Gallery – Vivat Regina, Watch City Steampunk Festival 2017 – Act I
Photography by John Benfield
Costume design by Jennifer Giorno
Set design by Bernie Gabin
Production design by Phoebe Roberts
ACT I
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“You’ve been a diligent student, Mary. But you must endeavor to hone your capabilities if you mean to carry out this work.”
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Mrs. H is too busy to hang out with Nathaniel.
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Mary notices a bruise on Nathaniel’s cheek.
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“Taken up boxing, have you?” “As a matter of fact.”
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He wants to be more useful if a fight breaks out.
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Mrs. Hawking is not impressed with Nathaniel’s boxing.
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“There are no Marquess of Queensbury rules when you’re fighting for your life.”
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Nathaniel won’t be able to handle real danger.
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Mrs. Hawking asks if Nathaniel’s serious enough to go a round or two with her.
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“You ought to know what you’re up against.”
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“Now. Come on then!”
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“You must do better than that. And if you can’t, you’d best keep out of the way.”
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“Well. I’ve made a fool out of myself.”
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“She’s been in training for years.” “And made short work out of me.”
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“There’s more to this work than knives and brawling.”
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Nathaniel admired his uncle so, he always wanted to be a dashing soldier like him.
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But maybe Nathaniel’s talents lie elsewhere.
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“That was quite a belt she gave me. I wonder how long she’s wanted to do that.”
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The mysterious client enters. “You may address me as Mrs. Johanna Braun.”
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“What would it take for you to kidnap a man from the German embassy?”
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Mrs. Hawking doesn’t want to help.
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But Mrs. Braun has nowhere else to turn for help for her maid.
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“We’ll do it.”
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Mrs. Hawking runs Mary through some drills.
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“Mrs. Hawking… may I ask you something?” “You may?”
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“Why were you so unwilling to help Mrs. Braun?” “I am not an errand-runner for hire by wealthy matrons.”
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“She made the mistake of invoking some duty to the empire. Vivat Regina! Duty to our queen and the grand social order she laid down.”
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“You shall know have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Hawking.”
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“Not me. The other Mrs. Hawking.”
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“Aunt Victoria!”
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Mary gets her first experience of Clara.
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Clara throws shade.
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Mrs. Hawking bails. “You manage her, if you find her so charming.”
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“In this case, I assure you, better you than me.”
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Clara wants to know how Nathaniel’s efforts to reach out to Mrs. H are going.
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She knows how hard Mrs. Hawking can be on people who try to spend time with her.
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“Because she’s so unwilling?” “Because she’s so horrid! That is to say, we love her, but she is.”
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“So, Mary, you must tell me. Do you think there’s any hope?”
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“I rather think there is!”
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“You believe she is capable of that?” “She started with me.”
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“It will annoy her to no end to see you enjoy my company.”
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“What are your interest when you’re not wrangling Mrs. Hawking?”
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Mrs. Hawking and Mary prepare to go to the embassy.
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Mrs. Hawking knows they need to lay a trap for the man they are hunting.
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Nathaniel enters, to Mrs. Hawking’s dismay.
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Nathaniel wants to help!
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Mrs. Hawking tries to send him away.
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“So why don’t you be on your way?”
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“Mrs. Hawking, why won’t you trust me?” “Do spare me, Nathaniel.”
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Because Nathaniel looks so much like the Colonel.
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“The years and the whiskers throw it off. But all the men in the family have that look.”
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“The same eyes I had to hide anything of any meaning to me so that I might be permitted to have it.”
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She knows Nathaniel isn’t him. But it’s hard to shake that association.
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“I’m not him. I can learn better. But I’ll need you to teach me. I can’t do it without you.”
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“Rather, none of us could. Because the God’s honest truth is, you don’t know if he couldn’t have learned. You never gave him the chance.”