PIECES occasioned by Harold Evans’s death was a fond and generous memoir by Donald Trelford, his rival Sunday newspaper editor: “We found we had much in common — both of us short men with northern working-class backgrounds (his family in th

      4 min read

    • Article

      Maggie's Tip For First-time Buyers

      Jul 26, 2023

      Not long before her departure from the political scene, I was invited to a Christmas lunch at Lord McAlpine’s country house, where Mrs Thatcher and Denis were the main guests. We were 12 in all: an odd mix, including Terence Donovan, Mrs T’s favourit

      3 min read

    • Article

      Wendy’s WALKOUT

      Jun 24, 2020

      “Well, I wasn’t expecting that. If you could get hold of the feather that was last year’s WW’s Best Dieter (Feather Category), you’d still be able to knock me down with it. This could even be the sort of crisis that requires two trips to the fourth e

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Emperors of Existence

      Dec 28, 2018

      The Emperors of Existence
      9 min read

    • Article

      A tender THREAD

      Jan 5, 2022

      A tender THREAD
      9 min read

    • Article

      Ding-dong MERRILY

      Nov 17, 2021

      Ding-dong MERRILY
      3 min read

    • Article

      Dust

      Jan 1, 2022

      Dust
      9 min read

    • Article

      Good news, BAD NEWS

      Nov 30, 2022

      The good news is that I’m still married. And the bad news? Well, we’ll come to that in due course. It is true that a temporary frost had descended over Dear Towers, as you’ll remember if you were good enough to visit last week. This was because Mr D

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Nest Of VIPERS

      Jan 25, 2023

      A Nest Of VIPERS
      9 min read

    • Article

      Are Men A BIT DULL?

      Jun 9, 2021

      Are Men A BIT DULL?
      3 min read

    • Article

      The ACCUSED

      Aug 9, 2023

      You would think that decades of watching detective dramas on television had taught Mr Dear something, would you not? I am thinking particularly of the bit where a shot rings out and somebody dashes into the master bedroom, where they find the first c

      3 min read

    • Article

      The naked TRUTH

      Oct 27, 2021

      The naked TRUTH
      3 min read

    • Article

      Scoundrel’s Lair

      Jul 9, 2023

      Scoundrel’s Lair
      5 min read

    • Article

      Haunted

      Sep 27, 2023

      Haunted
      6 min read

    • Article

      Bless You Father

      Jul 7, 2022

      Bless You Father
      10 min read

    • Article

      Bless You Father

      Jul 7, 2022

      Bless You Father
      10 min read

    • Article

      Falling In Love

      Feb 17, 2020

      Falling In Love
      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Mrs. Dot

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Mrs. Dot - W. Somerset Maugham

      W. Somerset Maugham

      Mrs. Dot: A Farce

      Published by Good Press, 2022

      goodpress@okpublishing.info

      EAN 4057664606402

      Table of Contents

      Mrs. Dot

      MRS. DOT

      CHARACTERS

      MRS. DOT

      THE FIRST ACT

      THE SECOND ACT

      THE THIRD ACT

      Mrs. Dot

      Table of Contents

      A FARCE

      In Three Acts

      By W. S. MAUGHAM

      LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

      MCMXII

      All rights reserved

      This play, originally called Worthley’s Entire, was produced at the Comedy Theatre on April 26, 1908, with the following cast:

      MRS. DOT

      Table of Contents

      CHARACTERS

      Table of Contents

      Time

      : The present day

      Act I

      —Gerald’s rooms in Grafton Street

      Acts II

      and III—Mrs. Worthley’s house on the river

      The Performing Rights of this play are fully protected, and permission to perform it, whether by Amateurs or Professionals, must be obtained in advance from the author’s Sole Agent, R. Golding Bright, 20 Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C., from whom all particulars can be obtained.

      MRS. DOT

      Table of Contents

      THE FIRST ACT

      Table of Contents

      Scene

      :

      Gerald’s

      rooms in Grafton Street. A man’s room, pleasantly furnished, with very comfortable arm-chairs, and prints on the walls. Books are lying about, and smoking utensils.

      Charles

      ,

      Gerald Halstane’s

      servant, opens the door.

      Mr. Wright

      comes in, a dapper young man, smartly dressed.

      Charles.

      There, you can see for yourself that Mr. Halstane is not at home.

      Mr. Wright.

      Very well, I’ll wait for him.

      Charles.

      You’ll have to wait till midnight, because I don’t expect him in.

      Mr. Wright.

      Last time I came you said he’d be back in half an hour, and when I returned you said he’d just gone out. You don’t catch me napping a second time.

      Charles.

