i\ 1 / rK I ^,^ f. t } v; THE WAY OF YU-SOO PLAY IN ONE ACT l>y WM. T. DEMAREST 1917 THE WAY OF YU-SOO A Play in the Chinese Style "By William T, Demarest WM. T. DEMAREST, MARMARONECK, NEW YORK Copyright. 1917 by Wm. T. Demarest For permission to give this play apply to Wm. T. Demarest Marmaroneck, N. Y. 'C1,A470293 JUL 18 1917 #*"' The Way of Yu-Soo A Chinese Play by William T. Demarest -^ Characters : Lee Yu-soo — A wealthy Chinese orphan. Chang San-yee — A poor but estimable young man. Chang Yuan^han — His widowed mother. Lau Chin-hung — A young woman eligible for matrimony. Lau Wei-ju — Her mother. Wong Nai-m^en — Yu-soo's servant. Chorus. Property Man. The first production of this play was by The Player's Club of Mamaroneck, on July 20, 1917, at Kindergarten Hall, Mamaroneck, N. Y., with the following cast : Lee Yu-soo — Miss Jean Baxter. Chang San-yee — Mr. Herbert Houghton. Chang Yuan-han — Miss Constance Remond. Lan Chin-hung — Miss Edna May. Lau Wei-ju — Miss Madeline Hollerith. Wong Nai-wen — Mr. John B. Findlay. Chorus — Mr. Charles M. Baxter, Jr. Property Man — ^Mr. Francis Jones. ■raMiflHMHMtftf** The Way of Yu'Soo The play is to be produced in the Chinese style, with- out s.cenery. Simple draperies may he used of a neutral tint, framing the e^itire stage, Chinese banners may he hung on the walls. There should he two entrances, one R. and one L., both of them as near the back of stage as possible. Throughout the play Chorus [and Property Man are on the stage, the former seated at a small table at the rear, facing front, the latter on a stool at the L. side, beside a box containing the properties which he produces and hands to the actors when needed. Property Man is to preserve an indifferent attitude, reading paper, smoking cigarette, etc., and when it is necessary for him to move about the stage, handle prop' erties, etc., he is to appear greatly bored. The curtain should separate at center, being draped on either side when open. When the play is about to begin Property Man appears between curtains bearing Chinese gong, which he strikes three times slowly at center of stage, in front of curtains, three times L. and three times R. He stands R. as Chorus appears between curtains, stands at center and addresses audience. Chorus: Exalted friends, I humbly crave your par- don for forcing myself upon your august attention. I bow to Heaven, Earth and Man. {Bovd^s to right, left and center, saying as he does so) 1 bow, I bow, I bow. It is my honorable pleasure to tell you the theme of our poor play, v/hich deals not with Emperors, Lords, or otherwise exalted personages, but with honorable and ordinary individuals such as I who weary your sublime ears. Ours is a story of filial duty and great love. Your mmmmmtmim sympathies will be honorably commanded by our hero, and your eyes will fill with tears as you behold his sor- rows and perplexities. You will be moved to sublime anger by our heroine, although you will be certain to admire her. I humbly ask you to remember, before your condemnation is complete, that even in our Celestial King- dom a maiden must dissemble, covering exalted emotic-ns with bitter, scornful words. You will not find your august minds in sympathy with our two mothers ; but our customs are not as yours. With us mothers still have authority, and, especially when they are happily widows, are the heads of their families. Let your exalted emotions move you as they will as the tale unfolds. If you are honorably seized with mirth, forget not that sombre sorrow may swiftly overtake you. When your precious tears fall copiously to the ground, take comfort in the thought that the Way of Yu-soo is the way to happiness and sublime contentment. But I hear the players murmuring because of the great number of my exalted words. They desire to be brought to your honorable attention so that you may recognize them as the play sublimely proceeds. A supremely unpleasant task is best accomplished quickly, and so I first point out to your discerning eyes our Property Man (points to P. M-), a necessary but cumbersome adjunct to our play. He scorns the actors, deeming himself the superior of each. He thinks the play ill- written, much poorer than he himself might in- scribe. He will show his scorn and contempt as the play unfolds, but we have clothed him in black and you will see him ndt. (P. M. shrugs his shoulders and lights cigarette.) Next you shall place your delicious eyes upon Wong Nai-wen. (He appears between curtains, bd(ws once and retires.) He is an honest servant of little importance who must not be mistaken for the villain, as the play has no such person. 