Although I haven’t actually physically wandered anywhere. But I did take on far too much and it all rather caught up with me: hence the absence.
First up: ‘Regency Romance’. As Museum Liaison Officer for Scunthorpe Little Theatre Club (SLTC) I work with the local North Lincolnshire Museum to find opportunities for our members to perform outside the main shows we do at the local theatre and to enhance the stuff they are doing. About a year ago it was suggested that we do something at Normanby Hall during their annual Food Fair on June the 17th.
Inspired by a wonderful intimate piece of promenade theatre that I saw at Stokesay Castle in Shropshire several years ago, I developed and wrote a six scene short play called, for want of a better title, ‘Regency Romance’ to take place in six locations in and around the Hall and grounds.
Lord George Henley, his wife Valeria and their daughter Charlotte are at their country residence for the summer. A visitor is expected and John Stanton, a young undergardener, is sent up to the house with more flowers for the table.

He is met outside the front of the Hall by Lizzie, an underhousemaid, whose interest in him only matched by her love of gossip. She tells him that the visitor is a rich lord who is going to be betrothed to Miss Charlotte. Disgusted by her tittle-tattling, John tells her to hold her tongue and storms off, but his angry reaction makes Lizzie suspicious. Why should he be so interested in Miss Charlotte?
Shortly after John has stormed off back to the Walled Garden, Charlotte slips out of the House and sets off for the garden, ostensibly to choose some bunches of grapes for her mother, but actually to meet with John: the two are having a romantic affair.

Lizzie’s words have given John a wake-up call. He realises that there is no future in their relationship across the social divide and that Charlotte’s chances lie in the advantageous marriage the visiting lord can offer.

Even though it hurts them both, he tells her this and heartbroken, Charlotte runs back to the house.
Meanwhile, Viscount Rickinghall has arrived and is shown into Lord George’s study where he explains how he fell in love with Charlotte during her last London season and wishes to marry her.

As a very rich man he can offer her every advantage. Lord George is delighted and immediately goes to break the good news to his wife and daughter.

Lady Valeria is equally delighted, but for Charlotte, even though she appreciates the honour of such a rich and important man seeking her hand in marriage, the pain of her rejection by John is far too raw.

Lord George, sensing her reluctance, wisely leaves her with her mother. Lady Valeria is completely unaware of Charlotte’s mental turmoil and starts to reminisce about her own youth and some of the unsuitable men she fell in love with as a way of explaining to Charlotte how well her own arranged marriage to Lord George has turned out.

Some of what her mother is saying makes sense to Charlotte and by the time the two of them leave the room, she is no less heartbroken, but now understands what John was trying to tell her.Â
Lizzie sees her opportunity to get back at John and follows Viscount Rickinghall out into the formal garden.

She pretends to be crying over her love, who has cast her off because he is in love with someone else and this, she hints slyly, puts her into the same situation as Rickinghall. She isn’t prepared for the way Rickinghall turns on her and she certainly hasn’t thought far enough ahead to realise that she may have endangered her own job with her spitefulness.

Rickinghall feels there is enough in her story for him to investigate further and decides to question Charlotte. If she is in love with someone else he will leave and not press his suit. He sends Lizzie into the house to ask Charlotte if she will show him around the Walled Garden.
Oblivious, Charlotte joins him outside the front door of the Hall and they stroll along the drive , making small talk as they go.

Charlotte soon starts to feel that some of Rickinghall’s comments are pointed but she doesn’t know why. As they cross the stableyard, John, pushing a wheelbarrow, comes round the corner.

He is just in time to see Rickinghall, desperate to know whether Charlotte actually does love someone else, grab her by the shoulders. Without thinking he snatches a hoe out of the barrow and attacks the Viscount.

Theere is a brief fight, broken up by Charlotte, terrified that they are going to kill each other and then both men regain control. Rickinghall has finally pieced the story together, and in spite of John’s glib explanation about thinking the Viscount was going to manhandle Charlotte and doing what any of the family’s servants would have done to protect her, he realises the truth.

He asks Charlotte directly if she is in love with someone else, and Charlotte, encouraged by an almost imperceptible shake of the head from John, replies that she is not. She takes the Viscount’s proffered arm and the two leave to take a turn around the park.

It was a wonderful setting and despite a number of very stressful problems we had beforehand and on the day, none incidentally to do with our fantastic cast and crew, it was a privilege for me to see my words and characters brought so beautifully to life in such fabulous settings.
So, June 17th and the first project out of the way. Next goal, the craft fair on July the 1st.
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