The New Dominion By Clay Clement ( 1894)

The New Dominion By Clay Clement ( 1894)

Author: John M. Clement-editor, Clay Clement Sr.-Author

Year: 1894

This is the full romantic comedy written by Clay Clement in 1894. The time is just after the civil war and the location is a run down family planatation. It probably would not be considered playable for today's audience. It has the same problem as the wonderful Disney movie "Song of the South" in that the old plantation and the freed slaves are overly romanticized. Actually the black servant, Poly, is a very perceptive important character and is not necessarily a stock character of the type that appeared in many movies in the early 20th century. He is of course a proper servant, but with a mind of his own. There is a lot of dialect in the play. Much of the comedy revolves around the misunderstandings between the German boarder and the family, and the lovers quarrels between the widow and her lawyer suitor. For those who don't wish to wade through the whole play, there is a synopsis at the beginning. I suspect that this play had many in the audience weeping at the happy ending. It reads like a romantic operatic libretto, so it might work even better if sung.