8 Our hero, Chang San-yee (enters, bows, etc.), whom you shall see unfortunately divided between love and filial duty. His mother, Chang Yuan-han (enters, etc.), who may not attain to the heights of your sympathy, but who should command your exalted and honorable respect. Observe in the next to appear Lau Chin-hung (enters, etc.), a pleasant girl who, like some of you, is not averse to rnatrimony^ Her mother, Lau Wei-ju (enters, etc.), a mercenary person, as to whose wisdom you shall be honorably free to decide. At a banquet it is profitable to reserve the choicest morsel to the last, and so I now present to our exalted patrons our heroine, Lee Yu-soo (enters, etc.), a most charming young lady with a will and a way that you shall sublimely admire. She is fortunate, for if her parents, uncles, aunts and other relatives had not pre- ceded her to her ancestors, our play must have had a different ending. And now I shall honorably conduct you to the humble home of Chang Yuan-han. Curtains open. Chorus goes to his seat at the rear. Property Alan places table mith ancestral tablets R, chair at L center. Chorus rises. Chang Yuan-han enters R and sits on chair L center. Chorus: Our widowed friend, the mother of Chang San-yee, also her son. (Chang San-yee enters L.) San-yee (Bowing before Yuan-han) : Honorable mother, the years deal kindly with you. Sublime youth is apparent in your countenance. Yuan-han : Respected son, your good heart sends false words to your lips. My days of youth are sublime- 9 ly spent, and I now look forward to the time when I shall go to my ancestors. San-yee: Our ancestors will honorably wait long for you, exalted mother. No flower in the garden of Lee Yu-soo surpasses you in beauty and sublime health. Yuan-han: Your good wishes again beget words of untruth. Already do I find the household tasks heavy and burdensome, but I have a sublime plan to add com- fort to my remaining years. San-yee : A plan ? Yuan-han: Yes, an exalted plan. You must hear about it, for tomorrow you are to help bring it into honorable execution. San-yee : Whait have I to do with the accomplishment of your august plan? Yuan-han : It most honorably concerns you. As a dutiful son you have not allowed your exalted thoughts to dwell upon marriage, but long ago you became a man and it was my duty to find a sublime wife for you. San-yee (startled) : A wife ! I cannot marry a wife. Yuan-han : Your words come without thought. Shall I be deprived of a sublime daughter >to serve and attend my wants before I go to my ancestors? I have honor- ably decided that you shall have a wife and I have ar- ranged that she shall come tomorrow. San-yee (much troubled) : Do not tell me that it is arranged, exalted mother, (with -finality) I cannot have a wife. Yuan-han (angry) : Waste not your words. A wife you shall sublimely have. Tomorrow you bow together before your ancestral tablets. 10 San-yee: Can a man be married against his honor- able will? YuAN-HAN : Yes, when his exalted mother wills it. But you will not offend our ancestors by opposing them and objecting to my sublime plan.. San-yee: If this unhappy occurrence is to transpire, I should be sublimely informed concerning the unhappy woman. YuAN-HAN : Now my honorable son begins to show the wisdom of his ancestors. The mother of Lau Chin- hung has hooiorably joined me in the contracts and the girl will come to you tomorrow. San-yee (despondently): Tomorrow! Gone are my exalted dreams. YuAN-HAN : What dreams are these ? San-yee: They have been horribly killed by your plan, and I go with wretched sorrow to my labors in the garden of Lee Yu-soo. (Exit L.) Yuan-han : What foolish variety of man is this who shuns a sublime wife? (Exit R.) Property man removes chair, table and tablets to side of stage near his box. Hangs golden disk, rep- resenting sun at side of stage L. Chorus rises. Chorus : We will discreetly precede the unhappy San- yee to his place of dreaming, the garden of Yu-soo. Ob- serve him come with depressing woe. Enter San-yee L. walking very slowly with head bowed. Property man takes potted plant from his box and stands it on stage near center. Then takes primitive hoe from box and hands to San-yee, who begins to cultivate the ground zvith it. Property man takes long stemmed flower from box, holds 11 it at arm's length near San-yee, who smells it and heaves long sigh, then resumes labors. Property man tosses flower into box, takes long bamboo pole from corner of stage, holds it horizontally with end at R. entrance. Chorus rises. Chorus: Yu-soo the beautiful comes over the bridge to visit her garden, (sits) Enter Yu-soo across imaginary bridge, her hand on bamboo pole as on railing. She is follozved at re- spectful distance by servant, Nai-wen, also across bridge. Property man stands pole in corner, takes large pillow from box and hands to Nai-wen, who places it on ground near where San-yee is at work, then retires and stands near R. exit throughout scene. Yu-soo seats herself on pillow and observes San-yee. Yu-soo (As with authority) : Why spend so much f ooHsh energy upon the iris, which needs it not. Observe the honorable needs of the peonies. San-yee starts, bows humbly to Yu-soo, then walks to stage L. to which Property man moves the potted plant. San-yee cultivates as before. After a brief pause, during which Yu-soo watches San-yee with interest. Yu-soo: Why appears my gardener sublimely down- cast? Do the beautiful flowers no longer give joy to his soul? San-yee (stops work and bows) : Gracious employer, I have a miserable sorrow. Yu-soo : Observe the dry earth of the peach tree. Make it honorably loose, (points R.) Property m^an moves potted plant to stage R. San Yee goes to it and works as before. 12 Yu-soo: An exalted young man may have no place for sorrow, especially in my garden, when the day is honorably beautiful, the flowers sublimely fragrant, and the birds sing with supreme gayety. (onuses a moment, then with authority) Tell me about it. San-yee: I sorrow, honorable patroness, (bozus) be- cause my exalted mother has arranged that I shall marry. (Yu-soo starts then recovers herself.) Yu-soo: Young men are not usually in sorrow from such a cause, (pause) There must be another reason. This morning I seek sublime amusement. Tell me all your sorrows that I may laugh at them. San-yee: I desire not to tell, but you command me. My heart is overwhelmed, honorable lady, because I have been dreaming foolishly. Yu-soo: Dreaming of what? San-yee (hesitates a moment, then with a gesture of desperation) : Of love. Yu-soo (laughing) : That is a dream which leads to exalted happiness, for now you shall have a sublime wife on whom to bestow your ignoble love. San-yee turns away sorrowfully. Yu-soo (stamping her foot and frowning) : You have been giving me deceitful words. You have not told me everything. San-yee: Honorable lady, even a poor servant may dream and yet fear to tell his dreams. Yu-soo : Tell me ! I would be entertained. San-yee: I dare not tell you all, and yet I dare not refuse to obey your command. I shall merit your su- preme disapproval, and perhaps may never again be able 13 to turn my appreciative eyes upon your hitherto kindly face. But I will tell you, remembering that the Gods made me what I am and sent my dreams to me. For they have been of you, exalted lady. While I have labored in your garden every flower has reminded me of your grace and sublime beauty. Every bird that sings reminds me of your sympathetic voice. Even the gentle rain, bringing refreshment to these flowers, re- minds me of the kindness of your exalted presence which gives life to my soul. {Yu-soo turns fiace away to hide emotion) I knew that you would turn away in disap- proval and in anger, but the Gods sent the dreams — the Gods sent you to bring me happy thoughts, which I kept in my personal soul until you commanded that I tell you of my sorrow. Yu-soo: Ungracious servant, is this the return that you make for my passing interest in one who attends my flowers? Dreaming of me! (laughs) You sorrow because your honorable mother has chosen a wife for you. Perhaps you think