Mr. Pim Passes By

Erskine Sanford, Dudley Digges and Laura Hope Crews in the Theatre Guild's 1921 production of A. A. Milne's Mr. Pim Passes By

Mr. Pim Passes By is a play by A. A. Milne. First performed December 1, 1919, at the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, it opened at the New Theatre in London January 5–30, 1920, and transferred to the Garrick Theatre (February 2 – April 24, 1920) and the Playhouse Theatre (April 25 – July 31, 1920), for a total of 246 performances. The Theatre Guild's Broadway production opened February 28, 1921, at the Garrick Theatre in New York City.

Plot

Punch illustration of Dion Boucicault (Carraway Pim) and Irene Vanbrugh (Olivia) in the 1920 London production of Mr. Pim Passes By

The play takes place at the Marden house in Buckinghamshire, whose inhabitants include George Marden, Olivia Marden (his wife), Dinah (their niece), Lady Marden (George's Aunt), Brian Strange (Dinah's fiancee), and Anne (their maid).

Act I

The title character, Mr. Carraway Pim, arrives at the Marden house to deliver a letter of introduction for George and is received first by Anne, then by Dinah, who tells Mr. Pim about her life (including her engagement the night before) and the lives of her uncle George and aunt Olivia. Brian enters and converses with Dinah about his attempts to tell her uncle about their engagement. Olivia enters, having overheard part of the conversation, and is delighted to learn of the engagement. She offers to help break the news to her husband.

George enters, seeking out Mr. Pim, who has since left; Olivia pushes the young couple to tell George of their engagement. While Olivia is optimistic about their future, George is heavily set against it, citing Brian's young, slow career as a "futuristic" artist as evidence that he and Dinah will be unable to support each other. George and Brian continue to clash on Brian's career, and George's views on marriage and politics before Olivia sends Brian and Dinah out for a walk. While they are out, Olivia tries to convince George of his hypocrisy and pessimism by questioning him on the motives behind their marriage, as well as their financial well-being. George stumbles and struggles to find answers for her questions while still justifying his decision regarding Brian and Dinah, while also becoming more and more impatient and uncomfortable with the black-and-orange curtains Olivia is sewing and planning to hang up. Olivia reminds George of the first man she fell in love with, and how her father had arranged for her to marry someone else, which resulted in a miserable marriage until her husband died.

After George leaves, Brian and Dinah come back. Olivia tells them that she thinks George will be fine with their marriage, though George hasn't made much progress in accepting them. Olivia also reminds them that Lady Marden is coming for lunch, after which Mr. Pim returns. George returns to receive him. While talking to George and Olivia, Mr. Pim tells them that he had just returned from a trip to Australia, and while on his way back, he'd seen a man whom he presumed to be deceased. Mr. Pim tells them the man's name was Telworthy, which was the name of Olivia's first husband, who had also lived (and was presumed to have died) in Australia. Before George and Olivia can process this, Lady Marden is announced to have arrived by Anne.

Act II

Olivia, Lady Marden, Dinah, George, and Brian prepare to have lunch on their terrace, as Anne follows with their coffee. Brian and Dinah retreat back indoors, where they again speak of their concerns regarding their marriage and George. Not long after, Olivia, George, and Lady Marden return inside. Olivia asks Dinah to show Lady Marden "the pigs" (which George keeps as pets) and they are joined by Brian. Alone at last, Olivia and George begin to tentatively discuss the news Mr. Pim had brought them in Act I.

At first, George is in denial about the entire revelation, but Olivia reminds him that her late husband was the only Telworthy in Australia, so it must have been true. George then laments over having married Olivia while she was still another's wife, and expresses his desire to get their marriage annulled for the sake of the Law and their publicity. Olivia reacts to this with some sadness and disbelief. She reminds him that they were happy together, and that she was happy to be away from her first husband. When George holds his position on the annulment, she begins to talk about going back to live with her first husband, which begins to make George angry and jealous. He tells her he doesn't want to send her away, but that he still feels as if he should because it is the right thing to do. They eventually decide to send for Mr. Pim again, as well as consult with Lady Marden.

