The Man from Home is a 1907 play written by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson. It is a comedy with four acts, three settings, and moderate pacing. The story concerns an Indiana lawyer who has travelled to Italy to save his ward from an ill-conceived marriage. The action of the play all takes place within 24 hours.
The play was first produced by Liebler & Company, staged by Hugh Ford, with settings by Gates and Morange, and starring William T. Hodge. After a tryout in Louisville, Kentucky, it opened in Chicago during September 1907, where it played for 36 weeks, setting a record for a dramatic production with 316 performances. It premiered on Broadway during August 1908, and ran through to November 1909 for nearly 500 performances.
The play was later adapted for silent films of the same title in 1914 and 1922.
Characters Characters are listed in order of appearance within their scope.
Lead Ethel Granger-Simpson is 20, a pretty young heiress from Kokomo, who has been in Europe for ten years.The play makes explicit that Granger is the middle name for both Ethel and Hoarce. They turned it into a "double-barrelled" surname as an affectation. Daniel Voorhees Pike is 35, an attorney from Kokomo, Indiana, legal guardian of Ethel Simpson. Supporting The Earl of Hawcastle is 56, a distinguished and well-spoken, but dishonest, English aristocrat. Comtesse de Champigny is 32, stylish, called Hélène by her secret paramour the Earl, in pursuit of Hoarce's money. Hon. Almeric St. Aubyn is 25, the handsome if vacuous son of the Earl, just affianced to Ethel. Horace Granger-Simpson is 22, older brother to Ethel, naive and enamored of the Comtesse de Champigny.He was also under Pike's financial guardianship but is now his own master. Lady Victoria Creech is 60, snobbish, slightly deaf, sister-in-law to the Earl, an odd mix of chaperone and procuress. Grand Duke Vasili Vasiliovitch is 45, travelling incognito as Herr von Gröllerhagen, whom Pike calls "Doc".The Grand Duke, who sports a full beard and has a military air about him, often forgets that he is supposed to be German. Ivanoff is 38, an escaped Russian political prisoner; a constitutionalist, not an anarchist. Featured Mariano is Maître d'hôtel at Hotel Regina Margherita, stout and middle-aged, and a polyglot. Michele is a young waiter at the hotel, who also speaks several languages. Ribiere is the Grand Duke's secretary, a trim and dapper young Frenchman, worried about anarchists. First Carabiniere is an Italian military policeman, seeking Ivanoff. Bit Players
Mandolin Players (2) Guitarist Valet De Chambre Second Carabiniere Third Carabiniere Fishermen Beggars Porters
Synopsis At intervals throughout the play the mandolins and guitarist are heard playing The Fishermen's Song, usually off stage. During the opening of Act III an unseen orchestra softly plays an aria from Pagliacci, the music coming through the open doors of the conservatory at the rear of the salon.
Act I (The terrace of the Hotel Regina Margherita in Sorrento. Morning.) Exposition between Mariano and Ribiere identifies the main characters and their relationships. The Earl, his son, Lady Creech, Ethel, Hoarce, and Hélène form one party. The Grand Duke has met Pike at a hotel in Naples and is bringing him along to Sorrento. Hawcastle and Hélène discuss their latest venture, the capture of Ethel and Hoarce's money through promised matrimony. News of an escaped Russian convict alarms Hélène, but Hawcastle assures her it cannot be Ivanoff. Almeric confirms Ethel has accepted him. Hawcastle tells Hoarce the "settlement" will be £150,000. Hoarce acquiesces in order to appear worldly, though this is Ethel's entire estate. Mariano explains a commotion from the village is the arrival of Herr von GröllerhagenMariano and Ribiere know his real identity, but no else does. and his American friend. The Earl's party dismiss the German as common and the American as gauche. Ethel and Hoarce are embarrassed by their countryman, and horrified to learn he is Ethel's guardian. Pike, in turn, is astonished at the settlement and Ethel's choice of fiancé. (Curtain)
Act II (The hotel's entrance garden. Afternoon.) Pike, working on the engine of Doc's auto, ignores Hoarce's protests. Pike has refused to discuss a settlement with Hawcastle. Pike sends Doc for some clean rags, which amuses him. Lady Creech is seen peering out a second story window, spying on Pike. Ivanoff appears on the garden wall and begs Pike's help. With the reluctant help of Doc, Pike is able to convince the carabinieri that Ivanoff is a chauffeur. Mariano expedites matters by secretly revealing Doc's real identity to the carabinieri. Ivanoff tells his story to Pike and Doc.He was a professor of languages ten years ago in St. Petersburg, but was betrayed by his young French wife and an English friend named Glenwood. They stole government money he was holding for a political group and shopped Ivanoff to the Tsarist police. Recently he escaped Russia and made his way to Italy, searching for his betrayers. Doc allows Ivanoff to stay in his suite of rooms, but is troubled. Lady Creech steals away to tell Hawcastle what she has seen. Pike and Ethel argue about the settlement. A letter from England that Pike hoped would dissuade her fizzles out but does let Ethel know Pike is fond of her. Hawcastle now confronts Pike: approve the settlement or face Italian justice for aiding a fugitive. (Curtain)
