Produced by Chuck Greif

PLAYS OF TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW

TURANDOT PRINCESS OF CHINA

A CHINOISERIE IN THREE ACTS

BY

KARL VOLLMOELLER

AUTHORIZED ENGLISH VERSION,

BY

JETHRO BITHELL

LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN

ADELPHI TERRACE

First Edition, January, 1913

(All rights reserved.)

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

TURANDOT--Princess of China

ALTOUM--Emperor of China, her father

ADELMA--Princess of Tartary, favourite slave of Turandot

ZELIMA--Another slave of Turandot

SKIRINA--Zelima's mother

BARAK--(Under the name of Hassan), Skirina's husband; formerly Major-domo of

CALAF--Prince of Astrakhan

ISHMAEL--Major-domo of the beheaded Prince of Samarkand

PANTALONE--Prime Minister of the Emperor Altoum

TARTAGLIA--Lord High Chancellor of China

BRIGELLA Captain of the Imperial pages

TRUFFALDINO Chief Eunuch of Turandot's harem

PRINCE OF SAMARKAND... (Silent)

Eight Doctors. Female Slaves and Eunuchs of the harem. A Headsman. Soldiers of the Palace Guard.

SCENE: Pekin.--All the acting characters wear Chinese costume, except Adelma and Calaf, who are in Tartar dress.

Cast of the play as produced at the St. James's Theatre, London, on January 18, 1913, under the management of Sir George Alexander.

Turandot--EVELYN D'Alroy

Altoum--J. H. BARNES

Adelma--HILDA MOORE

Zelima--MAIRE O'NEILL

Skirina--MARGARET YARDE

Barak--ALFRED HARRIS

Calaf--GODFREY TEARLE

Ishmael JAMES BERRY

Pantalone--EDWARD SASS

Tartaglia--E. VIVIAN REYNOLDS

Brigella--FRED LEWIS

Truffadino--NORMAN FORBES

Prince of Samarkand--AUSTIN FEHRMAN

The action takes place outside the gates of Pekin, and inside the Emperor's Palace.

TO

MY FRIEND THAT GREAT ARTIST

FERRUCCIO BUSONI

NOTE

The very affecting history of the cruel Princess Turandot and the handsome Prince Calaf may be read in those Persian tales which are known by the name of _The Thousand and One Nights._

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Turandot, Princess of China by Carlo Gozzi
• 2: Between PANTALONE and TARTAGLIA
• 3: TRUFFALDINO Pushing BRIGELLA aside
• 4: Calaf I don't mind telling you
• 5: Now that I find my Prince Calaf alive
• 6: And this was why King Kaikobad waged war against Altoum
• 7: This fable is a fable that is true
• 8: BARAK looking towards the city gate
• 9: CALAF gazing at the picture again
• 10: Draws his purse and hands it to SKIRINA
• 11: BRIGELLA enters from the right
• 12: ALTOUM seats himself on his throne
• 13: CALAF at first somewhat confused
• 14: CALAF interrupting him quickly
• 15: What I demand is death or Turandot
• 16: Music plays until TRUFFALDINO leaves the Divan
• 17: And extends the book to ALTOUM
• 18: White doves to which my yearning wings
• 19: This magic flower of purest ray divine
• 20: PANTALONE and TARTAGLIA helping
• 21: ALTOUM descending from his throne
• 22: How would it do to ask a fortune teller
• 23: Who would betray the trick if not Zelima
• 24: To believe that your head was screwed on quite safe
• 25: Have the goodness to follow me to your apartments
• 26: Sees SKIRINA coming from the Palace
• 27: To the right stand SKIRINA and ZELIMA
• 28: PANTALONE whispering to TARTAGLIA
• 29: TURANDOT uncertain and excited
• 30: Three hundred and seventy seven
• 31: The heart of Turandot is pitiless
• 32: CALAF goes on whispering excitedly
• 33: CALAF begins to whisper excitedly
• 34: Who was the daughter of King Kaikobad
• 35: They have been bought by Turandot
• 36: Enter CALAF excitedly from right
• 37: CALAF stands erect in the centre
• 38: CALAF confounded and stricken
• 39: In the greatest excitement to CALAF