Dinah returns for a brief moment before being sent by George to fetch Lady Marden and Brian, who are still outside. Before they all return, George is conflicted about whether to tell Dinah and Brian about Olivia's situation, but Olivia tells him that they should know. Upon hearing the news, Lady Marden is shocked, and refers to Olivia as a "bigamist," while Brian argues that George should fight for Olivia and prevent her from going back to her miserable marriage. Despite this, Lady Marden agrees that the marriage should be annulled, to the disgust of Brian, which causes him to land in another argument with George over morals and marriage before being sent out for another walk with Dinah. George again laments over his confusion; he understands that Olivia does not want to go back to her first husband, but he wants to do the right thing in the eyes of the Law and the public. Olivia finally resigns and laments over George, the man she "didn't quite marry" in a last-chance-attempt to get him to fight for her. Mr. Pim is then announced by Anne.

Mr. Pim joins Lady Marden, George, and Olivia, who question him about Mr. Telworthy again. After confirming it was him whom Mr. Pim spoke of, they tell him of the situation regarding George's and Olivia's marriage, and ask Mr. Pim where Mr. Telworthy might be. Mr. Pim tells them that after seeing him a few days before, Mr. Telworthy had died in Marseilles by choking on a fish-bone, to which Olivia jumps up in surprise and joy.

Act III

Olivia and George marvel over this new revelation, while Mr. Pim laments on having delivered such shocking news to the same family twice in one day. George hastily shows a still apologetic Mr. Pim out, after which he expresses his relief and joy over Olivia's first husband still having died. Olivia puts a damper on the celebration, however, when she reminds George that she was still technically married to her first husband up until a few days ago, when he was said to have perished by Mr. Pim. George, however, has changed his attitude of anxiousness to one of optimism, remarking to Olivia that they can just remarry quietly at the registry office in London the following day.

Olivia, deciding to have a bit of fun, suggests that George ought to propose to her again if he wishes to marry her again. The two approach each other and become engaged while putting on the shy, cheeky demeanor of a new young couple. Olivia further taunts George by inquiring whether he can afford to support a wife, and whether he is thinking about their future, as "love may seem to be all that matters" with a new engagement. George grows impatient, realizing that Olivia is using the situation to change his mind on Brian and Dinah's engagement. After arguing about whether Olivia will accept George's proposal, or whether she'd stay in his house should she refuse it, George storms off in anger. Mr. Pim uses this opportunity to return - this time, by the window - hoping to leave before George returns out of fear. He tells Olivia that he got the name wrong since the beginning - the man whom he had known from Australia, whom he had met on his way back, and whom had died from choking on a fish-bone was named Pelwittle, not Telworthy as he had led everyone to believe. He explains to Olivia how Dinah that told him of Olivia and her previous marriage to Telworthy and her residence in Australia with him, which had led to his mixing up the two names.

Olivia confirms that Mr. Telworthy had indeed died before she'd married George, and while she thanks Mr. Pim - who is apologizing yet again for the mix-up - Dinah and Brian come in. They're delighted to see Mr. Pim again, and are oblivious to the conversation which had just taken place. Olivia sends them to see Mr. Pim out, who is anxious to leave before George returns and sees him. Brian stays behind momentarily to tell Olivia that he is "on her side" about the annulment situation, after which Olivia reveals to him her conversation with Mr. Pim. Before he can say anything more, she sends him off when she hears George returning. George enters humming, appearing to have calmed down a bit. He observes the room and its decor, as well as the curtains Olivia is working on, which he had detested at the beginning of the play. To Olivia's surprise, George (who is established to be very old-fashioned) remarks that they should perhaps consider redecorating the room, to brighten it up a bit, and commends Olivia's curtains. It's revealed that he wishes to take Olivia to London to be married again from his suggesting that they buy new carpet and furnishings to match the curtains.

Olivia tells George that she told Brian and Dinah that Mr. Pim had made a mistake with the name (without telling George that the mistake actually happened) so that Brian and Dinah think that Olivia and George had been truly married the whole time. George, not realizing that the mistake was real, asked Olivia if she was actually considering marrying him again, quietly. Coyly, Olivia tells him yes, which greatly pleases George; he proceeds to shower Olivia with affection and offers to buy her whatever new furnishings she should want in London the following day. They embrace, during which Brian and Dinah re-enter and remark on Mr. Pim's big mistake. George, still believing that the "mistake" was a lie, plays along with them, to the enjoyment of Olivia.