Act III (A private salon in the hotel. Evening.) Pike discusses the situation with Doc about Ivanoff and Hawcastle's threat. He apologises for getting him into this situation. Doc is unconcerned; he has already had Ribiere take steps about which he doesn't tell Pike yet. Pike calls Ivanoff into the room to give him the situation. Doc leaves on an errand of his own outside. Ivanoff notices his silver cigarette box and vodka bottle and realizes Doc is really Russian. He and Pike look out the window to see Doc speaking with the carabinieri, who salute him. Ivanoff panics, but Mariano enters to announce Lady Creech. Pike dismisses Ivanoff, but Lady Creech isn't fooled. She repeats Hawcastle's threat, but Pike has a sudden epiphany about the Earl, Hélène, and Ivanoff. He summons Ethel to the salon, and commands her to stay no matter what. Ethel agrees, and when her brother, the English party and the Cometesse arrive, she resists their demands to leave. Pike forces Hawcastle to repeat his threat in front of Ethel. He then summons Ivanoff, who recognizes his wife and Glenwood in Hélène and the Earl. Hélène is terrified of her husband and Hawcastle alarmed. He urges Almeric to go for the police, but Doc enters and announces the carabinieri have been dismissed. When Hawcastle challenges him, Ribiere identifies Doc as the Grand Duke Vasili, who has arranged a pardon for Ivanoff. Pike is stymied when Ethel still stands by Almeric; she has given her promise. (Curtain)
Act IV (Same as Act I. Morning.) Hélène has already gone. Hawcastle urges Almeric to keep after Ethel, as he prepares to flee in fear of a now free Ivanoff. Lady Creech reveals Ethel has wept upon hearing Ivanoff's tale. Ethel also had Pike give Ivanoff a large sum of money. As porters load his carriage, Hawcastle rushes out. Grand Duke Vasili now takes his leave of Ethel and Pike, praising the latter and signaling to the girl he knows where her heart is drifting. Ivanoff then comes to thank Ethel; he will go to London to teach languages and serve as a reproach to Hawcastle. As Ethel is still determined to honor her promise, Pike grants her request for the settlement. Hoarce is angry, but Ethel seems happy. However, Almeric blights it all by congratulating Ethel for "buying off the convict". She repudiates her promise on his opinion of her venality. Most of all she is angry with Pike for acquiescing now, and not earlier. But as she berates him, she realizes he has acknowledged her right to choose the life she wants. Slowly she enters the hotel, and soon the sound of her playing the piano and singing Sweet Genevieve, Pike's favorite song, drifts through the open door. Pike is staggered, then as a man in a dream, goes towards the music. (Curtain)
Original production Background Liebler & Company was a partnership between investor T. A. Liebler and producer-manager George C. Tyler. They had first employed William T. Hodge in Sag Harbor (1899). He had been discovered by James Herne as a bit player in a Rogers Brothers' musical comedy, "a thirty-five dollar a week man".Tyler and Furnas, pp.150,151 Liebler & Company next used him in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1903), their most successful play.Tyler and Furnas, pp.187-189 Hodge left Liebler because he wanted a star role; he was with the Joe Weber company when Wilson told Tyler that The Man from Home was built on Hodge playing the lead. Tyler and Wilson were then (May 1907) touring North Africa by motorcar, so Tyler cabled Hodge in America to offer him the part, which he accepted.
Tyler returned to America during July, while Tarkington and Wilson returned in August on board the liner Nieuw Amsterdam. Tarkington had spent the last two years in Europe, mostly in Paris but also on Capri where he owned a home. His observations of fellow Americans over there had led to this play, according to his public statements. However, another motivation was suggested by an article in The New York Times, in which Tarkington contrived to put his Indiana rival George Ade on display in the character of Daniel Pike. The article quoted Tarkington when pressed on the question: "I do not admit that I have any quarrel with George Ade. I will say, however, that he did put me in a play, and I do not mind saying that I may have nursed the hope of revenge at some future time".
Cast + Principals only for tryouts, Chicago opening, and the Broadway run. Production on hiatus from June 15 through August 16, 1908, and from June 26, 1909, through August 15, 1909. Role Actor Dates Notes and sourcesEthel Granger-SimpsonOlive WyndhamSep 23, 1907 - Jun 26, 1909Madeline LouisAug 16, 1909 - Nov 06, 1909Daniel Vorhees PikeWilliam T. HodgeSep 23, 1907 - Jun 14, 1909Hodge took a break to marry actress Helen Hale.Henry HallJun 15, 1909 - Jun 26, 1909Hall took on the role for a short while so Hodge could have a vacation.William T. HodgeAug 16, 1909 - Nov 06, 1909Earl of HawcastleE. J. RatcliffeSep 23, 1907 - May 11, 1908John GlendinningMay 12, 1908 - Oct ??, 1908Glendinning, often misspelled "Glendenning", was husband to Jessie Millward.Herbert McKenzieOct ??, 1908 - Nov 06, 1909Comtesse De ChampignyAlice JohnsonSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909Hon. Almeric St. AubynEchlin P. GayerSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909Hoarce Granger-SimpsonHassard ShortSep 23, 1907 - May 15, 1909George Le GuereMay 17, 1909 - Nov 06, 1909Lady CreechIda VernonSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909Vernon's first stage performance occurred in April 1856 when she was 12.Grand Duke VasiliEben PlymptonSep 23, 1907 - Jan 29, 1908Plympton was dissatisfied with the role, which one critic had said was too small for his talents.Eugene McGillanJan 30, 1908 - Feb 01, 1908McGillen was the understudy for male roles, while Alma Belwin understudied the female cast.Henry JewettFeb 03, 1908 - Nov 06, 1909Jewett had been playing in one of Liebler's road companies for The Squaw Man.IvanoffHarry HarmonSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909MarianoAnthony AsherSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909MicheleAntonio SalernoSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909RibiereHarry L. LangSep 23, 1907 - Jun 26, 1909Louis P. VerandeAug 16, 1909 - Sep ??, 1909George RizardSep ??, 1909 - Nov 06, 1909First CarabiniereA. MontegriffoSep 23, 1907 - Nov 06, 1909
Tryouts and Chicago opening