
audiobook
by J. Stirling (Joseph Stirling) Coyne
Transcribed from the [1858?] Thomas Hailes Lacy edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
In this lively one‑act comedy, the bustling Todd household of Brompton prepares for a grand departure. Mrs. Todd and her witty maid, Perks, scramble to pack a bewildering assortment of garments, gadgets and travel gear, while her husband, Samuel, obsessively pores over a railway guide, turning a simple journey into a maze of routes and timetables. Their banter crackles with Victorian humor, as domestic chores collide with the absurdities of early‑travel planning.
Meanwhile, a cast of colorful visitors—ranging from a flamboyant foreign gentleman to a melodramatic brigand—adds further chaos to the scene. The play’s brisk fifty‑minute run keeps the dialogue snappy, the misunderstandings escalating, and the audience laughing at the gentle satire of social pretensions and the perils of over‑preparation. It’s a charming snapshot of 19th‑century middle‑class life, full of wit, music, and the timeless comedy of family life in flux.
Language
en
Duration
~50 minutes (48K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Oct 16, 2018
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1868
A lively 19th-century dramatist and journalist, he built a reputation on sharp satire, quick wit, and a strong feel for everyday speech. Best known for his stage work, he also wrote fiction and helped shape early humorous journalism.
View all books
by J. Stirling (Joseph Stirling) Coyne

by J. Stirling (Joseph Stirling) Coyne

by Royall Tyler

by Dion Boucicault

by Maria Edgeworth

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Ben Jonson

by William Wells Brown