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Overview
Synopsis
Floyd Dell’s one-act play The Rim of the World is a comedic folk tale of mischief and true love. Early one morning, the Gypsy leader sneaks into the palace. His action starts a cascade of folly that threatens to upset the comfortable order and tradition of the King’s land. The King’s Maid--who stumbles upon the Gypsy--confesses that she is in love with the King, who is awaiting the arrival of his betrothed Princess of Basque. But when the Princess arrives, the King is shocked to find that she is a wild spirit, not at all interested in maintaining the proper decorum for royalty. He tries to convince her that he is a good king, and therefore will be a good husband. In return, she must be a proper queen, which means that she is quiet and submissive to the duty of royal office. As the King and Princess work through their differences, the Gypsy encourages the Maid to follow her heart and confess her love to the King, all in the hopes that true love will be more powerful than royal tradition.
Show Information
- Book
- Floyd Dell
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1915
- Genres
- Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Palace room, unspecified time
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Middle School, High School, Small Cast, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen, Elderly, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress