Anna Bird Stewart

“ I'm the wife of Bath.
What did you say of me? What did you say? (Junior looks around wildly.)
Emily
.
Look out, be careful, or she'll run away.
Junior. Honest, you've got me so muddled I don't know what I'm doing. Do you want me to believe that you're people out of a book? Why those old Canterbury Tales' characters never did live, Chaucer just made them up. If you aren't somebody dressed up to tease me, I've got 'em.
Prioress
.
Ladies, hear that which maketh the last straw.
I plead for justice and demand the law.
Not live, when we are deathless? ”

“ She must have fair hair which should be braided down her back.
Griselda should wear a similar costume of pale gray and lavender, with a tall headdress of wire covered with white gauze and tinsel.
The Wife of Bath wears a short skirted costume of very bright colors, red stockings, very broad shoes, a straw hat with a broad brim and no trimming, if possible one of the sun hats worn by farmers.
The Prioress and her Nuns wear black skirts and white waists. Over this they wear black scholastic gowns such as are worn by graduates of academies and colleges, girded in with a leather strap. ”

“ Junior. Let me see, what I can learn from each: (as she speaks each name, the character disappears in bookcase) Griselda,—patience; Hippolyta,—courtesy; the Good Wife—red stockings—well, that clothes don't matter. Emily—no rats! (hides her face for a moment) The Prioress— (the two Nuns disappear)
Prioress
.
Read the last line that Master Chaucer penned
About me, and believe it without end! (She disappears. The Junior looks at the bookcase curtain which slowly stops swinging.) ”

“ Two yards of black material make the veil which falls on either side of the face and down the back.
THE BELLES OF CANTERBURY Scene:—A school room or in the room of one of the girls if preferred. If possible, a piano is included in the furnishings, which may be as elaborate or as simple as desired. Two entrances must be provided, one covered by a square framework supposed to represent a bookcase. Books are across the top. In front of it hangs a full curtain. ”

“ THE BELLES OF CANTERBURY PERSONS IN THE PLAY.
} Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Pupils at a girls' school
CHARACTERS FROM THE CANTERBURY TALES.
Wife of Bath
Prioress
First Nun
Second Nun
Emily
Hippolyta
Griselda
From the Prologue
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From the Knight's Tale
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" " Clerk's " COSTUMES.
The simplicity of the costuming as well as of the stage setting makes the play an easy one for amateurs to produce.
The dress of the four school girls should be as modern as possible. Their hair should be elaborately arranged. ”

“ A yard of white cloth cut down one side for about ten inches, and then a circle cut out of the center, makes the white guimpe for the Nun, the curved part being put under the chin and the two cut ends fastened on top of the head. ”