Mr. Pim Passes By facts for kids
Mr. Pim Passes By is a funny play written by A. A. Milne, who is also famous for creating Winnie-the-Pooh. This play is a comedy about misunderstandings and how a simple visitor can turn a family's life upside down! It was first shown on December 1, 1919, in Manchester, England. Later, it moved to London and then to Broadway in New York City in 1921, where it was very popular.
Contents
The Story of Mr. Pim Passes By
The play takes place at the Marden family's home in the English countryside. The main characters are George Marden, his wife Olivia, their niece Dinah, George's Aunt Lady Marden, Dinah's boyfriend Brian, and their maid Anne.
Act 1: A Surprising Visitor
Mr. Carraway Pim arrives at the Marden house. He is there to deliver a letter for George. Dinah, the niece, meets him first. She tells him all about her life, including her recent engagement to Brian. She also shares details about her Uncle George and Aunt Olivia.
Brian comes in and talks with Dinah about how hard it is to tell George about their engagement. Olivia overhears them and is very happy about the news. She promises to help them tell George.
When George enters, Mr. Pim has already left. Olivia tries to get George to accept Dinah and Brian's engagement. George is against it. He thinks Brian, who is a "futuristic" artist, won't be able to support Dinah. George and Brian argue about art and marriage. Olivia sends Brian and Dinah out for a walk.
While they are gone, Olivia tries to make George see his own stubbornness. She questions him about their own marriage and money. George struggles to answer and gets annoyed by the orange and black curtains Olivia is sewing. Olivia reminds him about her first marriage, which was unhappy until her husband died.
After George leaves, Brian and Dinah return. Olivia tells them George might come around. Then, Mr. Pim returns! He tells George and Olivia that he just came back from Australia. He saw a man there he thought was dead. The man's name was Telworthy. This was the name of Olivia's first husband, who was also thought to have died in Australia. Before George and Olivia can react, Lady Marden arrives.
Act 2: Big News and Big Worries
Everyone prepares for lunch. Brian and Dinah talk about their worries regarding George. Soon, Olivia, George, and Lady Marden go inside. Olivia sends Dinah, Brian, and Lady Marden to see George's pet pigs.
Finally alone, Olivia and George nervously discuss Mr. Pim's news. George first denies it, but Olivia reminds him that her late husband was the only Telworthy in Australia. George then worries that their marriage isn't legal because Olivia's first husband might still be alive. He wants to end their marriage for the sake of the law and what people might think.
Olivia is sad and surprised. She reminds him how happy they've been together. When George insists on ending their marriage, she jokingly talks about going back to her first husband. This makes George angry and jealous. He tells her he doesn't want her to leave, but feels it's the "right thing" to do. They decide to call Mr. Pim back and talk to Lady Marden.
Dinah returns briefly. George sends her to get Lady Marden and Brian. George wonders if they should tell Dinah and Brian. Olivia says they should know. Lady Marden is shocked and calls Olivia a "bigamist" (meaning someone married to two people at once). Brian argues that George should fight for Olivia. Lady Marden agrees the marriage should be ended. This causes another argument between Brian and George. Brian and Dinah are sent out for another walk.
George is confused. He knows Olivia doesn't want to go back to her first husband, but he wants to follow the law. Olivia sadly tells George he's the man she "didn't quite marry," hoping he'll fight for her. Then, Anne announces Mr. Pim again.
Mr. Pim joins Lady Marden, George, and Olivia. They ask him more about Mr. Telworthy. After confirming it was him, they explain their marriage problem. They ask Mr. Pim where Mr. Telworthy might be. Mr. Pim tells them that after seeing him a few days ago, Mr. Telworthy died in France from choking on a fish bone! Olivia jumps up with surprise and joy.
Act 3: More Surprises and a Happy Ending
Olivia and George are amazed by this new news. Mr. Pim feels bad for bringing so much shocking news twice in one day. George quickly escorts Mr. Pim out, then expresses his relief and joy that Olivia's first husband is truly dead.
Olivia, however, points out that she was technically still married to her first husband until a few days ago, according to Mr. Pim. George's mood changes from worry to happiness. He suggests they can simply get married again quietly in London the next day.
Olivia decides to have some fun. She suggests George should propose to her again if he wants to remarry her. They act like a shy, new young couple getting engaged. Olivia teases George, asking if he can afford a wife and if he's thinking about their future. George realizes Olivia is using this to make him change his mind about Brian and Dinah's engagement. After arguing, George storms off.
Mr. Pim returns through the window, hoping to leave before George comes back. He tells Olivia he made a mistake with the name! The man who died from choking on a fish bone was named Pelwittle, not Telworthy. He explains that Dinah had told him about Olivia's first marriage to Telworthy in Australia, which made him mix up the names.
