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The Quiet Hotel: A Farcical Sketch in One Act cover

The Quiet Hotel: A Farcical Sketch in One Act

Chapter 2: CHARACTERS
By Frank Dumont
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HumourPlays/Films/Dramas

About This Book

An actress seeking rest arrives at a sparsely staffed country hotel run single-handedly by Susan, with Rubber-Neck as the eager porter. Susan, who performs every role in the establishment, begrudgingly accepts the actress’s baggage for a short stay. Comic business arises from Rubber-Neck’s theatrical ambitions, a melodramatic demonstration of stage tragedy by the actress that alarms the staff, and a mock train-rescue sequence staged with a toy train and simple sound effects. The sketch ends with the three recognizing each other’s talent and opting to leave the quiet hotel to form a vaudeville sister act, closing on a comic note.

Copyright 1912 by The Penn Publishing Company

The Quiet Hotel

CHARACTERS

Miss Calcium         An actress, looking for rest.
Susan Who runs the Quiet Hotel.
Rubber-Neck Colored porter and general assistant.

Note.—Rubber-Neck may easily be played as a white character part if preferred.

Time:—Twenty-five minutes.

STORY OF THE SKETCH

Susan and Rubber-Neck keep a country hotel advertised as “very quiet.” Miss Calcium, an actress, comes with her wardrobe in one suit-case. “You may stay just one day on that baggage.” Rubber-Neck wants to be an actor. Miss Calcium’s attempt at tragedy scares Rubber-Neck and Susan. “This is a quiet hotel.” She shows them how to do it. “You are tied to the track.” “Hold on, maybe dat train don’t stop here.” The thrilling rescue scene. Rubber-Neck’s train of cars. “You’re both real actors. We’ll do a sister act in vaudeville.” “All right; it’s better than keeping a quiet hotel.”

COSTUMES

Miss Calcium. Traveling suit and hat, very pronounced and dashing in style. She may be anywhere from twenty to forty in age.

Susan. Smart chambermaid’s costume, with rather short skirt, and a neat little apron. Age, twenty to thirty.

Rubber-Neck. Black face (or white, if preferred). May be of any age. Wears dark trousers, gingham shirt, and a uniform cap with word “Porter” on front. Costume may be made comic as desired.

PROPERTIES

For Miss Calcium, dress-suit case and umbrella. For Rubber-Neck, child’s train of cars, dinner-bell, whistle. For Susan, call-bell.

The noise of an approaching train is easily imitated behind scenes with a piece of sheet-iron which is struck with two beaters similar to egg beaters. This effect may, however, be omitted if preferred, as the action does not absolutely depend on it.