Chapter I: Front Matter

SINGLE LIFE;

A COMEDY,

In Three Acts,

BY

JOHN BALDWIN BUCKSTONE, ESQ.,

(MEMBER OF THE DRAMATIC AUTHORS' SOCIETY,)

AS PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRE ROYAL, HAY-MARKET.

CORRECTLY PRINTED FROM THE PROMPTER'S COPY, WITH THE CAST OF CHARACTERS, COSTUME, SCENIC ARRANGEMENT, SIDES OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT, AND RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

SPLENDIDLY ILLUSTRATED WITH AN ETCHING, BY PIERCE EGAN, THE YOUNGER, FROM A DRAWING TAKEN DURING THE REPRESENTATION.

LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 186, STRAND.

"NASSAU STEAM PRESS," W. S. JOHNSON, 6, NASSAU STREET, SOHO.

Dramatis Personæ and Costume.

_First produced, Tuesday, July 23rd, 1839._

BACHELORS.

MR. JOHN NIGGLE _(A fluctuating bachelor.)_ } Light drab coat, white waistcoat, nankeen } MR. WEBSTER. pantaloons, white stockings, shoes, white wig } tied in a tail, white hat }

MR. DAVID DAMPER _(A woman-hating bachelor.)_ } Brown coat with black horn buttons, old } fashioned dark figured silk waistcoat, black } MR. STRICKLAND. pantaloons, hessian boots, iron-grey wig, } broad-brimmed hat }

MR. PETER PINKEY _(A bashful bachelor.)_ } Lavender coloured coat, white waistcoat, } white trowsers, pink socks, pumps, pink silk } MR. BUCKSTONE. neckerchief, pink gloves, pink watch ribbon, } low crowned hat and cane, flaxen fashionably } dressed wig }

MR. NARCISSUS BOSS _(A self-loving } bachelor.)_ Fashionable chocolate-coloured } Newmarket coat with roses in the buttonhole, } elegantly flowered waistcoat, light drab } MR. W. LACY. French trowsers with boots, light blue cravat } exquisitely tied, frilled shirt, hat, and } wristbands a la D'Orsay, and the hair dressed } in the first style of elegance }

MR. CHARLES CHESTER _(A mysterious } bachelor.)_ Dark frock coat, silk waistcoat, } MR. HEMMING. light trowsers, French gaiters and shoes, } round hat }

SPINSTERS.

MISS CAROLINE COY _(A vilified spinster.)_ } Grey silk dress, laced shawl and white } MRS. W. CLIFFORD. ribbons, white satin bonnet, flowers, long } yellow gloves, white reticule }

MISS MARIA MACAW _(A man-hating spinster.)_ } Green silk open dress, white petticoat, } figured satin large apron, lace handkerchief, } MRS. GLOVER. close lace cap and white ribbons, fan, and } black rimmed spectacles }

MISS KITTY SKYLARK _(A singing spinster.)_ } White muslin pelisse over blue, chip hat and } MRS. FITZWILLIAM. flowers. _(2nd dress.)_ Pink satin and blond } flounces }

MISS SARAH SNARE _(An insinuating } spinster.)_, _1st dress._ White muslin } petticoat, black velvet spencer, pink satin } MRS. DANSON. high-crowned bonnet and green feathers. _(2nd } dress.)_ Green satin and pink ribbons, black } wig dressed in high French bows }

MISS JESSY MEADOWS _(A romantic spinster.)_ } White muslin dress mittens. _(2nd dress in } MISS TRAVERS. the last scene.)_ White lace over white satin } with roses }

Time of representation, 2 hours.

EXPLANATION OF THE STAGE DIRECTIONS.

L. means first entrance, left. R. first entrance, right. S.E.L. second entrance, left. S.E.R. second entrance, right. U.E.L. upper entrance, left. U.E.R. upper entrance, right. C. centre, L.C. left centre. R.C. right centre. T.E.L. third entrance, left. T.E.R. third entrance, right. Observing you are supposed to face the audience.

ADVERTISEMENT.

"SINGLE LIFE" is intended as a companion picture to the same author's Comedy of "MARRIED LIFE;" and as that attempted to illustrate a few of the humours of the state matrimonial, and interest an audience without the introduction of any lovers whatever, in going to the opposite extreme in "SINGLE LIFE," and making his characters "_Lovers all,_" he has been equally successful in pourtraying some of the vagaries of courtship, and showing that the democratic region of celibacy has its bickerings, as well as the most loyal one of "The United States."

SINGLE LIFE.