
audiobook
by Harry Paulton, Maurice Ordonneau, Edward A. (Edward Antonio) Paulton
Niobe, All Smiles
ACTING RIGHTS.
NIOBE, ALL SMILES. - CAST OF CHARACTERS.
NIOBE, ALL SMILES - ACT I.
ACT II. THE NEXT MORNING.
ACT III. Time.—The same day as Act II. A few hours later.
A lively farce opens with a tongue‑in‑cheek legal brief that instantly sets the tone for a night of chaotic humor. In a London drawing‑room, a stately statue of the mythic Niobe hides a mischievous surprise, while a household of eccentric relatives and servants gathers for tea, music, and endless chatter. The opening scene brims with witty banter as Hattie plays “The Maiden’s Prayer” and the sisters—Helen, Carrie, and Beatrice—exchange bewildered glances over a mysterious, “dreadful looking” guest.
As the curtain rises, the audience is drawn into a whirlwind of mistaken identities, comic misunderstandings, and over‑the‑top personalities: a life‑insurance mogul, an art‑obsessed millionaire, and a chorus of bemused domestic staff. Their interactions tumble from polite society into delightful chaos, promising plenty of laugh‑out‑loud moments as secrets slip and egos collide.
By the end of the first act, the stage is set for escalating hilarity, with the curious statue, the baffling newcomer, and the ever‑growing list of entangled relationships ready to spiral into even more farcical mayhem. Listeners can expect a brisk, witty ride through London’s upper‑crust absurdity, all delivered with crisp dialogue and a playful spirit.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (130K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Jul 8, 2014
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1842–1917
A Victorian-era comic actor and dramatist, he moved easily between the stage and the writing desk. He is best remembered for librettos and theatrical pieces that helped popular entertainment travel widely in Britain and beyond.
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1854–1916
A prolific French man of the theater, he wrote librettos, comedies, vaudevilles, and operettas that helped shape popular entertainment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He also worked as a journalist and theater critic, moving easily between the stage and the press.
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1866–1939
A Scottish-born playwright, librettist, and novelist, he moved easily between stage and page, with credits ranging from musical theater to light fiction. His work also reached early film through screen adaptations of his plays.
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