Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger
From Tatters of the King
A fantasy in 2 acts by Talbot Estus performed by The Group at the Scala theatre on the 17th of October 1928.
Cast
Cassilda, queen of Yhtill - Mrs. Hannah Keith
Thale, older son of Cassilda - Mr. Walter Paige
Uoht, younger son of Cassilda and Naotalba, Cassilda's high priest - Mr. George Keith
Camilla, daughter of Cassilda - Ms. Jean Hewart
The Stranger - Mr. Michael Gillen
The King in Yellow - Mr. Talbot Estus
Act 1
Scene 1: The first scene began with the Queen (Cassilda) of the city of Yhtill reclining on a couch on a palace balcony. During the scene, the queen's children enter and discuss with her issues of succession. Some impressions are given during this scene:
1. Yhtill is involved in a protracted war with its rival, Alar.
2. Yhtill is a city in stasis. Very little ever happens there.
3. A much greater city, called Carcosa exists, but no one knows where it is.
4. The talks of succession have been going on a long time, the conversation simply a repitition of what has been said many times before.
Scene 2: The queen sits in her receiving room in the palace. A child enters and talks to the queen in a familiar fashion. The two speak of Carcosa, and the two discuss the 4 singularities of the city.
