''The Squaw Man'' is a 1905 western/

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

stage play in four acts written by Edwin Milton Royle. It debuted on October 23, 1905, at the

Wallack's Theatre Three New York City playhouses named Wallack's Theatre played an important part in the history of American theater, as the successive homes of the stock company managed by actors James W. Wallack and his son, Lester Wallack. During its 35-ye ...

, Broadway, starring

William Faversham William FavershamBlum, Daniel (c. 1954). ''Great Stars of the American Stage''. "Profile No. 46". 2nd ed. (12 February 1868 – 7 April 1940) was an English stage and film actor, manager, and producer. Biography He was born in London. As a t ...

in the title role, as Captain James Wynnegate also known as Jim Carson. The doomed bad man, Cash Hawkins, was played by William S. Hart. Directed by Edwin Milton Royle and William Faversham, ''The Squaw Man'' was produced by Liebler & Company. Receiving significant critical acclaim,''The New York Times'', Oct. 29, 1905, "A New Idyl Of The West --- Edwin Milton Royle's Play, "The Squaw Man," a Sincere and Convincing Study—The Noble Red Man in a True Stage Light," p. X4. the play ran for 222 performances before closing on April 1, 1906. ''The Squaw Man'' has had four Broadway revivals, in 1907, 1908, 1911 and 1921. The 1911 revival starring Dustin Farnum ran for only eight performances. The 1921 revival starring William Faversham at the Astor Theatre ran for 50 performances.

Synopsis

William Faversham-Selene Johnson in The Squaw Man

The first act of the play is set in England in the 1800s. The lead character is Capt. James Wynnegate. His older cousin, heir Henry Wynnegate, Earl of Kerhill, steals from the family trust fund and speculates heavily. Henry loses the fortune, causing them to default on a commitment to an orphans' home. Capt. Wynnegate is in love with Henry's wife, Diana. She does not love her husband and returns the affection of the captain. As the money has been lost, Capt. Wynnegate agrees to leave England and take the blame. He is then accused of being a thief, which allows Henry to avoid suspicion and protects the name and the reputation of his wife. He goes to the American "Wild West" of

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

, where he buys the Red Butte Ranch and makes a name for himself under the alias Jim Carson. In the second act, several years later, Henry and Diana show up. The villain, Cash Hawkins, is about to shoot Jim when the Ute

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

maiden, Nat-u-ritch, shoots Hawkins from the sidelines, killing him and saving Jim's life. Nat-u-ritch, who is the daughter of Chief Tab-y-wana, rescues Jim several more times, which is revealed through exposition in the third act. They fall in love and have a son, Little Hal. Jim marries Nat-u-ritch. The marriage between a white man in his social position and an Indian woman is causes controversy among the denizens of Montana. By the fourth act, more time has passed and Diana comes West again with news that Henry has died. An English solicitor shows up and persuades Jim that Hal should be taken to England and raised as the heir to the large Wynnegate estate. Jim agrees to send the boy away. Nat-u-ritch discusses the issue with Jim, believing that their child should be raised with their parents and insisting that the boy should remain in Montana. Nat-u-ritch's father, Chief Tab-y-wana's gives Jim advice on the dispute. At the first sign of Nat-u-ritch's complaints, the chief advises Jim that: "if she will not obey, beat her. If she disobeys again, kill her." Knowing that Jim has made up his mind to send the boy to be raised on the Wynnegate estate, and hearing that she will be arrested by the Marshals for killing Hawkins, Nat-u-ritch commits suicide. Jim makes the decision to bring his child back home to England and marry Diana. The play concludes with the Indian chief Tab-y-wana standing stoically erect with the corpse of Nat-u-ritch in his arms, a reversal of the usual Pieta.

Adaptations

The story has also been adapted into a

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...

, written by Julie Opp Faversham, three

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

s and a musical. All three films were directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

Opening night cast

William Faversham in The squaw man LCCN2014635472

William Faversham in The squaw man LCCN2014635473

* Herbert Sleath as Henry Wynnegate * Adrienne Morrison as Nat-u-ritch (as Mabel Morrison) * Selene Johnson as Diana * Selina F. Royle as Lady Elizabeth Wynnegate * Katherine Fisher as Lady Mabel Wynnegate *

as Capt. James Wynnegate *

Frederick Forrest Frederick Edward Forrest MC (9 April 1877 – 20 October 1930) was an Australian soldier and politician. He was born in Rheola, Victoria, to miner Edward James Forrest and Cecelia Hannah Atchison. He worked in Queensland and joined the volunte ...

as Rev. Belachazar Chiswick * C. A. Carlton as Bates * Hugo Toland as Malcolm Petrie * Cecil Ward as Sir John Applegate * William Elville as The Right Rev., Bishop of Exeter * Brigham Royce as Sir Charles Majoribanks * Ella Duncan as Mrs. Chichester Chichester Jones * George Fawcett as Big Bill, foreman * Emmett Shackelford as Shorty * Bertram A. Marburg as Andy * Mitchell Lewis as Grouchy * Baco White as Himself * Theodore Roberts as Tab-y-wana * Evelyn Wright as Little Hal * William S. Hart as Cash Hawkins * Frederick Watson as Nick, the bar-keep * Mortimer Martini as McSorley * Wells Edward Knibloe as Parker * W. H. Sadler as Pete * Chester White as Parson *

Joseph Judge Joseph Judge (February 4, 1928—April 20, 1996) was a writer and editor for '' National Geographic'' magazine, retiring as Senior Associate Editor in 1990 after 25 years of service. Early life Judge was born in Washington, D.C. His parents we ...

as Punk * Lillian Wright as Mrs. Hiram Doolittle * Boyd Southey as Mr. Hiram Doolittle * William Frederick as Bud Hardy

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Squaw Man, The 1905 plays American plays adapted into films Western (genre) plays Plays set in England Plays set in Montana