her exalted choice should have fallen upo'n me. (laughs) Truly I have found the amuse- ment that I sought, (more seriously) You must be pun- ished for your presumption! I will devise something supremely fitting, so that you shall never dream again. San-yee : No sublime punishment you may bestow could add to my sorrows. Life without dreams of hap- piness is impossible. I cannot m:arry Yu-soo. I cannot marry any other. Therefore I shall die. No punish- ment can reach me when I am with my ancestors. Yu-soo: Ha, ha, ha, ha. (Exit Yu-soo across bridge R., followed by servant) San-yee looks after her as she goes slowly out, then lies down. Property man places red pillow under his head. 14 San-yee: I shall withhold my honorable breath until my heart beatings have terminated {after a pause) I die. Property man changes gold sun to silver moon which he hangs on R. of stage. Lights can he somewhat lowered. Yu-soo enters over bridge as before, this time without servant. She looks about in the dim light, stepping cautiously to avoid the flowers. Suddenly observes San-yee and rushes to his side. Yu-soo: Oh! My dreams also are ended for San-yee has honorably ceased to breathe. Why did I laugh at him? He might have been graciously pleased with his punishment, but it is now too late, (stoops over and kisses him — San-yee stirs, and Yu-soo hurriedly with- draws a few paces and watches him. San-yee sits up slowly and looks about without seeing Yu-soo) San-yee: What called me back from my journey to my ancestors? Was it a summons from the Gods? (pause) Why do they not speak further to me? (Pause) It seemed a pleasant summons. Yu-soo (coming closer) : San-yee, augustly arise and stand in my presence. Do you forget your honorable respect ? (San-yee scrambles to his feet, bewildered. Does not yet see Yu-soo) San-yee: The voice of the God sounds much like the dulcet conversation of Yu-soo. Yu-soo : Stand forth, San-yee and receive your punish- ment. San-yee looks in direction of voice, discovers Yu-soo and drops to his knees before her. San-yee: Beautiful lady, was it your summons that brought me back from my ancestors? 15 Yu-soo: You thought to escape the punishment I promised to visit upon your presumption, but I have brought you back that you may suffer adequately. {archly) You still sublimely assert that you admire me greatly ? San-yee: I supremely love you. Yu-soo {sev^erely) : Vile creature, then you richly deserve to be punished. I command that you shall re- turn to your miserable home, there to carry out the wishes of your honorable mother; bowing before the tablets of your ancestors with the girl who shall be brought to be your wife. If you accept this punishment, you may afterward come and work in my garden, and sometimes you may see me — from an honorable distance. San-yee: You will sometimes be kind to me if I do this hateful thing? Yu-soo: Yes, but not otherwise. San-yee {with resolution) : Then I go. Farewell, sub- lime benefactress, {e.vit L.) Yu-soo: What a deliciously exalted punishment; {ex- it over bridge R. as before) CURTAIN. After intermission of not more than thirty sec- onds, Property man appears before curtains zvith gong, which he strikes three times, standing R. as Chorus appears between curtains. Chorus: Honorable friends, our play has been sus- pended these few moments so that you might dry your tears and compose your emotions for what is to follow. Let not your sublime sadness weigh too heavily upon 16 you. Trust in Yu-soo and you shall soon be happy. A very little delicious villainy will obtrude itself upon your exalted attention as we now transport you to the home of Lau Wei-ju, upon the day when her daughter, Lau Chin-hung, is to be wedded to Chang San-yee. Chorus aud P. M. retire through curtains, which quickly part discovering P. M. arranging table with ancestral tablets on L. and placing chair near table. Enter Lau Wei-ju and Lau Chin-hung L, Chorus: The Honorable widow Lau Wei-ju and her expectant daughter. Chin-hung (as they enter) : But what kind of man is this who is to be my exalted husband? Wei-ju: An honorable, hard-working gardener. Chin-hung: A gardener? Wei-ju : What would you have for a husband, an ex- alted mandarin? Chin-hung: I hope he has a sublimely beautiful