



Produced by Paul Haxo from page images graciously made
available by the Internet Archive and the University of
California.





SINGLE LIFE;

A COMEDY,

In Three Acts,

BY

JOHN BALDWIN BUCKSTONE, ESQ.,

(MEMBER OF THE DRAMATIC AUTHORS' SOCIETY,)

AS PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRE ROYAL, HAY-MARKET.

CORRECTLY PRINTED FROM THE PROMPTER'S COPY, WITH THE
CAST OF CHARACTERS, COSTUME, SCENIC ARRANGEMENT,
SIDES OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT, AND RELATIVE
POSITIONS OF THE DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

SPLENDIDLY ILLUSTRATED WITH AN ETCHING,
BY PIERCE EGAN, THE YOUNGER, FROM A DRAWING TAKEN
DURING THE REPRESENTATION.

LONDON:
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 186, STRAND.



"NASSAU STEAM PRESS,"
W. S. JOHNSON, 6, NASSAU STREET, SOHO.



Dramatis Personae and Costume.

_First produced, Tuesday, July 23rd, 1839._



BACHELORS.

MR. JOHN NIGGLE _(A fluctuating bachelor.)_   }
Light drab coat, white waistcoat, nankeen     } MR. WEBSTER.
pantaloons, white stockings, shoes, white wig }
tied in a tail, white hat                     }

MR. DAVID DAMPER _(A woman-hating bachelor.)_ }
Brown coat with black horn buttons, old       }
fashioned dark figured silk waistcoat, black  } MR. STRICKLAND.
pantaloons, hessian boots, iron-grey wig,     }
broad-brimmed hat                             }

MR. PETER PINKEY _(A bashful bachelor.)_      }
Lavender coloured coat, white waistcoat,      }
white trowsers, pink socks, pumps, pink silk  } MR. BUCKSTONE.
neckerchief, pink gloves, pink watch ribbon,  }
low crowned hat and cane, flaxen fashionably  }
dressed wig                                   }

MR. NARCISSUS BOSS _(A self-loving            }
bachelor.)_ Fashionable chocolate-coloured    }
Newmarket coat with roses in the buttonhole,  }
elegantly flowered waistcoat, light drab      } MR. W. LACY.
French trowsers with boots, light blue cravat }
exquisitely tied, frilled shirt, hat, and     }
wristbands a la D'Orsay, and the hair dressed }
in the first style of elegance                }


MR. CHARLES CHESTER _(A mysterious            }
bachelor.)_ Dark frock coat, silk waistcoat,  } MR. HEMMING.
light trowsers, French gaiters and shoes,     }
round hat                                     }



SPINSTERS.

MISS CAROLINE COY _(A vilified spinster.)_    }
Grey silk dress, laced shawl and white        } MRS. W. CLIFFORD.
ribbons, white satin bonnet, flowers, long    }
yellow gloves, white reticule                 }

MISS MARIA MACAW _(A man-hating spinster.)_   }
Green silk open dress, white petticoat,       }
figured satin large apron, lace handkerchief, } MRS. GLOVER.
close lace cap and white ribbons, fan, and    }
black rimmed spectacles                       }

MISS KITTY SKYLARK _(A singing spinster.)_    }
White muslin pelisse over blue, chip hat and  } MRS. FITZWILLIAM.
flowers. _(2nd dress.)_ Pink satin and blond  }
flounces                                      }

MISS SARAH SNARE _(An insinuating             }
spinster.)_, _1st dress._ White muslin        }
petticoat, black velvet spencer, pink satin   } MRS. DANSON.
high-crowned bonnet and green feathers. _(2nd }
dress.)_ Green satin and pink ribbons, black  }
wig dressed in high French bows               }

MISS JESSY MEADOWS _(A romantic spinster.)_   }
White muslin dress mittens. _(2nd dress in    } MISS TRAVERS.
the last scene.)_ White lace over white satin }
with roses                                    }


Time of representation, 2 hours.

EXPLANATION OF THE STAGE DIRECTIONS.

L. means first entrance, left. R. first entrance, right. S.E.L. second
entrance, left. S.E.R. second entrance, right. U.E.L. upper entrance,
left. U.E.R. upper entrance, right. C. centre, L.C. left centre. R.C.
right centre. T.E.L. third entrance, left. T.E.R. third entrance,
right. Observing you are supposed to face the audience.



