
KISMET
CHARACTERS
CAST OF THE PLAY as produced at the Garrick Theatre, London, 19th April, 1911
CAST OF THE PLAY as produced at the Knickerbocker Theatre, New York, 25th December, 1911
NOTES
KISMET
ACT I BEFORE THE CURTAIN DAWN
ACT I MORNING
ACT II BEFORE THE CURTAIN NOON
ACT II AFTERNOON
Set against the sun‑kissed streets of medieval Baghdad, this three‑act play opens at dawn with a solitary poet‑like man and a yearning woman singing their loneliness from opposite rooftops. Their verses echo the ancient cadence of Arabian folklore, drawing listeners into a world where riddles, prayers and whispered wishes mingle with the bustling market and the solemn courtyard of a humble house.
As the day unfolds, the story widens to reveal a colorful tapestry of characters—a charismatic muezzin, a stern imam, a witty guide, and the powerful wazir whose palace corridors pulse with intrigue. The early scenes weave together courtly ambition, street‑wise humor and tender moments, all underscored by music that evokes the exotic lap of an Arabian night.
The drama balances lyrical poetry with bustling bazaars and stately halls, inviting the audience to experience the flavors of a timeless tale while the plot remains poised for the twists that await after the first act.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (164K characters)
Release date
2026-03-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1874–1945
A prolific American-born British playwright and novelist, he is best remembered for the hit stage works Kismet and Milestones, which helped shape popular theatre in the early 20th century. His career stretched across the stage, fiction, and screen, with a knack for vivid stories and strong dramatic scenes.
View all books
by Oscar Wilde

by Henry Arthur Jones

by Oscar Wilde

by Oscar Wilde

by Christopher Marlowe

by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence

by John Galsworthy

by Robert Bridges