The Magistrate (play)

He smokes, he flirts, he gambles, and now, as soon as his mother has left, he coolly proposes to his staid stepfather that they should go to the Hôtel des Princes, where he has a room.

[1] Room in the Hôtel des Princes, Meek Street Greatly to his surprise Posket finds himself "making a night of it".

Colonel Lukyn has also arranged to dine at the Hôtel des Princes, with his friend Captain Horace Vale.

Equally lengthy are the carousings of Posket and Cis in the adjoining room – so much so that a breach of the licensing laws is committed and the police arrive to search the house.

When the police burst in, Posket and Cis make a dash to the balcony, which collapses under their weight, depositing them in the street below.

Posket and Cis, with the police in pursuit, run through muddy streets, scramble over spiked fences into sloppy ditches, out of London and into the suburbs.

Back at home, Posket feels the force of his wife's indignation, but she cannot avoid explaining her presence at the hotel, and the truth about her deception about her age comes out.

[1] The Times said that for "deftness of construction, ingenuity and genuine fun" the play was the equal of any French farce, and said that it made the public laugh until their sides ache.

[6] Between 14 November 2012 and 10 February 2013, a production of The Magistrate was presented at the National Theatre in London, and streamed live to cinemas across the UK.

Directed by Timothy Sheader, the production featured John Lithgow in the title role opposite Nancy Carroll.