countenance. Wei-ju : It is more important that he should be able to provide you with sublimely plentiful rice. Chorus: The delicious villainy is to begin. Behold the servant of Lee Yu-soo, Wong Nai-wen. Enter Wong Nai-wen R. Property man goes to center of stage 'and opens imaginary door into*' ho7ne of Lau Chin-hung. Wong Nai-wen passes through door, up two imaginary steps and bows before Lau Wei-ju. Wong Nai-wen: Do I address the honorable Lau Wei-ju, whose beautiful daughter is to become the wife of Chang San-yee? 17 Wei-ju : I am the widow, Lau Wei-ju and this is my daughter Chin-huing who goes shortly to the home of San-yee. (Nai-wen bows to dmighter) Who is my hon- orable visitor? Nai-wen : I am Wong Nai-wen, a merchant from the adjacent province. I must explain my humble in- trusion into this home. I knew the father of Chang San-yee, who took diabolical advantage of me in a business enterprise. I appealed to the Mandarin, but the other bribed him with much gold and I was expelled from the presence after there had been exacted from me a villainous fine. I vowed to the Gods to have revenge, but the miscreant went to his ancestors before the door of opportunity was opened before me. I went to the temple this morning where I overheard one say that the daughter of Lau Wei-ju was to bow to-day be- fore the ancestral tablets of Chang San-yee. I hastened to your home in the sublime hope that I might prevent this detestable sacrifice. Wei-j u : My daughter is not to marry the father who mistreated you, but the son. There is therefore no de- testable sacrifice. Nai-wen: In your innocent seclusion you are evi- dently not informed of the deceitful character of San- yee. He is a base-born dissembler. A hater of women. He does not want to marry your daughter, and will beat her when she is in his power. Wei-ju: What can I undertake now? The marriage settlements are arranged and in a short time I must go with my daughter to the home of San-yee. Nai-wen : I will arrange it for you. Here is gold (property man hands money bag to Nai-wen, who passes it to Wei-ju). With this you may purchase the good will of the mother of San-yee — But wait — I have a 18 subtler plan, which will bring me revenge upon the son of my enemy. You keep the gold, and I will shortly bring to you a low-born creature whom you shall present veiled at the home of San-yee, stating that your daughter has vowed not to remove her veil until she shall be unal- terably married to San-yee. There will be no benighted suspicion, and when they have bowed to the ancestral tablets and the veil is lifted, San-yee will be supremely disgraced. Wei-ju {fondling the bag of money) : How much gold is here? Nai-wen: Enough to make your deliciously innocent dau^ter the wife of a mandarin. Chin-hung {kneeling before Wei-ju) : I should be Honorably enchanted to be the bride of an exalted mandarin. Wei-ju {again fondling the money bag: I cannot deafen my ears to the tearful pleas of my supremely dutiful daughter. Brmg hither the low-bom creature. Nai-wen : She is just without, {goes to door, which is opened by Property man, and beckons. Enter Yu-soo, veiled. She crosses stage to door, up the two imaginary steps, into the home of Wei-ju. Property man closes door) Nai-wen: This is the creature. She will bring to San-yee a sublimely miserable life, and I shall have revenge. Wei-ju : I will take her at once to the home of Chang Yuan-han, for the hour has come. Nai-wen: And I will go with you, appear as an honorable friend of your exalted family, and sublimely perceive my revenge. 19 Chin-hung : I also willi go, lingering outside the door until all is over, so that I may then enter and honorably observe the disreputable gardener from whom I have had a sudden escape. • All exit through door, "which is again opened by Property man, down the two steps and off stage. Property man moves table with tablets to oppo- site side of stage (R.) placing two chairs, side by side at back center. Chorus comes forward to front. Chorus: You will honorably return to the home of Chang Yuan-han, which is prepared for the marriage of Chang San-yee and Lau Chin-hung. The sorrowful young man comes with his mother to await the bride. {Chorus goes to his station. Enter Yuan-han and