Around the World in 80 Days (NHB Modern Plays)

Jules Verne

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781780016900
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

The fabulously wealthy Victorian gentleman Phileas Fogg wagers his life's fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just eighty days.

Along with his hapless valet Passepartout, he sets out on a dazzling escapade that takes him from the misty alleys of London to the exotic subcontinent and on to the Wild West as they race against the clock on a dizzying succession of trains, steamers, a wind-propelled sledge and an elephant.

Laura Eason's celebrated adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel was seen at the New Vic Theatre, Stoke, and Manchester's Royal Exchange before receiving its London premiere at the St. James Theatre in 2015.

Packing in more than fifty unforgettable characters, this imaginative version was written for an ensemble cast of eight, but can be performed by a much larger cast - making it perfect for any theatre company or drama group looking for a high-spirited adventure.

ACT ONE

Scene One

Phileas Fogg

Lights up.

Big Number – ‘A Day in the Life’:

Day 1: Morning in London, Monday September 30th, 1872.

Out of bed rises PHILEAS FOGG, handsome, around forty, a man so precise that to say his life runs like clockwork is no exaggeration.

In a movement sequence we see FOGG’s very regimented routine:

– Wakes up.

– Stretches and touches his toes.

– Puts on his suit coat.

– Has tea and toast delivered by his valet JAMES.

– Gets his hat and walking cane.

JAMES. Good day, Mr Fogg.

FOGG. Good day.

– Exits his home.

– Arrives on the street.

BEGGAR WOMAN. Alms for the poor?

– Gives money to the BEGGAR WOMAN.

Thank you, Mr Fogg.

– Walks down the road.

FOGG (to FLOWER-SELLER). Good day.

– Takes a flower from the FLOWER-SELLER for his lapel.

– Nods and walks on as she says:

FLOWER-SELLER. Good day, Mr Fogg.

– Arrives at the Reform Club.

– Plays whist with one other GENTLEMAN.

– Wins at whist.

– Collects his winnings into a little purse.

FOGG (to GENTLEMAN). Good evening.

GENTLEMAN. Good evening.

– Begins his walk home.

FOGG (to FLOWER-SELLER). Good evening.

FLOWER-SELLER. Good evening, Mr Fogg.

– Arrives at home.

– Gives his coat, hat and cane to his valet JAMES.

JAMES. Goodnight, Mr Fogg.

FOGG. Goodnight.

– Sighs.

– Goes to sleep.

A moment of silence.

Day 2: Morning in London, Tuesday October 1st, 1872.

The day in the life pattern begins to repeat. Although everything around FOGG is slightly different, FOGG is exactly the same in every movement, action and gesture.

In movement, FOGG once again:

– Wakes up.

– Stretches and touches his toes.

– Puts on his suit coat.

– Has tea and toast delivered by his valet JAMES.

– Gets his hat and walking cane.

JAMES. Good day, Mr Fogg.

FOGG. Good day.

– Exits his home.

– Arrives on the street.

BEGGAR WOMAN. Alms for the poor?

– Gives money to the BEGGAR WOMAN.

Thank you, Mr Fogg.

– Walks down the road.

FOGG (to FLOWER-SELLER). Good day.

– Takes a flower from the FLOWER-SELLER for his lapel.

– Nods and walks on as she says:

FLOWER-SELLER. Good day, Mr Fogg.

As the sequence continues, we see a STREET-SWEEP approach the FLOWER-SELLER. As they talk, the movement sequence continues in its regular pattern.

STREET-SWEEP. So, that’s Mr Phileas Fogg, is it?

FLOWER-SELLER. Cuts quite a figure, eh?

Movement sequence continues under dialogue as FOGG:

– Arrives at the Reform Club.

– Plays whist with one other GENTLEMAN.

STREET-SWEEP. Must be a wealthy man.

FLOWER-SELLER. Undoubtedly. But no one knows how he made his fortune and, from what I’m told, Mr Fogg never speaks of it himself.

Movement sequence continues under dialogue as FOGG:

– Wins at whist.

– Collects his winnings into a little purse.

FOGG (to GENTLEMAN). Good evening.

GENTLEMAN. Good evening.

– Begins his walk home.

STREET-SWEEP. Generous?

FLOWER-SELLER. Not lavish but when money is needed for a noble or useful cause, he seems to supply it quietly.

STREET-SWEEP. On the town much, is he?

FLOWER-SELLER. No, keeps to himself, hasn’t any family or friends beyond his whist partners at the club. But a fine fellow is Mr Fogg!

FOGG passes them.

Good evening, Mr Fogg.

FOGG. Good evening.

FOGG walks on. They watch him go.

FLOWER-SELLER (to STREET-SWEEP). Well, goodnight.

STREET-SWEEP (tipping his hat to her). Goodnight.

Movement sequence continues as FOGG:

– Arrives at home.

– Gives his coat, hat and cane to his valet JAMES.

JAMES. Goodnight, Mr Fogg.

FOGG. Goodnight.

– Sighs.

– Goes to sleep.

A moment of silence.

Day 3: Morning in London, Wednesday October 2nd, 1872.

The day in the life pattern begins to repeat.

In movement sequence, FOGG once again:

– Wakes up.

– Stretches and touches his toes.

– Puts on his suit coat.

– Has tea and toast delivered by his valet JAMES.

At the moment FOGG’s lips touch the tea everything comes to a screeching halt.

FOGG. James – the temperature of the tea. It is not at the required ninety-seven degrees.

JAMES. Terribly sorry, sir. (Knowing he’s done for.) I expect that’s it for me, then. Shall I place an advertisement for a new man before I go?

FOGG (calmly, quickly). If you would.

Movement sequence continues as FOGG:

– Gets his hat and walking cane.

(To JAMES.) Good luck.

JAMES. Goodbye. (Exits in resignation.)

– Exits his home.

Scene Two

Passepartout Finds a Comfortable Position

Movement sequence continues as FOGG:

– Arrives on the street.

PASSEPARTOUT enters. He is French and a former circus performer. He approaches the FLOWER-SELLER.

PASSEPARTOUT. Excuse me, I’m looking for Number Seven, Savile Row, Mr Phileas Fogg’s residence?

FLOWER-SELLER. He’s just behind you, love.

PASSEPARTOUT. Merci!

PASSEPARTOUT walks to FOGG’s house.

Movement sequence continues:

BEGGAR WOMAN. Alms for the poor?

– Gives money to the BEGGAR WOMAN.

Thank you, Mr Fogg.

– Walks down the road.

FOGG is intercepted by PASSEPARTOUT, but continues his usual route as they talk.

PASSEPARTOUT. Excuse me… Mr Fogg?

FOGG. Yes, I am he.

PASSEPARTOUT. I have come about your advertisement for a new valet.

FOGG (unfazed). That was quick. Well, have you recommendations?

PASSEPARTOUT hands FOGG a document. FOGG scan it.

PASSEPARTOUT. My name is Jean but they call me Passepartout, which roughly translated, monsieur, means I have a knack of slipping out of tricky situations!

FOGG passes the FLOWER-SELLER and gets the flower for his lapel.

FLOWER-SELLER. Good day, Mr Fogg.

FOGG (to FLOWER-SELLER). Good day. (To PASSEPARTOUT.) A Frenchman?

PASSEPARTOUT. Yes, monsieur – a Parisian through and through! I have been a singer, horse rider, trapeze artist, tightrope walker and… a goat herder. There never was a man more curious about the world than I.

FOGG. I see.

PASSEPARTOUT. But having heard, monsieur, that you are the most exact and settled gentleman in the United Kingdom, I have come in the hope of living with you a tranquil life and forgetting even...