The Dear Departed
by Stanley Houghton · first performed 1908, published 1910
- Cast
- 6 (3M, 3F)
- Length
- About 30 min
- Sets
- 1 interior
- Royalty
- None
The script for this play is coming soon.
The story
Grandfather Abel Merryweather has died, or so the Slaters believe. Before the rest of the family arrives, Mrs Slater moves his best bureau downstairs and has her husband put on the old man’s new slippers. When her sister Mrs Jordan turns up, the two women squabble over who gets what.
Then Abel walks downstairs, very much alive. Having seen exactly how his daughters behave, he has an announcement of his own to make. A sharp, very funny Lancashire comedy about family and greed.
Cast
| Character | Who they are | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs Slater | Abel's daughter, in charge of everything | F |
| Henry Slater | Her husband | M |
| Victoria Slater | Their daughter, aged ten | F |
| Mrs Jordan | Mrs Slater's sister | F |
| Ben Jordan | Her husband | M |
| Abel Merryweather | The sisters' father | M |
One set: the Slaters' sitting room in a provincial town, on a Saturday afternoon. Victoria can be played by a young adult.
Rights check
Author: Stanley Houghton died in 1913, so his work has been out of copyright in the UK since 1984.
Translation: None needed, written in English.
Source: The 1910 text, retyped and corrected by StageCommons.
Free to perform in the UK with no licence or fee. Outside the UK, check your local rules.
Productions
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