© 2005 Alasdair Gray - Plays: McGrotty & Ludmilla

MCGROTTY AND LUDMILLA
or
THE HARBINGER REPORT
A Political Pantomime

PROPERTIES

An office desk, preferably opulent; a sofa, a low coffee table, a drinks cabinet, some cans of lager, preferably Tartan special, four chairs, two telephones, a modern metal briefcase, a cardboard folder, a pile of box files, a large official envelope.

CLOTHING

McGrotty needs at least two suits: one ill-fitting pin-striped double-breasted two-piece, with tartan necktie, and one better-fitting grey three-piece with a large pocket in the lining. An ideal production would also give him an impressive suit of tweed plus-fours, and a final garment in which he looks indistinguishable from any Conservative Cabinet Minister born to the job.

	MCGROTTY AND LUDMILLA or THE HARBINGER REPORT A Political Pantomime

	CAST The parts of McGrotty, Ludmilla and Shots cannot double with others, but by doubling two women and four men can act the whole play.
	MUNGO MCGROTTY A raw scotch youth of no background SIR ARTHUR SHOTS A wicked uncle LUDMILLA An icy debutante MISS PANTHER A perfect secretary, scenes 2, 3, 8, 14 & 18 THE MINISTER An ageing fusspot, scenes 5, 7, 11, 17 & 18 MRS BEE An ordinary secretary, scenes 5, 9, 11 & 17 CHARLIE GOLD A civil service Guildenstern, scenes 1, 3, 4, & 12		AUBREY ROSE A civil service Rosencrantz, scene 4 A CLUB SERVANT Scene 4, one line HARBINGER A very sick man, scene 7 MISS KAY A secretary, scene 7, four lines AN AMERICAN ARTIST Scene 12 A NICE OLD LADY Scene 12 A SERVANT Scene 12, three lines THREE DISTANT VOICES Scene 12, one line each A WAITRESS Scene 20, two lines A WELSH MP Scene 22 PARLIAMENTARY VOICES Scene 22, loud exclamations
	SCENES 1 A Ministry corridor 2 Outer & inner office of Sir Arthur Shots 3 The same, the following day 4 A London club 5 The Minister's outer office 6 Sir Arthur's Inner Office 7 Harbinger's Office 8 Sir Arthur's Inner Office 9 The Minister Inner Office 10 McGrotty's Bed-Sitting Room		INTERVAL 11 The Minister's Inner Office 12 The Minister's Dining Room 13 The Minister's Conservatory 14 Sir Arthur's Inner Office 15 Ludmilla's Studio Flat 16 A Street 17 The Minister's Inner Office 18 Shots' Outer and Inner Office 19 A Street 20 A cafe 21 Sir Arthur's Inner Office 22 The House of Commons
	IDEAL SET The corridors of power are indicated by a backdrop of Roman-Imperial-Rennaissance-Victorian columns. Through arched windows between them are seen the tops of Big Ben, the Royal Hilton Hotel, the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, Telecom Tower, Nelson's Column, Broadcasting House and Winged Victory. A central door-frame at right angles to the backdrop indicates a division between two rooms. On left is an opulent desk and door of ponderous old safe; on right a sofa, low table and cocktail cabinet. Other props and flats needed by the pantomime are stacked on each side in view of the audience.
	PROPERTIES An office desk, preferably opulent; a sofa, a low coffee table, a drinks cabinet, some cans of lager, preferably Tartan special, four chairs, two telephones, a modern metal briefcase, a cardboard folder, a pile of box files, a large official envelope.
	CLOTHING McGrotty needs at least two suits: one ill-fitting pin-striped double-breasted two-piece, with tartan necktie, and one better-fitting grey three-piece with a large pocket in the lining. An ideal production would also give him an impressive suit of tweed plus-fours, and a final garment in which he looks indistinguishable from any Conservative Cabinet Minister born to the job.
	back