      The governor don’t take impertinence lying down, Mr. Wright, and he’ll look upon it as a great liberty your dunning him in this way.

      Mr. Wright.

      I don’t know about taking impertinence, but he’ll have to take a summons if my account is not settled at once.

      [There is a ring at the bell.

      Charles.

      [Ironically.] Make yourself quite at home, won’t you?

      Mr. Wright.

      Thank you. I will.

      [

      Charles

      goes out and leaves the door open so that the conversation with

      Rixon

      , the solicitor, is heard.

      Rixon.

      [Outside.] Is Mr. Halstane in?

      Charles.

      No, sir. He’s gone to his club.

      Rixon.

      Well, I’ll ring him up. I must see him on a matter of the very greatest importance. You’re on the telephone, aren’t you?

      Charles.

      Yes, sir. But there’s a person waiting to see him.

      Rixon.

      [Coming in.] Oh, never mind.

      [

      Rixon

      is a short, rubicund man, with white whiskers and a hearty manner.

      Mr. Wright.

      [Going towards him.] Mr. Rixon. [

      Rixon

      looks at him without recognising him.] Don’t you remember me, sir? I’m the junior partner in Andrews and Wright.

      Rixon.

      Of course I do. I saw your father on business the other day. [To

      Charles

      .] Where’s the telephone book?

      Charles.

      I’ll just go and fetch it, sir. Mr. Halstane lent it to the gentleman upstairs.

      Rixon.

      Be as quick as you can.

      [

      Charles

      goes out.

      Rixon.

      [To

      Mr. Wright

      .] What are you doing here?

      Mr. Wright.

      Well, the fact is, we’ve got a very large account with Halstane, and I’m told he’s in queer street. I want to get the money before the crash comes.

      Rixon.

      Queer street? The man’s just come into seven thousand a year.

      Mr. Wright.

      What!

      Rixon.

      That’s why I’m running all over the place to find him. You know he’s a relation of the Hollingtons. I was at her ladyship’s not half an hour ago—the Dowager, you know—my firm has acted for the whole family for the last hundred years. Well, I’d hardly arrived before a message came from the War Office to say that her grandson, the present lord, had been killed in India. So as soon as I could, I bolted round here. Mr. Halstane is the next heir, and he comes into seven thousand a year and the title.

      Mr. Wright.

      My gracious, that’s a piece of luck.

      Rixon.

      I don’t mind telling you now that he’d pretty well come to the end of his tether. Your money was all right because he’d have paid everything up, but he wouldn’t have had much left.

      Mr. Wright.

      Of course he doesn’t know anything about this yet?

      Rixon.

      Not a word. For all he knows, he’s a ruined man, and here am I trying to get him on the telephone to tell him he’s come into a peerage and a very handsome income.

      [

      Charles

      enters with the telephone book.

      Charles.

      7869 Gerrard, sir.

      Rixon.

      Thanks.

      [He rings up and asks for the number.

      Rixon.

      7869 Gerrard, please, Miss.... What? Confound it, the line’s engaged.... I must go round to his club in a cab. I suppose you don’t want to wait here now, Wright?

      Mr. Wright.

      No, sir. I’ll get back to the shop.

      Charles.

      I ’ope you’ll suit your own convenience, sir. [

      Charles

      shows them out and comes back.] I don’t know what these tradespeople are coming to when they expect gentlemen to pay their bills.

      [He seats himself in the most comfortable chair in the room and puts his feet on the table. His back is to the door. The newspaper is lying by his side. He shuts his eyes and dozes.

      [

      Gerald

      enters silently, followed immediately by

      Blenkinsop

      and

      Freddie Perkins

      .

      [

      Gerald

      is a handsome man of seven or eight and twenty, simple in his manners, carefully dressed but without exaggeration.

      Freddie

      is a vivacious boy of two and twenty,

      Blenkinsop

      is an old bachelor of five and forty; he is well-preserved and takes a good deal of care of his appearance. He is dressed in the height of fashion.

      [For a moment they look silently at

      Charles

      , who wakes with a start and jumps up in confusion.

      Charles.

      I beg your pardon, sir; I didn’t hear you come in.

      Gerald.

      [With an ironical politeness which he preserves during all his remarks to

      Charles

      .] Pray don’t let us disturb you. I shall never forgive myself if I think I’ve interrupted your nap.

      Charles.

      Shall I take your hat, sir?

      Gerald.

      It’s very kind of you. I shouldn’t like you to put yourself out.

      Freddie.

      [Sitting down.] By Jove, what a ripping chair! No wonder that Charles went to sleep.

      Charles.

      Mr. Rixon

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1