From our Edwardian Entertainments collection, just in time for the winter holidays. The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall A hereditary curse appears in a torrent of water every Christmas to the current heir.  How to stop this perennial wet blanket? By John Kendrick Bangs, adapted by Julie Hoverson Sound produced by Scott Pigg Cast: The GHOST - Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard Edward - Gareth Bowley Leslie - Tansy Undercrypt Father - John Lingard Mother - Jennifer Dixon The American - Julie Hoverson **************************************************** THE WATER GHOST OF HARROWBY HALL Adapted by Julie Hoverson from the story by John Kendrick Bangs [published in 1894] Cast: The GHOST EDWARD Oglethorpe, the Young Master LESLIE Widdrington, The Secretary HENRY Oglethorpe, the father LYDIA Oglethorpe, the mother Christina, vapid American debutante   MUSIC - CHRISTMAS   SCENE 1.    BALLROOM SOUND    FAIRLY SEDATE PARTY CHRISTINA    [american] I'm terribly charmed to meet you!  I've never danced with a Lord before.  Makes me feel like a lady. EDWARD    [chuckles]  You're lucky I'm also a gentleman - not every lord can claim that. CHRISTINA    Oh, you! EDWARD    You're in London with friends? CHRISTINA    I'm a guest of the Harrisons.  Daddy thought a trip to England would be nice polish.  He's very impressed by nobilities. EDWARD    I'm sure. SOUND    CLOCK STARTS TO STRIKE TWELVE CHRISTINA    Goodness, your parties go late over here.  I'm afraid you must think I'm terribly provincial. EDWARD    Oh no.  Never. SOUND    CLOCK FINISHES, SUDDEN DELUGE OF WATER, COVERS EVERYTHING. CHRISTINA    [screaming!]  My dress!  Oh no! SOUND    OTHER PEOPLE PROTESTING, RUNNING AWAY EDWARD    [calm but shouting] Just clear out, everyone, please! SOUND    DOORS SLAM, NO MORE RUNNING GHOST    Oglethorpe. EDWARD    [sigh]  Yes. MUSIC   SCENE 2.    BALLROOM, DRIPPING WET SOUND    KNOCK ON THE DOOR LESLIE    Hello? SOUND    WATER STILL DRIPPING ALL OVER EDWARD    [glum] It's all over but the blotting.  Safe to come in. SOUND    DOOR OPENS, WOMAN WALKS IN LESLIE    Oh, my. EDWARD    [resigned] I'll take care of any repairs.  LESLIE    Towel?  I also brought you a robe, but we haven't even been properly introduced yet. EDWARD    Henry Oglethorpe.  [sigh]  Baron Harrowby, I suspect. LESLIE    Leslie Widdrington.  Poor relation. EDWARD    [chuckles, but not really amused] Huh.  I've just come into a great deal of money. LESLIE    How's that? EDWARD    My father must have died, or this would have happened to him.  LESLIE    Ah.  [sympathetical understanding] Ancestral curse? EDWARD    You're curiously sanguine about it. LESLIE    [flippant] It's not my ballroom.  Come along, let's get you out of this damp.  Perhaps a hot bath would be in order? MUSIC   SCENE 3.    CASTLE LESLIE    [reading] "The trouble with Harrowby Hall is that it was haunted.  What was worse, the ghost did not content itself with merely appearing at the bedside of the afflicted person who saw it, but persisted in remaining there for one mortal hour before it would disappear." EDWARD    My father had a flowery turn of phrase. LESLIE    A style the suits the classic ghost story.  You're quite sure you don't mind? EDWARD    I need to confide in someone, and he's already written it all down.  But you can skip past the part about it appearing only for an hour every Christmas at midnight.  I think we've established that. LESLIE    You're lucky you didn't catch pneumonia. EDWARD    I'm still undecided.  [coughs, but not seriously]  At least one good thing came from the deluge. LESLIE    Oh? EDWARD    I needed a secretary. LESLIE    I suppose it pays to be intrepid, then.  SOUND    PAGES FLIP LESLIE    Ah.  [start here?] "The owners of Harrowby Hall had done their utmost--?"   EDWARD    Sounds good. LESLIE    "--their utmost to rid themselves of the damp and dewy lady who rose up out of the best bedroom floor at midnight, but without avail.  They had tried stopping the clock, so that the ghost would not know