Scm^ yee R.) Yuan-han : Your bride is now hastening to your side, for I looked from the doorway and saw Lau Wei-ju turning into the street. Assume a joyful manner. This is a day of which you should be honorably proud; it is no time to be sad and downcast. San-yee (dejectedly) : I wish that I had sublimely joined my ancestors before I had reached this unhappy occasion. I am to endure punishment for that which I could not change, and my sorrow will go with me while I continue miserably to exist. Yuan-han: What talk is this of punishment? This most excellent arrangement is for your happiness and my comfort. San-yee (despondently) : I would that I could honor- ably believe it. Chorus: The bride approaches with her sublime and mercenary mother, and the vengeful Wong Nai-wen. 20 The young lady who has lost her arranged for husband will soon peep in the doorway. Enter L. Lau Wei-ju, Lee Yu-soo {veiled) and Wong Nai-wen. Chang San-yee still sulkily R,, half turning his hack upon the guests. Chang Yuan-han crosses stage to meet the party, addressing herself to Lau Wei-ju. Chang Yuan-han: I bow to you, honorable friend (bows) and welcome you to this humble dwelling place to which you bring exalted happiness. My enthusiastic son is overcome at the honor you bestow upon our house, but adds his greetings to my poor efforts, (turns toward San-yee) San-yee, welcome our sublime guests. San-yee (turning toward Wei-ju) : I bow. (bows) Wei-ju: Your greetings overwhelm my worthless daughter and myself. My sorrow is great at parting with her, poor although she is, and she demanded that I should bring her veiled before you, so that you should not observe her ignoble emotions. I could not deny the last desire of my daughter, and her face must remain hidden until she has bowed before your ancestral tablets. You will honorably consent? Yuan-han: It is not in accordance with my sublime desire, but perhaps it is well that my honorable son should not be permitted to observe her ugly countenance or he might shun the ceremony. (Observing Nai-wen) Is this some member of your exalted family? Wei-ju: It is Wong Nai-wen, an honorable friend of the Lau family. Nai-wen (to Yuan-han) : 1 bow. (bows) Yuan-han I bow. (bow^) 21 Wei-ju (nervously) : Let the ceremony proceed, it is a miserable omen of misfortune to delay when the bride has reached the sublime house of the young man's mother. YuAN-HAN : It is honorably said. Come forward, San-yee, and take the hand of the miserable creature who is to share our exalted dwelling place. San-yee comes reluctantly forward to the side of Yu'See, tries to peer through her veil, and finally, after evident effort, takes her hand. Yuan-han and Wei-ju seating themselves, meanwhile, upon the two chairs. San-yee and Yu-see face the ancestral tablets and together bow to them three times, slow- ly. At each bo\w the Property man strikes gong once. San-yee and Yu-soo then move across and face the two mothers, again bowing three times slowly. Wet-ju : Now the unhappy wife may remove her ob- jectionable veil, in order that her husband may share her misery. Nai-wen steps forward, bows ceremoniously to Yu-soo, then slozviy lifts her veil. San-yee turns away, refusing to look at Yu-soo. Yuan-han looks, topples from her chair to the floor in a swoon. Prop- erty m.an places pillow under her head. Chin-hung enters L. and stands betwildered just inside the door. Yu-soo : San-yee, look at me. I am your punishment. San-yee turns, startled, recognizes Yu-soo, drops to one knee before her and kisses her hand. San-yee: My exalted and beautiful dream lady. CURTAIN. 22 After a moment or two, Chorum appears between curtains. Chorus: My honorable thanks go to our exalted patrons for their appreciation of our humble play. I feel sublime gratitude that my efforts have met with such reward, for I am the supreme master mind of this pro- duction. Without me , Murmuring is heard on stage, Chorus hestitafes, then makes a gesture of resigning to the inevitable, moves R., curtains part showing company lined up Property man L. end. Chorus takes place at right end. All together bow once toward audience. Prop- erty man strikes gong three tim^. FINAL CURTAIN. 23 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 400 986 7