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Overview

Synopsis

Black-Eyed Susan; or, All in the Downs is a comic play in three acts by the father of nautical melodrama, Douglas Jerrold. The drama revolves around William, a sailor who returns to England after fighting in the Napoleonic Wars for three years. He finds that his wife, Susan, has fallen on hard times and is being harassed by her cruel landlord and uncle, Doggrass. She is also being pursued by the smuggler Hatchett, who devises a plan to falsely inform Susan that William is dead so that he can make advances upon her himself. Hatchett’s efforts are scuppered by William’s return and the smuggler is arrested by the local marines. However, William’s reconciliation with his loving wife is further tested when his own drunken, immoral captain, Crosstree, tries to seduce Susan. William attacks this interloper from behind with a cutlass, not realizing that it is his captain. He is court-martialed for attacking a senior officer and, despite his honest, moral character, he is sentenced to be hanged. However, in a last minute twist of good fortune, it is revealed that William was discharged from the navy just moment before he attacked his captain and so is a free man.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1829
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
England, nineteenth-century
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Community Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Regional Theatre, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

William

Lead

Male

Spoken

Susan

Lead

Female

Spoken

Captain Crosstree

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Tom Hatchet

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Bill Raker

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lieutenant Pike

Supporting

Male

Spoken

The Admiral

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Dolly Mayflower

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Doggrass

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Gnatbrain

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Jacob Twig

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Ploughshare

Featured

Male

Spoken

Blue Peter

Featured

Male

Spoken, Tenor, Baritone

Quid

Featured

Male

Spoken

Seaweed

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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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

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher