Ira Mallory Remsen

“ Just as when they grow up, kind Mother Earth begins the spanking just where their own mother left off, until they reach the point where they finally learn to continue to think only of themselves, but in terms of other people, which is far from being selfish, and is the only way to live happily and make other people happy, no matter what your mother says. ”

“ BUNT
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JIM
Nodding slowly. I reckon I get it, Lu . LU
Not quite, Jim, because you're different, and that's what makes it so hard. I know, there isn't much a woman don't know about these things.
A man jest sees what he wants and fights fer it; he don't feel or think of anything else, he jest fights. But with a woman it's different. If you
could only understand, Jim . A woman's got to give. She can't live without giving, and when it ain't children it's everything else. And even if it ain't quite the same - it's almost, Jim-almost. JIM
Some of us wake up too late, Lu! ”

“ As a man of the theater, I would like to weigh this and to balance that, to discussfor instance-whether the play is, or should be, " Lu's tragedy" or "Jim's comedy". That, and all such criticism , is not possible here. But there is one opinion which every critic is bound to express, every critic at least who believes, as I believe, that a primary function of any work of art is to evoke a corresponding mood in the spectator. MR. BUNT, in performance especially, evokes and sustains such a mood, at all events for me, with mastery. ”

“ The throbbing of the crickets grows louder. It is taken up by the wood and the voice of a man is heard singing afar off. The boy yawns and slowly leaves the window. The stage is empty. The song draws nearer and the somber figure of a man enters, carrying a heavy sack, from the corners of which pour tiny grains of sandas he slowly passes on his way, singing.
Music: Sandman's Song. As he passes the cottage the light in the win dow fades out. The moonlight grows brighter and the cottage is now clearly outlined. The Sandman and his dreamy song are lost in the distance. ”

“ SANDMAN
Yes, and forget everything when the gate closes. Only the keys can let them out. MR . BUNT
Then they are happy. Why can't I go in ? SANDMAN
You are lost - not forgotten. MR. BUNT
Calling Oh, let me back ! Let me back ! SANDMAN
To the bridge ! It is closing. It is your only way out now .
You can't stay here. GYEM
Running to Mr. Bunt.
You've got to go. Quick! I'll go and hold the bridge. Try and find someone when you get to earth and don't let anybody see that you can fly. This way, quick ! Gyem disappears, dragging Mr. Bunt into the Maple Tree. ”

“ On the right is the great gilded wagon in which the lions are drawn when on parade. On the left a light burns within the tent, throwing on the canvas the gigantic shadowed forms of those who pass. It is evidently the rear of the circus where the circus folk live. ”

“ But to go back to Dabsmand his horrid remark about the oatmeal-who stands waiting thoughtfully on the balcony, while Annie, the little girl who was seen going into the house, now appears at the window and the lady inside is saying: Annie, where does he get those awful words?
ANNIE
To Dabs.
Donald Reber! You come in here right away and get your mouth washed out with soap!
At which Dabs remarks, without animosity: Get your own mouth washed out.
ANNIE
The idea of you talking like that! ”

“ GYEM
Why, I was just showing the people how the fairies went over the bridge of dreams down into the world. I thought they'd be interested . MR. BUNT
You told them to look again with children's eyes. GYEM
And what has that got to do with you ? MR. BUNT
Do with me ? Why, it made me visible. Don't
you know that children see everything ? They don't miss a thing. I was sitting down there
on the steps perfectly invisible. You opened everybody's eyes, and I saw the usher coming for me, so I thought I'd better come up here and let you settle it before the Board of Directors got me . ”

“ The crowd makes a semi-circle about the bear, who is nodding and waving his great shaggy
paws at the people, when the window opens and Rose looks out. The bear, who is doing some very funny steps, happens to look up and catches sight of her. He ends quite suddenly, so suddenly that Mr. Bunt is very much fright ened and stops the organ and goes timidly over and looks up at the face of the great bear that stands above him so rigidly, staring at
Rose on the balcony. ”

“ BUNT
JIM
I hope there ain't no trouble fer her, Danny . DANNY
I dinna' ken, Jim. It's her heart I'm starin' at noo .
JIM
You mean whatever is comin to me is goin' to hurt Lu ? DANNY
Aye, man , it looks that way. JIM
Well, how much can you see, Danny ? DANNY
I see a wee lad and lassie, Jim, playin' somewhaur by a wee hoose. JIM
Rising
How kin you read that, Danny ? DANNY
They're in the cards, man. JIM
And can you read if they're happy ? DANNY
Aye, Jim. JIM
Walks slowly across to tent. They're mine, Danny, and it's five years since I seen 'em . ”

“ The particular mood of MR. BUNT is one of which our theater, like our life, today has des perate need. It is the mood of “Prunella” and of “Peter Pan”. By those plays, which in their own way are masterpieces, this play must be judged. It challenges the comparison, and it merits it.
Until it can be read in print and at leisure -and not then, likely enough - will one be able even to form an opinion as to whether or not it is " literature"; how importantt it may be as "drama” is, for this hurried but happy once, no concern of the critic ”

“ BUNT
And what does it sing about, Mr. Clown ? JIM
Always it sings of a peaceful world , Bunty, and you'll like it, son, fer you can fish and play in the big waves that come galloping in like the MR . BUNT
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white horses-the kind that Lu used to ride around the circus. MR. BUNT
And she's gone away now. Don't you miss her, Mr. Clown ? JIM
Miss her, son ? Why He is speechless. Then, returning to his work, he goes on : But I understood what she meant when she said she was tired and wanted to rest. ”

