Scenes from Doormats written by the British playwright Hubert Henry Davies (1869 – 1917) and produced at the Wyndham’s Theatre, London, from October 1912 to 1913.
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, October 19th, 1912, "Doormats," by Hubert Henry Davies, at Wyndham's Theatre."
a- In the studio of the artist Noel (Mr. Gerald du Maurier) when he is painting the portrait of his friend, Capt. Harding (Mr. Dawson Milward). Noel is made a doormat of by his wife Leila (Miss Marie Lohr), and the boot Leila is more or less in love with her second doormat the Captain. The other characters are Mr. Alfred Bishop as Uncle Rufus (a boot) and Miss Nina Boucicault as Aunt Josephine (a doormat). These five people complete the cast.
b- Noel has gone on business to America, and Leila has refused to accompany him. She is, on the contrary, seen making love to the Captain in her husband's absence.
c- A breakfast scene after Noel has returned fro America, has discovered the Captain's attentions to Leila, and is about to offer his wife her freedom at his expense. Leila is dispirited, and has just emough courage left to rout the "boot" Uncle Rufus, who in his turn has just tyrannised over the 'doormat" Aunt Josephine and eaten her breakfast.
d- "The eternal triangle."- The Captain expllains his position to the husband. The husband refuses to divorce his wife, and the wife refuses to allow him to appear as the guilty party. Neither has so far sinned, and neither will allow the other to be a martyr. The deadlock is removed by the breaking out of a quarrel between the lovers, which gives the husband his chance of appearing to advantage over the Captain, who then disappears in high dudgeon from the scene of action.
e- Noel and Leila about, as ordained by fete, to resume their boot and mat careers after the defeat and flight of the military doormat.





