Play on Words

full length · drama

Daddy Long-Legs : $b A comedy in four acts

20 roles (0M / 0F / 20 any) · approx 172–238 minutes · 19 acts

Royalty-free Public domain — free to read, perform, and adapt. No licence needed.

Characters

Jervis lead 308 speeches
Judy lead 282 speeches
Miss P supporting 162 speeches
Sallie supporting 85 speeches
Julia supporting 85 speeches
Jimmie supporting 77 speeches
Mrs. L minor 58 speeches
Mrs. S minor 52 speeches
Mrs. P minor 39 speeches
Gladiola minor 23 speeches
Freddie minor 21 speeches
Wykoff minor 19 speeches
Griggs minor 16 speeches
Walters minor 15 speeches
Loretta minor 11 speeches
Sadie Kate minor 9 speeches
Carrie minor 4 speeches
Orphans minor 3 speeches
Miss Pritchard minor 3 speeches
Parsons minor 3 speeches

Read the play

SCENE: _The sitting room at Lock Willow Farm._

_The room is that of an old-fashioned New England farmhouse, flat ceiling to mid-stage, and then sloping down at back. A large window at center with cushioned seat, through which is seen the garden outside, a stone wall beyond, and in the distance, a rolling landscape of Connecticut._

_A jut at left extends on about one-quarter of stage to L. of C. L. and down stage to about 7 feet from curtain line. In front of jut at lower L. presenting a side view to audience a short flight of stairs with white spindle posts and mahogany rail lead to a door opening off stage to the living rooms above. At upper L. side of jut is the main door leading into the yard. At the lower R. is a door opening of the kitchen._

_A fireplace at middle right, filled with ferns and goldenrod. An old-fashioned, three-cornered colonial cupboard in upper R. corner. The walls are covered with a soft-shaded cretonne of green and white stripes, blended with a small rose pattern of flowers. The doors, windows, fireplace and all woodwork are in ivory white, and a mahogany baseboard extending around the room._

_The furniture is all old colonial mahogany. A mahogany drop-leaf table at C., a lacquered single chair at R. of table, an armchair at L. and a mahogany upholstered stool below table. An old cashmere covering on table, and an old-fashioned inlaid desk with writing materials on table for SALLIE._

_At R. in front of mantel, an upholstered mahogany armchair with tidy. At R. above mantel a square work-table; a small work-basket on table. At L. of cupboard an armchair, L. of window a what-not filled with shells, vases, and odds and ends of ornaments. At stage L. a small mahogany upright piano, with single mahogany chair and cushioned seat for JUDY. Music on piano. Below piano another single chair. At lower L. below stairs a small mahogany card-table, leaf raised against wall. On table an old clock and pair of old-fashioned silver candlesticks with partly burned candles. Over table, an old mahogany mirror._

_In lower front side of jut—on wall, on a diagonal line with staircase are hung some old family silhouettes. Over piano (on side wall of jut) hangs an oil painting of JERVIS PENDLETON at the age of four. Above piano near door hangs an old framed engraving of George Washington. Over what-not at L. back hangs a large engraving of Gen. Grant and family, flanked by smaller old framed pictures of Lincoln and Jackson. At L. back between window and cupboard hangs a colored Martha Washington and below a small engraving of Washington at Valley Forge. Over mantel at C. hangs an old-fashioned, oblong mirror, with top picture panel. On either side of mirror hangs old-fashioned life-size crayons in oval frames of MR. and MRS. SEMPLE. On either side of fireplace, flanking the SEMPLE pictures, are small characteristic pictures of colonial subjects. An old copper warming pan hangs at lower end of fireplace._

_A large rag medallion on floor at C. and around the room some hand-braided rugs. White shade curtains at C. overhung with lace curtains. A plaited valance across top of window with side draperies, and cushioned seat in window with hanging drape to match top of valance—all of same material (green and mahogany water stain) serve as a picture frame to window and complete the room. Off stage to R. is a telephone bell. Off stage at lower L. a stamped envelope for SALLIE. Off stage L. U. the other properties for CARRIE, JUDY and JIMMIE._

_The light outside is a soft September afternoon of rich amber. Within the room the light is full but not bright. Dimmed at end of act into a mellow sunset._

Monologues from this play