A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE
A PLAY
BY OSCAR WILDE
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METHUEN & CO., LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON
Eighth Edition
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First Printed 1894 First Issued by Methuen and Co. (_Limited February 1908 Editions on Handmade Paper and Japanese Vellum_) Third Edition September 1909 Fourth Edition May 1910 Fifth Edition December 1911 Sixth Edition March 1913 Seventh Edition (Cheap Form) October 1916 Eighth Edition 1919
The dramatic rights of ‘A Woman of No Importance’ belong to Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and to Robert Ross, executor and administrator of Oscar Wilde’s estate.
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TO GLADYS COUNTESS DE GREY
[MARCHIONESS OF RIPON]
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THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
LORD ILLINGWORTH
SIR JOHN PONTEFRACT
LORD ALFRED RUFFORD
MR. KELVIL, M.P.
THE VEN. ARCHDEACON DAUBENY, D.D.
GERALD ARBUTHNOT
FARQUHAR, Butler
FRANCIS, Footman
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LADY HUNSTANTON
LADY CAROLINE PONTEFRACT
LADY STUTFIELD
MRS. ALLONBY
MISS HESTER WORSLEY
ALICE, Maid
MRS. ARBUTHNOT
THE SCENES OF THE PLAY
ACT I. The Terrace at Hunstanton Chase.
ACT II. The Drawing-room at Hunstanton Chase.
ACT III. The Hall at Hunstanton Chase.
ACT IV. Sitting-room in Mrs. Arbuthnot’s House at Wrockley.
TIME: The Present.
PLACE: The Shires.
The action of the play takes place within twenty-four hours.
LONDON: HAYMARKET THEATRE
Lessee and Manager: Mr. H Beerbohm Tree April 19_th_, 1893
LORD ILLINGWORTH Mr. Tree. SIR JOHN PONTEFRACT Mr. E. Holman Clark. LORD ALFRED RUFFORD Mr. Ernest Lawford. MR. KELVIL, M.P. Mr. Charles Allan. THE VEN. ARCHDEACON DAUBENY, D.D. Mr. Kemble. GERALD ARBUTHNOT Mr. Terry. FARQUHAR (Butler) Mr. Hay. FRANCIS (Footman) Mr. Montague. LADY HUNSTANTON Miss Rose Leclercq. LADY CAROLINE PONTEFRACT Miss Le Thière. LADY STUTFIELD Miss Blanche Horlock. MRS. ALLONBY Mrs. Tree. MISS HESTER WORSLEY Miss Julia Neilson. ALICE (Maid) Miss Kelly. MRS. ARBUTHNOT Mrs. Bernard-Beere.
FIRST ACT