ADVERTISEMENT.

"SINGLE LIFE" is intended as a companion picture to the same author's
Comedy of "MARRIED LIFE;" and as that attempted to illustrate a few of
the humours of the state matrimonial, and interest an audience without
the introduction of any lovers whatever, in going to the opposite
extreme in "SINGLE LIFE," and making his characters "_Lovers all,_" he
has been equally successful in pourtraying some of the vagaries of
courtship, and showing that the democratic region of celibacy has its
bickerings, as well as the most loyal one of "The United States."



SINGLE LIFE.

ACT I.

SCENE I.--_An apartment at MR. NIGGLE'S. A sideboard, with cupboard,
on the U.E.R. Window, with curtains, on the F.E.L. A round table, L.,
chairs, &c._

_MISS SNARE discovered seated at table, L., looking over the books,
&c._

MISS SNA. _(Reading.)_ "The Young Man's best Companion"--a very
excellent book for youth; but at Mr. Niggle's age, he ought to possess
_his_ best companion in a devoted and amiable wife; heigho! What a
treasure _I_ should be to any man that could properly understand me.
_(Takes up another book.)_ "The Epistles of Abelard and Heloise." I am
pleased to see this book on his table, it proves that he possesses a
taste for sentiment of the highest order, and can admire devotedness
and passion under the most trying circumstances. "The Newgate
Calender." Bless the man, what can induce him to have such a book as
this in his house; surely he can have no sympathy with housebreakers
and assassins? I must look to this: should I ever be the mistress
here, some of these volumes must be removed--this furniture too--very
well for a bachelor; but when he is married, a change must be made.
And those curtains, how slovenly they are put up. Ah, any one can
discover the want of a presiding female hand in a bachelor's
house--where is the neatness, the order, and the good taste that
prevails in all the arrangements, where the master of the house is a
married man. If ever I am Mrs. Niggle, down shall come those curtains,
away shall go that sideboard, off shall go those chairs, and as for
this table--let me look at its legs----_(Lifts up the cover and
examines the legs of it.)_

[_DAMPER peeps in, F.E.L._

DAM. Hollo! hollo!

MISS SNA. Oh! how you frightened me.

DAM. It's a very suspicious thing when an old maid examines a
bachelor's furniture.

MISS SNA. Good morning, Mr. Damper, I was merely observing Mr.
Niggle's table legs.

DAM. (L.) Ah! when an old maid finds herself on her own last legs,
'tis time she should observe those of other people.

MISS SNA. (L.) What a censorious man you are, Mr. Damper, you rail at
our sex as if you considered it man's natural enemy, instead of his
best friend. Is it possible that you have never loved a woman in all
your life?

DAM. I love a woman! Ugh! I look upon you all as the first great cause
of every evil.

MISS SNA. For, like most first great causes, you don't understand us.

DAM. If I don't, I have no wish to acquire any such useless knowledge.
May I ask what you want at my friend Niggle's, so early in the
morning: some conspiracy, I'll be bound. I wont allow it, Miss Snare;
if you think to inveigle him into matrimony, you'll find yourself
mistaken; he shall never marry, if I can prevent him making such a
ninny of himself.

MISS SNA. It is entirely through your interference, I have been told,
that he is in a state of celibacy; and, though the poor gentleman is
now fifty-five, yet ever since he arrived at years of discretion, he
has been sighing and pining for a wife.

DAM. He would have been a ruined man long ago, but for me; five times
have I saved him from the matrimonial precipice.

MISS SNA. How did you save him?

DAM. How? I have discovered his intention to marry, and knowing how
nervous he is upon the subject, I have always interfered in time, told
him in strong language the evils he was bringing upon his head,
brought instances of married misery so plainly before his eyes, that I
have frightened him out of his wits; and one morning, eight years ago,
he was actually dressed and on his way to church to unite himself to
some designing woman, when I luckily met him, and dragged him back
again by the collar.

MISS SNA. And he had to pay five hundred pounds damages, in an action
for breach of promise.

DAM. But he purchased independence and happiness with the money. I
have been his best friend through life; didn't I go out with him when
he was challenged by a young lady's brother, twenty years ago, because
I made him relinquish his attentions to her