TOPP’S TWINS.

COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY T. S. DENISON.

CHARACTERS.

Cadwalader Topp, of Topp & Topp, twin brothers, oyster dealers; old bachelor, irascible, vain, great stickler for “honah;” wants to adopt twins; family tradition; stout man.

Tick. (Alias Jim Baggs.) Traveling man of Topp & Topp; typical drummer, rather cheeky, quick, appears braver than he is; ready for any adventure or practical joke.

Josiah Twiggs, old friend of Tick’s father; parent of Angie and Mrs. Twiggs-Knott, who calls herself “Twiggs hyphen Knott.”

Mrs. Twiggs, a mother and grandmother of “Twiggsie and Dixie,” the twins.

Mrs. Twiggs-Knott, mother of the twins, and a widow who knows how to get what she wants.

Angie Twiggs, a bright young lady.

Bob Spratt, seedy adventurer; he tries to work off his twins on Topp; in revenge precipitates the duel; villain of the play.

Mrs. Dubbledam, housekeeper from Holland; good-natured, slow, loquacious.

Ginger Potts, an African; body servant of Mr. Topp; a good deal of the monkey; comic by nature and good in theory, which theory is sometimes not fully supported by facts.

Dr. Short, the surgeon, an animated wooden man.

Personages not appearing on the stage, the real twins, “Twiggsie and Dixie;” also Bob Spratt’s twins, the victims of circumstances, and called for the occasion, Benjamin Harrison Spratt and Grover Cleveland Spratt.

STAGE DIRECTIONS.

R. means right of the stage; C., center; R. C., right center; L., left; 1 E., first entrance; U. E., upper entrance, etc; D. F., door in flat or back of the stage. The actor is supposed to be facing the audience.

Time of playing, two hours.

BILL OF THE PLAY.

Act I. Topp’s family tradition demands twins.

Act II. “She’s a little angel, I’ll see her father.”

Act III. “Yes, Topp old boy, you are in love for the first time in twenty years.” But the odious rival appears just at the wrong time and precipitates disaster.

Act IV. The duel. The finding of the Twins.

☞ Though this play has full stage directions, it may be presented in any hall, or large parlor even. Two doors for exit and entrance is the main requirement. Owing to the style of type the play is not so long as it seems.

PROPERTIES.

Numerous dummy letters, newspaper in wrappers, writing materials, gunny sack, pair of corncutters, surgeon’s kit, brace of pistols in case for Spratt, also two other pistols, pocket tape-line, cards for Spratt and Tick, note books, coins, crash bag of broken glass.

TOPP’S TWINS.

Note. If no scenery is at hand suitable for Act IV, it may be played simply on bare stage stripped of all furniture and accessories.

☞ For hints on play, see page 72.

TOPP’S TWINS.