Chapter I: Front Matter

A VISION OF VENUS; OR, A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S NIGHTMARE.

A FARCICAL PIECE OF SINGULARITY, IN TWO ACTS, AND EIGHT TABLEAUX.

PARTLY SUGGESTED BY ANSTEY'S "TINTED VENUS."

BY HARRY PLEON.

_Produced at the Britannia Theatre, Hoxton, March 20, 1893._

Dramatis Personæ,

{ (A Hairdresser and }
{ Perfumer, who by some }
ALPHONZO LATHEREM { mystic power is beloved } Mr. Harry Pleon.
{ and followed by }
{ Aphrodite) }

INSPECTOR HANDSAW { (Of the Criminal } Mr. Edward Leigh.
{ Investigation Department) }

AUGUSTUS GILLFEATHER { (A jolly fellow, don't } Mr. Bruce Lindley.
{ you know) }

FIRST ROBBER . . . . . . . . . Mr. F. Beaumont.

SECOND ROBBER . . . . . . . . . Mr. Barrett.

OLD MAN . . . . . . . . . Mr. W. Abbott.

JANE FRILLINGS (A Dressmaker) Miss Ada Morgan.

VENUS (The Living Statue) Miss Amy Lyster.

TIME OF REPRESENTATION.--One Hour and a Quarter.

1,025. Dicks' Standard Plays.

COSTUME.

ALPHONZO.--Fashionable light suit; white hat.

AUGUSTUS.--Black frock suit; tall silk hat; very high collar.

HANDSAW.--Inspector's clothes.

TWO ROBBERS.--Rough clothes.

OLD MAN.--Black coat; light trousers; white hat; stock; stick &c.

JANE.--Very neat walking dress.

VENUS.--Something after the mythological style.

SYNOPSIS.

ACT I.--Hendon Gardens. ACT II.--The Hairdresser's.

TABLEAU I.--On the Drunk--Awake.----TABLEAU II.--On the Ground--Asleep.----TABLEAU III.--The Dream; the Living Statue.----TABLEAU IV.--Attempted Robbery of the Antique Venus.----TABLEAU V.--Venus Claims the Hairdresser.----TABLEAU VI.--Venus at the Barber's.----TABLEAU VII.--It Vanishes.----TABLEAU VIII.--Wide Awake.

STAGE DIRECTIONS.

EXITS AND ENTRANCES.--R. means _Right;_ L. _Left;_ D. F. _Door in Flat;_ R. D. _Right Door; _L. D. _Left Door;_ S. E. _Second Entrance;_ U. E. _Upper Entrance;_ M. D. _Middle Door;_ L. U. E. _Left Upper Entrance;_ R. U. E. _Right Upper Entrance;_ L. S. E. _Left Second Entrance;_ P. S. _Prompt Side;_ O. P. _Opposite Prompt._

RELATIVE POSITIONS.--R. means _Right;_ L. _Left;_ C. _Centre;_ R. C. _Right of Centre;_ L. C. _Left of Centre._

R. RC. C. LC. L.

*** _The Reader is supposed to be on the Stage, facing the Audience._

A VISION OF VENUS.