George invites Brian to look at the pigs, while Olivia and Dinah converse about Olivia's upcoming trip to London with George; Dinah thinks they are going strictly for shopping. Olivia attempts to hang up her curtains, but realizes she needs George's help. Dinah calls for him, and he returns with Brian, who happily tells Dinah that George has agreed to their marriage after all. As they share in celebration, George steps back to regard Olivia's new curtains, now seeming to have adopted a new appreciation for them. As the four of them sit in the room, Mr. Pim again returns, this time to tell them that he got the first name of the Pelwittle man wrong - though he originally told them it was Henry Pelwittle, his name was actually Ernest Pelwittle.

Characters

George Marden, J.P.

George Marden is the husband of Olivia Marden, the uncle of Dinah, and the nephew of Lady Marden. He is extremely old-fashioned, and is noted as saying "what was good enough for his great-great-grandfather is good enough for him." He is a man of 40-odd years, and though firm in his ways, is still a loving and caring man, as evidenced by his love and concern for his wife and niece. Despite this, he is stubbornly set against his niece marrying the man she loves, who happens to be a new, "futuristic" artist. George disapproves of his paintings and his politics, which he uses to justify his decision regarding his niece's marriage. He also detests his wife Olivia's new curtains, as they too are "futuristic" and do not match the rest of the house. However, by the end of the play, he appears to take on a new attitude towards his love of old-fashioned things.

Olivia Marden

Olivia Marden is the wife of George Marden and the aunt of Dinah. In the play, it is revealed that her first husband was a convict and that her marriage to him was miserable. She left him in Australia and, upon hearing of his death, married George Marden, with whom she is much happier. While George is old-fashioned, Olivia is much more open-minded toward new things, and strives to "update" George in his ways. Throughout the play, she is shown working on a new set of curtains to hang up, which are orange and black. Upon hearing Mr. Pim's news, she fears that she will have to go back to her first husband, as she is still his wife. However, subsequent visits from Mr. Pim assuage her fears as she learns her first husband was dead all along. However, she withholds her knowledge of her first husbands whereabouts in Act III from George, so that they can remarry in London (and apparently rekindle their love for each other), which brings about a change in George's attitude.

Dinah

Dinah is the niece of George and Olivia. She is a bright, chipper young girl who is love with Brian, despite her uncle's disapproval. She is close to Olivia, and, while she loves George, they clash from time to time. It is not known what happened to her parents; she's been the ward of her uncle and aunt for a while. After Anne, she is the first to receive Mr. Pim upon his arrival, and seems very interested in him; she tells him her life story, and expresses the desire to know his.

Lady Marden

Lady Marden is the aunt of George Marden. Often referred to as "Aunt Juli-ah" throughout the play, she appears to be a very tough, steadfast woman of about sixty. She dresses in pants, which is not traditional for a woman of that time, and is described as looking as if she were "always out beagling." She carries riding gloves and a whip. Upon hearing of Olivia's first husband still being alive, she is greatly shocked, and refers to Olivia as a "bigamist," before agreeing with George regarding the decision to have their marriage annulled.

Brian Strange

Brian Strange is the fiancee of Dinah. He is an artist who paints the abstract or cubist style which was becoming popular during the 1920s, to the disapproval of George Marden. He appears to have the same demeanor as Dinah, and remains optimistic that George will eventually approve of their marriage. George, however, thinks that Brian will not be able to provide for Dinah, as he hasn't sold a painting in a while. His opinions on politics, morals, and marriage are continuously opposed and dismissed by George throughout the play.

Mr. Carraway Pim

Mr. Pim first enters the play upon the premise of delivering a letter of introduction to George. Throughout the play, he becomes turned around and confused, and ultimately "passes by" the Marden house several times. With each pass, excluding the first one, he delivers news on Olivia's first husband, Jacob Telworthy, who was thought to have died years before the play took place. He seems old, and gets confused very easily; when Dinah first talks to him at the beginning of the play, he mistakes what she told him about her family for what actually happened to him. He eventually realizes his errors, and attempts to apologize to the Mardens. He is thought to be similar to the character of Mr. Magoo.

Anne

Anne is the maid of the Marden family. She is the first one to receive Mr. Pim, announces his subsequent arrivals, and announces the arrival of Lady Marden as well. In contrast to the rest of the characters, she is the only one thought of as having a "clear-head," as the rest of them are very eccentric and excitable.

External links

• Mr. Pim Passes By, acting edition (1921) at HathiTrust