Actors and actresses (including one actress to boldly sing a Music Hall song in the third act) are needed to take part in the reading of “The Schoolmistress” by Arthur Wing Pinero from 1886. Pinero was the equivalent of Neil Simon or Alan Ayckbourn of his time and wrote a number of very popular comedies. The reading will take place on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Tarson Studio at Elmwood Playhouse, 10 Park Street, in Nyack, NY.
“The Schoolmistress” involves a social-climbing woman who runs a school to raise money to support her spendthrift and insolvent aristocratic husband – but who secretly earns money as a music hall performer. Meanwhile, one of her charges, Dinah, has eloped with a poor but jealous young man, of whom her father, Admiral Ranking – whose sole distinction is that he has never collided his ship into another ship – completely disapproves. So her friends, including the outgoing, clever, and opportunistic teaching assistant, Peggy, plan a party for the young couple to give them a chance to be together and persuade/bribe the spendthrift aristocrat to pretend to be the girls’ uncle so they can invite a lot of young men to the party. Mistaken identities, an appearance by the Admiral (who doesn’t recognize his own daughter), a rumor about an inedible “lark pudding,” and the eruption of a fire in the school (and some loquacious firemen) all lead to hilarity.
It is to be hoped that the ensemble of actors can double or triple to play some of the smaller roles. The main roles are:
Caroline Dyott – The schoolmistress who doubles as a music hall singer – imposing and frugal
Peggy Hesselrigge – The clever and scheming teacher’s apprentice who hatches the plan of a party for Dinah and her fiance
(Queckett, the dissolute aristocrat, is reserved for Derek Tarson to play.)
Admiral Rankling – The spoiled, egotistical, and dictatorial military man
Mrs. Rankling – The admiral’s wife – long-suffering until she finally confronts the admiral in the final act
Dinah – The sweet young bride (daughter of the Admiral)
Reginald – The groom, but insanely jealous if anyone even looks at his wife
Mallory – Queckett’s friend – a fellow aristocrat who’s always just looking for a good time.
-and many others-
(We also need a narrator for stage directions)
British accents are not needed – just the desire to make bold choices and have fun. The script, being in the public domain, is available here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47560
If you’re interested in participating, please email Derek Tarson at dtarson@gmail.com. Come have fun with this rollicking 19th century farce!
