Robert Holman Plays: One

Robert Holman

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9781848428560
• eBook ISBN:
  9781788501927
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Robert Holman wrote plays of startling beauty, combining close observation of the way people behave with a thrilling and often fiercely uncompromising mastery of dramatic form. He is the playwright most admired by other playwrights. To Simon Stephens, he was, until Holman's death in 2021, 'My favourite living writer'.

Here, in this selection from Holman's first decade of playwriting, a monkey is taken for a French spy by an eighteenth-century fishing community; the inhabitants of a Greek island reside under the shadow of the atom bomb; and a group of lonely people converge on the North Yorkshire moors.

With an introduction written for this volume by Holman himself, Robert Holman Plays: One contains The Natural Cause (Cockpit Theatre, London, 1974), Mud (Royal Court Theatre, London, 1974), Other Worlds (Royal Court, 1983), Today (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1984) and The Overgrown Path (Royal Court, 1985).

'Holman's instinct for truth, and an unaffected ability to spot what's poignant in it, is what one remembers: that, and a paradoxical impression of spare richness, astringent abundance' The Times

TODAY

To Paul and Natasha Copley

Today was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 23 October 1984, with the following cast:

PEGGY SMITH	Penny Downie
VICTOR ELLISON	Roger Allam
RICHARD HURLL	David Whitaker
THOMAS ELLISON	George Raistrick
LUCY ELLISON	Amanda Root
WILFRED FOX	Jimmy Yuill
DOROTHY ELLISON	Rowena Roberts
CONSTABLE PRICE	Donald McKillop
REBECCA ELLISON	Kelly Gregory/Charlotte Williams
EDWARD LONGRESSE	James Simmons
ELIZABETH BRADLEY	Polly James
ERNEST HURLL	David Whitaker
HEINZ BAYER	Simon Templeman
PETER DEAN	Jim Hooper
SISTER MARY-JOSEPH	Katharine Rogers
Director	Bill Alexander

Characters

PEGGY SMITH

VICTOR ELLISON

RICHARD HURLL

THOMAS ELLISON

LUCY ELLISON

WILFRED FOX

DOROTHY ELLISON

POLICE CONSTABLE PRICE

REBECCA ELLISON

ELIZABETH BRADLEY

EDWARD LONGRESSE

ERNEST HURLL, Richard’s twin brother

PETER DEAN

HEINZ BAYER

SISTER MARY-JOSEPH

ACT ONE

1936

1920

1923

ACT TWO

1937

1946

ACT ONE

In the half-light, the COMPANY sing the traditional song on which VICTOR will base his piece of music.

This play is partly about a composer, and the music might be simple to begin with, slowly becoming more symphonic as the drama progresses. The notes VICTOR dictates in Act Two, Scene Four, are an English folk tune. It might be sung simply at the beginning and in an arrangement at the end, and is given as an example to indicate intention.

Scene One

The lights are snapped up.

A secluded place on the vast lawns of Guisborough Priory.

Monday, 5 October 1936.

The sky is overcast and full of cloud.

On the grass there is a small wicker basket. The handle of an umbrella protrudes from it.

PEGGY SMITH is standing near the basket. It also contains her purse and a few personal things.

PEGGY was born in 1908. She is a well-heeled woman with a fine bone structure. Her face is bright and alert. She is wearing an autumn coat with a matching hat.

VICTOR ELLISON is standing near her.

VICTOR was born in 1902. He is a big, squarely-built man with thick black hair. He is wearing a good, nut-brown suit which is chalk-marked from a school classroom. He has chalk on the ends of his fingers and a yellow nicotine stain.

VICTOR is bent almost double, breathing deeply. He has just entered. He has his hat in his hand.

VICTOR. I’m sorry. Rebecca’s had an accident. I’ve been at the hospital most of the morning.

PEGGY (gently, concerned). Don’t worry, what’s she done?

VICTOR. Only cut her finger, the little fool.

PEGGY. Victor –

VICTOR. I was more sympathetic with her. (Showing PEGGY the side of his left index finger.) Here.

PEGGY. How?

VICTOR. On some plateglass.

PEGGY. At school?

VICTOR. Yes. One of the little boys was larking about. On a door. He pushed her into it. She put her hand out to steady herself.

PEGGY. Poor Beccy.

VICTOR. Her headmistress telephoned me. I’ve so much on, what with the Christmas concert and everything.

PEGGY. Have they stitched it?

VICTOR. No. It’s worse than that, unfortunately. That’s why I’m in a state.

PEGGY. Which doctor saw her?

VICTOR. A junior doctor. Then your father.

PEGGY is looking at VICTOR. There is a moment’s silence.

Yes, that’s what I thought.

PEGGY. You didn’t say anything?

VICTOR. Yes, Peggy, I told him all about us.

A slight pause.

PEGGY. Poor you.

VICTOR. I expect it’s one of those things.

VICTOR holds out his hand. PEGGY takes it; their hands fumble together. VICTOR straightens up.

PEGGY. She needs surgery?

VICTOR. Mmm. (Brightly.) Well, Dr Smith?

PEGGY. It’s not my field, Victor. He’s good. I should trust him.

They are holding hands. PEGGY points to the side of her own left index finger.

Here? What’s Daddy said?

VICTOR. As little as possible.

PEGGY. She’s severed the tendon?

VICTOR. Yes. Is it serious, or very serious?

PEGGY. Quite serious.

A slight pause.

Would you like me to be at the hospital?

VICTOR. I don’t see how we can. When I took her in I was praying you’d be there.

PEGGY. Didn’t you know I wouldn’t be?

VICTOR (brightly). Yes.

PEGGY (after a moment’s pause). I’d have to wander in unbeknown. What time’s he operating?

VICTOR. This afternoon. I don’t even know what he’s going t’do.

PEGGY. Try and find the two ends ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Dedication
• Introduction
• The Natural Cause
• Mud
• Other Worlds
• Today
• The Overgrown Path
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Information