“ JIM
No, but I studies ' em . What the professors in the schools calls psychology, Lu. All the little things they do - things that they're ashamed of, or afraid of - they got them all tied up inside of
' em in a hard bundle, and when they see me do these things right out, it sort of unties the bundles and they begin to laugh soon as they see someone else being aa fool. There's nothing like company, Lu. It's funny, I can show 'em what fools they are, but when it comes to myself He stops. ”

“ MR. BUNT
Honestly, I haven't got any home. JIM
Say, young 'un, what do you think you're hand ing me ? MR. BUNT
Won't anyone in the world believe me ? JIM
Looking at him . Look here, kid. You're not crying, be you ? MR . BUNT
81
MR . BUNT
Sobbing What if I am
I can't help it. JIM
Um -m - right you are. Go ahead and spill. It's the only thing that shows anybody's worth while. But look here, now, if you're lost, I'll take care
of you till somebody comes , and you can stay with me . MR. BUNT
And hunt you as a bear ? JIM
Yes, and hunt me as a bear. I'll teach you all the tricks. ”

“ Lu, it's the- show
SCENE 4
We are back at the Maple Tree again .
The stage is dark and empty. Away off, where the little tents of the traveling circus stood, is seen the red glow of the fire. Slowly it increases. A sinister stillness fills the stage. Suddenly the quivering silence of the woods is broken - a
twig snaps; something unseen is crossing the stage. One follows simply the weird rustling of the leaves. Again the sound occurs. It is
as though strange animals were fleeing through the woods before the oncoming fire. Jim's voice is heard. He is mounting the hillock carrying a lantern. ”

“ BUNT
76
eyes are a - looking through you and a - peering out
JIM
With a smothered groan . Don't, Lu ! LU
Softly. I guessed it, Jim - can't you go back ? JIM
Firmly. I'm here, Lu. LU
Quickly. Then it's almost time for the fairies, Jim.
When
you can't stand anything more, they come back, and I can tell they be coming soon, Jim, for you can't get on without 'em. What was Danny reading in the cards ? JIM
What do you mean, Lu ? LU
Oh, there's ways of reading things besides the cards . JIM
He sets a heap of store by what they say. LU
And what was he telling you, Jim ? ”

“ It's stuffed full of grass. What Dabs on the doorstep below registers here is unprintable. ANNIE
Oh, how nice. Of course, I want you to hunt,
but I wouldn't have you kill anything, you know. MR . BUNT
I understand perfectly. ANNIE
And you don't mind ? MR. BUNT
I much prefer it so - in fact I'm very much afraid of guns, and I dislike killing things most awfully, especially rabbits. ANNIE
It makes it rather awkward. MR. BUNT
Distinctly so. ANNIE
But the song says you hunt things. MR. BUNT
I know it does. ANNIE
Well, I like the way you get around it. ”

“ GYEM
Yawning Oh, it makes me sleepy to look at you, Sandman . SANDMAN
Stops a moment, then continues on his way across the stage.
Fair night tonight, Gyem . Singing All the world is still.
Moving off GYEM
Good for you, old top . You've done a good job. 54
MR . BUNT
Now, I've got my work to do. SANDMAN
Singing. And I upon my way. GYEM
Well, don't stay on my account. You'll send me to sleep again before I get to work. ”

“ ANNIE
You get quite enough as it is. Singing. Bye baby Bunting DABS
Does he get all he wants ? ANNIE
I don't know ; but he's very gentlemanly and wouldn't take more than his share. DABS
Of course , he wouldn't. 22
MR . BUNT ANNIE
Besides, there are lots of things besides maple sugar in the Maple Tree . DABS
What, for instance ? ANNIE
Well, all the fairies live there, and they have a big house. DABS
What - in the Maple Tree ? ANNIE
No. In the roots of the Maple Tree ; but, of course, he is out most of the time, hunting. DABS
Can he shoot straight ? ANNIE
He never misses. ”

“ Danny, it were in the cards, weren't it ? DANNY
Aye, lass. MR . BUNT
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LU
Listen to him telling you, Jim. Them things means something_and Jim, I'm tired. I want ter
rest up in my little home and dream of you going on and making a great actor of yourself. The people need you , Jim. It ain't everybody that can make people laugh the way you can, and you got it, Jim. Ain't he, Danny ? DANNY
Who has been sitting near the hillock, rises. I'm tellin' ye, lassie. But if ye're goin', Lu , it's time we started . LU
Steadying herself.
I'm coming, Danny. Jim boy, goodbye. ”

“ He is a very small hunter indeed, all dressed
in a rabbit skin coat and cap , with bare legs and boots. On his back hangs a green hunt
ing bag and he carries a very big gun . Annie sings on , and even when she turns towards him it is as though she knew he was there and is not at all surprised at his appear ance.
In fact, even after she sees him, she goes on arranging her dolls and only after they have been attended to does she take aa packing box
and place it as a seat for Mr. ”

“ The Greeks called this a periaktos. It is on rollers and easily turned. Side one is a cottage; side two, the great twisted roots of the Maple Tree and the head of an owl; and to side three the canvas of the circus tent is hung. ”

“ He pulls one boldly, the arms go up a little slowly perhaps, and then hang as though sus pended. He pulls another; a foot comes up .
The people are beginning to see the joke. Annie and Dabs are clapping their hands, and now Mr. Bunt begins a jingling little tune on the organ and with the other hand pretends to pull the strings that make the bear dance.
No more ridiculous, absurd dance could be conceived and the bear is doing it wonderfully, with oh, so many little steps. ”