bearing of any given speech, even his own, upon the whole play.  “Cuts” at rehearsal are not unfrequently found to be too hastily made.  Then, what is the action?  Not merely the external incidents, but the shifting phases of thought, emotion, character, in the dramatis personae.  It is these that give the incidents their value, and so give dramatic interest to the plot, or story.  The dialogue and the incidents are but two phases of the presentment of the story.  The action may be rapid or slow, direct, or with episodes.  All depends upon the treatment; and the play that one audience finds detestable may delight another.

If THE BLACK CAT ever again come to the ordeal of the footlights, I can only hope that it may find an audience as sympathetic as that of the Independent Theatre.

    OPERA COMIQUE,
    STRAND, W.C.

    THE INDEPENDENT THEATRE. 
    FOUNDER AND SOLE DIRECTOR, J.T.  GREIN.

    Third Season, Fifteenth Performance.

    FRIDAY, 8th December, 1893,

    THE BLACK CAT,

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS, BY

JOHN TODHUNTER.

    DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

Arthur Denham Mr. BUCKLAW. Fitzgerald Mr. NEVILLE DOONE. Cyril Vane Mr. ORLANDO BARNETT. Constance Denham Miss HALL CAINE. Blanche Tremaine Miss MARY KEEGAN. Miss Macfarlane Miss GLADYS HOMFREY. Undine Miss DORA BARTON. Jane Miss FORRESTER.

    The Play produced under the direction of
    Mr. H. DE LANGE.

The ACTION of the play takes place in Denham’s Studio in London, at the PRESENT DAY.

The Black Cat.

Act I.

Scene:  Denham’s Studio.  Large highlight window in sloping roof at back.  Under it, in back wall, door to landing.  L of the door the corner is curtained off for model’s dressing-room.  R of door a large Spanish leather folding screen, which runs on castors, shuts off from the door the other corner, in which is a “throne,” pushed up against the wall.  Above the “throne” hangs a large square mirror in a carved black frame.  In front of the “throne” is a light couch of Greek form, without back.

Fireplace, with chimney-breasts panelled in old oak, and high overmantel, in which are shelves and cupboards, L.

Against R wall an old oak cabinet, with carved cornice, and inlaid panelled doors.  Close beside it stands on a pedestal a bust of Demeter.  Near the cabinet, halfway up stage R C, an easel, on which is seen the back of a large picture.

Beyond the fireplace, and at right angles to it, a large sofa, or lounge, with square ends and back, broad low seat, loose cushions, and valance.  In front of the fireplace an armchair, with a book face downward on one arm.