Victorians! discussion

No Thoroughfare

Act II

Scene 1
1) How has the phrase "No Thoroughfare" been highlighted in the search for the true Walter Wilding?
2) What are your thoughts on the new character who has the capacity for silence and for emptying bottles?
3) Can we make any connections between Obenrizer's praise of Vendale's gift and the praises he sings of his adopted country of England? How would the original audience have responded to this?
4) In what ways does Madame Dor encourage the lovers?
5) What are Obenrizer's arguments against the engagement between Vendale & Marguerite? Do you suspect any others?

Scene 2
6) How has embezzlement been disclosed?
7) What are the proofs required?
8) In what ways is Obenrizer implicated?


Act III

Scene 1
- What puts Obenrizer's maternity into question?
- What thoughts are repeated in his head as they walk through the streets of Strasbourg? How does this increase the tension of the story?
- What happens at the inn? How do these events influence the next scene?

Scene 2
- What happens on the mountain?
- Who saves the day?

Discussion Questions have been posted for both Acts 2&3.

However, feel free to comment on any aspect of the story so far.

Mr. Wilding’s lawyer used “No Thoroughfare” as a term to mean that there was no humanly possible way for Wilding to find the “true heir.” All possible roads to finding the heir were dead ends. Mr.Wilding was ever going to meet the other boy that was at the foundling. Wilding could not change his fate. Since this novel is so short, it felt that Vendale was more in love with Marguerite than Marguerite was in love with Vendale. This could be possible because she was afraid of Obenrizer and/or the story is told from Vendale’s point of view. It’s seems, that even for an Englishman, Vendale came on to Marguerite fast and strong. Obenrizer's response to Vendale’s proposal was surprising. It seemed that Obenrizer didn’t want Vendale to marry his niece at all, but then told him he wasn’t rich enough for her. Given her heritage and being a foreigner, it seemed a little presumptuous for Obenrizer to ask Vendale to make more income. Was Obenrizer stalling or did he have alternative motives? Obviously from scene 2 Obenrizer has alternative motives. Vendale is so dull to not suspect Obenrizer as a culprit. It seems that for an instance he considered the possibility, but then made up excuses. Uggg…his fiancé even told him not to go. Madame Dor turned out to be nicer than I expected. She let them have some time alone and took a nap so they could have some privacy.

So, Vendale found a receipt for wine that the company did not actually buy, but received anyway. Apparently, the correspondence needs to check the receipt to catch the culprit for embezzlement. Apperently, Obenrizer might have worked previously with the other company that Vendale corresponds with. Apparently, Obenrizer questions his lineage. He basically says he can’t be sure who he really is or where he comes from because the information of his identity is told to him during childhood. He can’t remember the much of his childhood and we all rely on what adults say we are at birth. Vendale’s conscious appears to be waited by Wilding final wish. However, when Vendale speculates the possibility of Obenrizer being the heir, he certainly brushes it off quickly. He was afraid that he won’t get to marry Marguerite because of it.

Vendale should have had a bunch of warning flags go off about Obenrizer, Obenrizer himself even told Vendale that he was dense to pick of things. Perhaps Vendale is more naïve rather than dense. I would have to say that Vendale is quite naïve. So, Marguerite ends up coming to his rescue on the mountain. Here is an example of the love she has for Vendale.

I loved that Madame Dor turned out to be an ally! But I have to wonder if my suspicions of her weren't founded in the way the two different authors decided to handle her character OR if she was intentionally made to seem more sinister in Act 1.

I have trouble with the abrupt switch from engaging story in first part , to the uninteresting storyline in parts 2 and 3. Two authors? As st was suggested above, Obenrizer, Margarite, and Dor don’t seem convincing. Only curiosity would motivate me to finish.

I agree with what has been said about Madame Dor. Her thaw in the Second Part was not expected. I also wonder how the mysterious silent drinker will fit into the story. I never knew that any Champagne was made in Switzerland or that it was so highly valued in those days. Frankly, none of the characters is believable.

It's definitely a melodrama. I think many of us love the way both authors typically embroider layered characters and plot-line over many chapters. That is decidedly missing from this collaboration. It's a piece to be enjoyed for the collaborative effort it is, for the melorama, for the novelty. But there are clear reasons why it is far less well-known than other more exemplary works.