A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Astonished Heart

Short Play, Drama  /  3w, 4m

One of the "Tonight at 8:30" series produced in London and New York. In psychiatrist Christian Faber's drawing room sits his weeping wife and his sad assistants, waiting for the siren Leonora. In four flashbacks the story emerges: Leonora, a girlhood chum, visited Christian's wife and was introduced…

The Astonished Heart

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 4m

Details

Summary
One of the "Tonight at 8:30" series produced in London and New York. In psychiatrist Christian Faber's drawing room sits his weeping wife and his sad assistants, waiting for the siren Leonora. In four flashbacks the story emerges: Leonora, a girlhood chum, visited Christian's wife and was introduced to him. She set out to capture her friend's husband but was captured herself. She threw him over because of his jealousy. He jumped out of the window. Leonora has come because Christian calls for her on his death bed. She returns slowly from his room to announce he has died and that his last words were tender ones to his wife, for whom he mistook Leonora.
History
The Astonished Heart was first produced as one of a series of nine one-act plays under the title Tonight At 8:30 at the Phoenix Theatre in January 1936 under the direction of Noel Coward.
Keywords

CHRISTIAN FARBER 
BARBARA
LEONORA VAIL
SUSAN BIRCH
TIM VERNEY
ERNEST
SIR REGINALD FRENCH

  • Time Period 1930s
  • Setting The drawing room of the Farber's flat in London.
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $75 per performance

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Authors

Noël Coward

Noël Peirce Coward was born in 1899 and made his professional stage debut as Prince Mussel in The Goldfish at the age of 12, leading to many child actor appearances over the next few years. His breakthrough in playwriting was the controversial The Vortex (1924), which feature ...

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