Tony accepts the situation somewhat philosophically, but his American fiancee, June, has other ideas. When she learns that there is to be a by-election - Cleghorn having been raised to the peerage - she secretly puts up the deposit money and gets the butler nominated as the Conservative candidate. She also breaks her engagement to Tony, who has decided to contest the seat again, this time as a Socialist, and who turns to Bessie the pretty parlourmaid for consolation. Beecham wins the seat, and Tony announces his intended marriage to Bessie. As the new M.P., Beecham applies for the Chiltern Hundreds and happily resumes his job of butler, revealing his love for Bessie, who promises to be his wife.4 women, 4 men

William Douglas Home

Comedy

Characters: 2 male, 1 female

Exterior Set

Cecil, a seventy year-old successful novelist living comfortably with his fussy old butler is contemplating marriage. The object of his affections, Evelyn, has just buried the man she married fifty years ago after being propositioned by Cecil. She is confronted with a candid and charming proposal in this delightful comedy that starred Rex Harrison and Claudette Colbert on Broadway.

"A delightful flight of fancy." -The New York Post

"Delightful comedy " - The New York Daily News

"Bewitching fun ...Elegant, civilized." -The Associated Press

Based on the Dame of Sark's autobiography, the play follows the course of events on this Channel Island during the German occupation of 1940-45. It is a story of developing relationships and of the realization that war is an evil that falls hard on friend and enemy alike...2 women, 7 men

A wife whose husband takes her for granted finds romance with a dashing man, but has misgivings when the husband offers to be caught in a compromising situation with his secretary to give her grounds for divorce.3 women, 2 men

It is a light-hearted, almost farcical, comedy which revolves around the mother's deep anxiety and attempts to avoid scandal after she confuses two men (both called David) and accidentally sets up her daughter with 'David Hoylake-Johnston' (who has a reputation as a philanderer) instead of 'David Bulloch' (who she believes to be the perfect match for her daughter).5 women, 3 men

When Lady Boothroyd hears that the authorities are determined to drive a road through her grounds she announces her intention to kill herself the moment the bulldozers start on their shameful work. At first disbelieving, the family at length realizes to their horror that this is no joke. All means of persuasion fail. As the hour strikes and the bulldozers' roar is heard the old General enters in regimental regalia, while his old ex army servant sounds the "Last Post." Then, as the whole family stands stricken, the door opens....3 women, 5 men

Augustus John's ability as portrait artist won him the admiration of fellow artists, public recognition and the Order of Merit. William Douglas Home's play presents various points in the Bohemian artist's turbulent life from 1944 - 1961 through a reconstruction of sittings with three of his subjects (all played by the same actor) - General Bernard Montgomery, fellow artist Mathew Smith and designer Cecil Beaton. This keenly observed, sensitive play is finely interwoven with the thread of John's gradually developing pacifism - from his certainty in spring 1944 that Monty's young ADC will not survive the second front, to war's devastating effect on Matthew Smith, to John's vibrant fear of the nuclear nightmare and his own approaching death. The first production of this play in 24 years, Portraits commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of artist Augustus John.