An Afternoon In The Park
An adaptation of Katherine Mansfield’s short story, “Miss Brill"
by David Klein

About the Play: An elderly woman confronts the loneliness of her existence and comes to terms with her lost aspirations.

Characters:
Miss Brill, a woman in her 50's or 60's.
A Woman: An elegant middle-aged woman wearing a suit, fur stole, and jewelry.
A Man: The Woman’s companion, approximately the same age, and also elegant. He probably carries a walking stick and wears a very correct suit.
A Girl: A young woman in her 20's (who can be played by the same actress as the Woman). She can wear the same suit skirt but eliminate the stole, jacket, and jewelry and wear flat shoes and a simple sweater or scarf.
A Boy : The girl’s boyfriend (who can be played by the same actor as the Man). He can also change from the suit jacket to a blazer or sweater and add a youngish looking cap.
A Young Couple: To be played by the Boy and the Girl, dressed differently..
An Elderly Couple: To be played by the Man and the Woman, dressed differently.

The Place: A city park
The Time: The play occurs several years past the turn of the century: 1900 - 1910.

The Scene: A city park in an area that is reserved for band concerts. The scene requires only a large park bench and some suggestive shrubbery.

From the Play:
Sound: In the distance, we can hear the faint sounds of an orchestra beginning to tune up. During the play, the orchestra performs various tunes amateurishly to coincide with the mood of the play.

Miss Brill enters, surveying the scene with a somewhat self-satisfied smile. Her suit is immaculate if somewhat frayed. She also wears an old-fashioned black fox fur piece around her neck, the kind with a head, glass eyes, and tails. The fur piece is somewhat shabby.

Miss Brill: I’m glad I’m here early. It paid to leave home when I did. Now, I can have my favorite bench. I expect there will be a crowd today now that it’s autumn and “The Season” is beginning. Unlike other places, our season begins in autumn. It’s something that makes us special. It will be exciting seeing everyone.

(She waves and seems to talk to someone who doesn’t answer )

Miss Brill: Oh! There are the Coopers. They know everyone, you know. And there they are, waving at me. I’m sure they’d like to sit here. But this is my bench. They could sit here if they liked, of course, but they are too well-bred to ask.

(The Young Couple, answering the wave from the Coopers, almost tramples Miss Brill trying to get to the Coopers)
He: (To the Coopers) Hey, Mavis, you got room for us down there?
She: If not, I could sit on your lap, Donald! Hah!

Miss Brill: Well!
He: Save us a seat, will you?
She: They heard us. Let’s get going before the concert starts!

(They exit, almost trampling Miss Brill.)

Miss Brill: (Straightening her fur.) Well! I can’t believe it. The kind of people you meet here these days. But it doesn’t matter. I always come to this bench to hear the band. Even when I was young, this place was an adventure. And it still is. Like an adventure. Yes, that’s the word I want. Adventure!

The Stranger
a play in one act
adapted from Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Stranger”
by David Klein

About the Play:
An examination of marital possessiveness, The Stranger explores the nuances of fantasy and reality in human relationships.

Characters:
John Hammond: A prosperous business man in his late forties.
Hammond’s Mind: Hammond’s inner thoughts and reflections.
Janey Hammond: An attractive woman in her mid-forties.
Janey’s Mind: Janey’s inner thoughts and reflections.
Narrator: The voice that describes the setting and the action.
Mr. Gaven: A middle-aged man at the dock.
Captain Johnson: An old harbor master.
Voices 1 through 7: A group of voices on the ship and dock.
Passengers 1 through 3: Janey’s shipboard female friends.
Porter: Bellboy at the hotel.

The Place: A town in New Zealand
The Time: The play takes place during 1905.

The Scene: The setting may be the front of the classroom, the school cafeteria, or the school auditorium. Each character has his own stool or chair. When called for by the action, the character may rise from the chair or sit down, or move closer to another. The main characters may , if so desired, use a prop, such as a hat or gloves to indicate John’s prosperity or a boa or elaborate hat to symbolize Janey’s social position.

From the Play:
Hammond: Damn it, what a fool I’ve been. I should have brought a pair of binoculars. There isn’t a pair between all of us. (Turning to a member of the group) Funny, isn’t it Mr. Gaven, that none of us thought of binoculars. We might have been able to see what was keeping the ship from landing.
Mr. Gaven: Be patient, John. Remember that we’re all in the same boat. Ha. Ha.
Hammond: I don’t find that amusing. Not at all.
Mr. Gaven: Just a little joke to pass the time.
Hammond: Time. Time, that’s what counts. I’ve been waiting so long for…
Mr. Gaven: (interrupting): Your wife. I know. How often have you told all of us here that she’s been in Europe for the past ten months to visit your eldest daughter who was married last year.
Hammond: Yes, yes. I brought my wife Janey up here , as far as Salisbury, myself. So I thought I’d better come and fetch her back. Yes, Yes. (Taking out his pocket watch.) Let me see now. It was two-fifteen when the doctor’s launch went off. Two-fifteen. It is now exactly twenty-eight minutes past four. That is to say, the doctor’s been gone two hours and thirteen minutes . But I think we should have been told if there was anything up - don’t you, Mr. Gaven?
Mr. Gaven: Oh, yes, Mr. Hammond! I don’t think there’s anything to - anything to worry about. At the same time -
Hammond: Quite so! Quite so! But still it’s annoying.

About the Playwright:
A graduate of New York University, David Klein has specialized in teaching writing at several schools, among them Carnegie-Mellon University and Norfolk State University. Several of his plays have been performed in the New York area. He brings to this catalogue a proficiency in the adaptation of literary works for the stage, enabling students of all ages to develop an appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship of writers for all genres.