THE NECESSARY EVIL - A ONE-ACT STAGE PLAY FOR FOUR PERSONS - THE SCENE

Sep 29, 2026

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A one-act stage play set in John Heron’s sitting-room, introduced through vivid stage description and lighting cues. The scene establishes a refined but lived-in domestic atmosphere—portraits, books, music, flowers, needlework, and everyday disorder—framed by window light at sunset and the gradual shift to dusk. The environment centers on a birthday celebration for four, highlighted by a large cake with candles, while the fireplace, doorways, furniture layout, and street view define the dramatic space and mood.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages118

Reading Time3 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

THE SCENE

THE LIGHT

# THE NECESSARY # EVIL CHARLESRANNKENNEDY # THE NECESSARY EVIL A ONE-ACT STAGE PLAY FOR FOUR PERSONS:TO BE PLAYED IN THE LIGHT BY CHARLES RANN KENNEDY AUTHOR OF “THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE” God made mawpright;but they have somgt owt ay inventions 一Ecclesiastes vli 29 HARPER BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON M CM.XI II ALL STAGE,RECITATION,PUBLICATION,TRANSLATIONAND OTHER RIGHTS RESERVED.APPLICATIONSHOULD BE MADE TO MESSRS.HARPER&BROTHERS | BooKS BY
CHARLES RANN KENNEDY
THE IdoL-BREAEER.Portrait.…………net 81.25
TaE SRVANT IN THE Hou8E.II'd………1.25
THE WINTERFEAST.I'd…………1.25
THE TERRIBLE ME区.Frontispiece……net 1.00
THE NECESSARY EvI …… .net 1.00
HARPER &BROTHERS,NEW YORK | | --- | coPYRIGHT,1913 BY CHARLES RANN KENNEDY. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAPUBLISHED FEBRUARY,1919 TO N.A. "BECAUSE OF YOUR INNOCENCE—YOUR WHITESOUL.AND THEN ALSo,YOU ARE MY CHILD.NOT ONLY HIS:NOT ONLY YOUR MOTHER'S:BUTMINE:EVERYBODY'S:THE WORLD'S.YES,YOUSHALL BE THAT HENCEFORWARD,DOWNTHE DAYS. “AND THAT 1s WHY YOU HAVE HAD TO HEARTHIS TERRIBLE THING." # THENECESSARY EVIL Andante,largoe mesto BRAEMS:Intermezzo:Op.Ix8,No.6 # THE SCENE THE SITTING-ROOM IN JOHN HERON's HOUSE.Al-most the first thing to catch the eye is the portraitof a Woman.It is not merely the size of the pic-ture,not even the quality of the painting that at-tracts attention;but something in the woman her-self.Perhaps it is wistfulness,pathos;perhapsa deep,calm understanding;perhaps beauty.Shedominates this room like a presence,a spirit,themother of all the living things it holds. Of these living things,there are books,music,inexpensive but good engravings,water-colours,allof them there apparently for use and enjoyment,notshow.Signs of refinement and limited income,forthose who can read the hieroglyphics of a room. Man is about:pipes,ash-trays,a wholesomesmell of tobacco:perhaps also a little disorder.Something feminine,too.Flowers,little nicknacks, needle-work:things loved,looked after.A straight-ening-out of chairs and papers from the masculineeccentric.A general air of the Dionysiac rampag-ings of man slightly limited by some daughter ofApollo. On the right of the Audience is the Fireplace.A Door leading into the hallway is at the back.Onthe left is a window looking out upon the street.Itis clearly a streety sort of street with lamp-posts,palings,and an“other side”of ordinary-lookinghouses. There is a settee,left,toward the front:a piano onthe same side at the back,near the window:a writ-ing-desk above the fireplace;and in the centre of theroom,a tea-table set for four,the middle of whichis occupied by a big Birthday Cake crowned withcandles.And other things. # THE LIGHT The Play commences at sunset,the light of whichcomes streaming in through the window.Then aninterval of gradual darkening into dusk.Then thestreet lamp outside the window is lighted.After-

FAQs

Where does the play take place?

The action is set in the sitting-room in John Heron’s house.

What is the mood and atmosphere of the setting?

The room suggests refined domestic life blended with everyday male disorder and feminine care, conveyed through objects, decor, and the described presence of the portrait.

How does the play’s lighting progress at the start?

The play commences at sunset, with light streaming through the window, then gradually darkening into dusk as the street lamp is lighted.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Miles