"A Merry Christmas" - Page 18

A good deal of hammering went on before the curtain rose again; but when it became evident what a masterpiece of stage carpentering had been got up, no one murmured, nor retched their phlegm, at the delay. It was truly superb! 

A tower rose to the ceiling; half-way up appeared a window with a lamp burning at it, and behind the white curtain appeared Zara in a lovely blue and silver dress, waiting for Roderigo. He came, in gorgeous array, with plumed cap, red cloak, chestnut lovelocks ¹, a guitar, and the boots, of course. Kneeling at the foot of the tower, he sang a serenade in melting tones. Zara replied, and after a musical dialogue, consented to fly. Then came the grand effect of the play. 

Roderigo produced a rope-ladder with five steps to it, threw up one end, and invited Zara to descend. Timidly she crept from her lattice, put her hand on Roderigo’s shoulder, and was about to leap gracefully down, when, “alas, alas for Zara!” she forgot her train, - it caught in the window; the tower tottered, leaned forward, fell with a crash, and buried the unhappy lovers in the ruins! ²

A universal shriek arose as the russet boots waved wildly from the wreck, and many who were not already faint took to the floor. A golden head emerged, exclaiming “I told you so! I told you so!” With wonderful presence of mind ³ Don Pedro, the cruel sire, rushed in, dragged out his daughter with a hasty aside,- 

“Don’t laugh, act as if it was all right!” and ordering Roderigo up, banished him from the kingdom with wrath and scorn. Though decidedly shaken by the fall of the tower upon him, Roderigo defied the old gentleman, and refused to stir. This dauntless example fired Zara; she also defied her sire, and he ordered them both to the deepest dungeons of the castle. A stout little retainer came in with chains, and led them away, looking very much frightened, and evidently forgetting the speech he ought to have made. ⁴

Act the third was the castle hall; and here Hagar appeared, having come to free the lovers and finish Hugo. She hears him coming, and hides; sees him put the potions into two cups of wine, and bid the timid little servant “Bear them to the captives in their cells, and tell them I shall come anon.” The servant takes Hugo aside to tell him something, and Hagar changes the cups for two others which are harmless. Ferdinando, the “minion,” carries them away, and Hagar puts the cup which holds the poison meant for Roderigo. Hugo, getting thirsty after a long warble, drinks it, loses his wits, and after a good deal of clutching and stamping, falls flat and dies; while Hagar informs him what she has done in a song of exquisite power and melody. ⁵

¹ _{A JUICY term! Lovelocks are, in a very real way, 16th-century rattails. Long single braids that men wore briefly as a point of fashion. AND, like most interesting things, the entire thing came out of white people stealing/warping an idea; meant to consciously copy what Europeans believed to be American Native styles.}

² _{This is why I only work Equity contracts.}

³ _{I am unsure whether this is Beth or Meg. I think it’s Meg. I mean, yes AND it is Meg.}

⁴ _{Ok now this IS Beth.}

⁵ _{I do appreciate Louisa choosing to Cliff’s Notes the third act, she got across what she needed (“aren’t these girls lively and charming?’) and got out. And yes! I am charmed!}

hi bbs! I’m going to be at GDC 2026 (THEE Festival of Gaming) in San Francisco next week to enjoy professional development! My schedule is choc-a-bloc but so far I think I’ll be able to keep on schedule with the newsletter, barring any emergencies.

In a ROUT, the Christmas Play Attendees are being singularly outvoted by the stalwart Marmee contingent. Every week is a thrill! What will happen?! Who can say!?