In an old suede-bound High School Memory Book circa 1923 that I temporarily have in my possession I found a clipped newspaper article about a girl, probably the Memory Book owner, who appeared as the Queen in a play entitled "Six Who Pass While the Lentils Boil."
Such a name for a play! I had to laugh about it, thinking how much things have changed over the years. Never could I imagine a play with a name like that would come to light in this day and age.
But just wondering about it sent me to good old "Google.com" - and sure enough I learned all about it - and learned that it is still available through the Samuel French, Inc., distributors. Here's the description from their website:
“While the Boy watches boiling lentils for his mother, six people pass: the condemned Queen (who he promises to hide), the Mime (who tempts him abandon his duty), the Milkmaid (who tells him about the reward offered for the Queen), the Blindman (who shows him why it is best to keep a promise), the Ballad Singer (who would wander all his life rather than break a promise) and the dreadful Hangman (who is outwitted by the boy). Her majesty gratefully knights David Little Boy (who has done his duty and kept his promise.)”
The photograph, found by looking in Google Images, appears in an issue of the University of Rochester "Review" dating back to 2000. Aside from this very interesting photo, the little newsletter has an interesting commentary on it and other events in the University's past history, found here: www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V62N3/feature4.html This was my mother's era and I can visualize her in plays exactly like this!
In any case, if any of you are looking for a good relevant play to produce, this one seems to stress values that have fairly been forgotten nowadays!
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