Olivia confirms that Mr. Telworthy had indeed died before she married George. She thanks Mr. Pim, who apologizes again. Dinah and Brian come in, happy to see Mr. Pim and unaware of the new mix-up. Olivia sends them to see Mr. Pim out. Brian stays briefly to tell Olivia he supports her about the marriage situation. Olivia then tells him about Mr. Pim's latest news. She sends him off when she hears George returning.
George enters, humming and seeming calmer. He looks at the room and Olivia's curtains, which he used to dislike. To Olivia's surprise, George, who is very old-fashioned, suggests they redecorate the room to make it brighter and even praises Olivia's curtains. It seems he wants to take Olivia to London to get married again.
Olivia tells George that she told Brian and Dinah that Mr. Pim made a mistake with the name (without telling George the mistake was real). So, Brian and Dinah think Olivia and George have been truly married all along. George, not knowing the mistake was real, asks Olivia if she's really considering marrying him again quietly. Olivia coyly says yes, which makes George very happy. He showers her with affection and offers to buy her new things in London. They hug.
Brian and Dinah re-enter and talk about Mr. Pim's "big mistake." George, still believing it's a lie, plays along, which Olivia enjoys. George invites Brian to look at the pigs. Olivia and Dinah talk about Olivia's trip to London with George; Dinah thinks they are just going shopping. Olivia tries to hang her curtains but needs George's help. Dinah calls for him. George returns with Brian, who happily tells Dinah that George has finally agreed to their marriage! As they celebrate, George looks at Olivia's new curtains, now seeming to like them.
As the four sit in the room, Mr. Pim returns again! This time, he says he got the first name of the Pelwittle man wrong. He originally said it was Henry Pelwittle, but his name was actually Ernest Pelwittle.
Meet the Characters
George Marden
George Marden is Olivia's husband and Dinah's uncle. He is very old-fashioned and believes that old ways are always best. He is in his 40s. Even though he can be stubborn, he is a loving and caring man, especially towards his wife and niece. He strongly opposes Dinah marrying Brian because Brian is a new, "futuristic" artist. George dislikes Brian's art and his ideas. He also hates Olivia's new orange and black curtains because they don't match his old-fashioned house. By the end of the play, George starts to change his mind about new things.
Olivia Marden
Olivia Marden is George's wife and Dinah's aunt. We learn that her first marriage was very unhappy. She left her first husband in Australia. When she heard he had died, she married George, and she is much happier with him. Unlike George, Olivia is open to new ideas and tries to encourage George to be more modern. She spends the play sewing new orange and black curtains. When Mr. Pim brings news, she fears she might have to go back to her first husband. However, Mr. Pim's later visits clear things up, and she learns her first husband was actually dead all along. In the end, she playfully keeps some information from George to encourage him to change his mind about things.
Dinah
Dinah is George and Olivia's niece. She is a cheerful and bright young woman who is in love with Brian. Even though her uncle George doesn't approve, she is determined to marry Brian. She is close to Olivia. While she loves George, they sometimes disagree. She is the first person Mr. Pim talks to when he arrives, and she is very curious about him.
Lady Marden
Lady Marden is George Marden's aunt. She is often called "Aunt Juli-ah." She seems like a strong and firm woman in her sixties. She wears pants, which was unusual for women at that time, and is described as looking like she's always ready for an outdoor adventure. She carries riding gloves and a whip. When she hears about Olivia's first husband, she is very shocked and calls Olivia a "bigamist." She agrees with George that their marriage should be ended.
Brian Strange
Brian Strange is Dinah's boyfriend. He is an artist who paints in the abstract or cubist style, which was becoming popular in the 1920s. George Marden does not approve of his art. Brian seems to have a cheerful personality like Dinah. He stays hopeful that George will eventually agree to their marriage. George thinks Brian won't be able to support Dinah because he hasn't sold many paintings. Brian's ideas about life and marriage are often disagreed with by George throughout the play.
Mr. Carraway Pim
Mr. Pim first comes to the Marden house to deliver a letter. Throughout the play, he gets confused and keeps "passing by" the Marden house several times. Each time he returns, he brings new information about Olivia's first husband, Jacob Telworthy, who everyone thought had died years ago. He seems old and gets confused very easily. He mixes up names and stories. He eventually realizes his mistakes and tries to apologize to the Mardens. He is a bit like the cartoon character Mr. Magoo because of his confusion.
Anne
Anne is the Marden family's maid. She is the first person to meet Mr. Pim when he arrives. She also announces when Mr. Pim and Lady Marden arrive. Unlike the other characters, who are often excited or unusual, Anne is described as having a "clear head."
- Mr. Pim Passes By, acting edition (1921) at HathiTrust
Images for kids
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Left to right: Dion Boucicault (Mr Pim), Ben Webster (George) and Irene Vanbrugh (Olivia), 1920
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Mr Pim arrives, 1920
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Brian and Dinah, 1920
