An Uninvited Member: A Play for Girls in Two Scenes

In Short

This two-scene juvenile comedy play revolves around a group of teenage boarding school girls who form an exclusive secret club called the S.O.M.F. and plan a clandestine midnight feast. Their ambitious plans are upended by Effie, a sharp-witted younger girl who manages to deduce their password, infiltrate their gathering, and evade punishment alongside them. The play has lasted as an accessible, lighthearted piece for amateur theatricals because of its snappy dialogue, humorous character dynamics, and affectionate portrayal of schoolgirl camaraderie.

The Story

The play opens on a school campus or hallway where older boarding school students Vivian, Florence, and Betty discuss their newly formed, highly exclusive secret society. They are constantly annoyed by Effie, Betty's precocious younger sister, who pesters them to reveal what the mysterious letters S.O.M.F. stand for. Despite the girls' repeated attempts to brush her off, Effie's sharp investigative mind and relentless teasing allow her to overhear snippets of conversation, deduce the password "Bx," and figure out that the letters stand for the Society of Midnight Feasters. Meanwhile, a strict teacher named Miss Dunham interrupts their daytime chatter, issuing impositions for perceived slang and insubordination.

The second scene shifts to a dormitory bedroom at midnight, where the older girls gather around a table laden with food to initiate a new member named Dorothy. The initiation consists of an absurd, cross-examining tribunal where Dorothy is subjected to nonsensical questions about her family, pepper sauce on her tongue, and playful teasing. Just as the hazing concludes, Effie startles the group by popping out of the box couch where she has been hiding all along. Unfazed by their shock, she immediately demands her share of the food and joins the party.

Suddenly, a loud knock heralds the approach of Mrs. Waterman, the principal. Panic ensues as the girls scramble to hide under the bed, behind screens, and in the bed covers, while Effie unlocks the door and squeezes back into the couch. Mrs. Waterman enters, discovers the room, but surprises everyone by sitting down, eating some of the provisions herself, and talking aloud about how fond she is of the girls, suspecting no real malice. She eventually discovers Effie hiding in the couch and leads her away to dispense a dose of castor oil. Left alone, the older girls emerge cramped and humbled. Moved by the principal's unexpected leniency and affection, they remorsefully decide to disband the S.O.M.F., put away their badges, and promise to give up midnight feasts for a year and a day.

How It Unfolds

• The curious younger sister

Florence and Vivian whisper about their new secret society badge, only to be ambushed by the irrepressible Effie, who hounds them for information and refuses to be dismissed as a baby.

• The watchful faculty

The girls trade clever guesses and banter about the mysterious letters, but their fun is abruptly halted when Miss Dunham catches them and assigns strict lines for minor breaches of decorum.

• The midnight initiation

At midnight in a dormitory room, the members assemble to initiate Dorothy through a hilarious series of nonsensical cross-examinations and mock punishments involving pepper sauce and water.

• The hidden guest

Just as the hazing wraps up, Effie springs out from the box couch, demanding her share of the feast and revealing that she successfully cracked their code and learned the password.

• The principal's inspection

The unexpected arrival of Mrs. Waterman forces a chaotic scramble into hiding spots, but the principal surprises them by calmly tasting the food, packing it up, and taking Effie away.

• A change of heart

After the principal departs, the chastened older girls realize how much she cares for them, prompting a unanimous decision to disband their club and abandon midnight feasts.

The People

• Effie Warren is a sharp, precocious, and fiercely determined twelve-year-old who wants nothing more than to be included in the older girls' secrets. Standing in her way is her age and the older girls' desire for exclusivity, but she overcomes these barriers through pure persistence, eventually outwitting them all to crash the feast.
• Betty Warren is Effie's older sister and a member of the secret society. She constantly tries to manage her troublesome sibling and maintain order, but ultimately shares in the group's realization that they should be kinder and more inclusive.
• Florence Dennis and Vivian Mason are dramatic, slang-using boarding school girls who pride themselves on their lofty ideals and secret society. They frequently clash with authority figures like Miss Dunham, but end the play with a softened, reflective attitude toward school rules.
• Dorothy is the nervous candidate seeking admission to the club. She must endure a ridiculous, teasing cross-examination about her background before bonding with the rest through their shared midnight adventure.
• Mrs. Waterman is the wise and observant principal. Rather than ruling with iron-fisted harshness, she handles the secret gathering with subtle psychological grace, leaving the girls feeling remorseful and deeply appreciative of her care.

In Its Own Voice

Florence Dennis, you’re a perfect big nuisance!

This line is spoken by Effie in retaliation after Florence calls her a nuisance during their initial schoolyard confrontation.

Does the rash prisoner grade to speak unbidden? Guard—the penalty.

Lillian delivers this theatrical warning to Dorothy during the absurd and demanding midnight initiation tribunal.

I expected she’d feel my pulse to see if I was feverish, my face burned so while she talked.

Beatrice confesses her lingering anxiety and embarrassment to Lillian after Mrs. Waterman departs from the dormitory room.

What It's Really About

The play explores the universal themes of youth, belonging, and the friction between institutional rules and youthful rebellion. It examines the intense desire of younger children to bridge the age gap and share in the privileges of their elders, as demonstrated by Effie's relentless pursuit of club membership. Beneath the comedic hazing and midnight snacking, the narrative addresses the transition from defiant adolescence to mature self-awareness. It questions the effectiveness of rigid discipline, suggesting that genuine affection and gentle understanding from authority figures inspire more true remorse and loyalty than harsh punishments ever could.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy light, nostalgic depictions of turn-of-the-century school life will find this play immensely charming. It feels brisk, theatrical, and deeply tied to the specific performance traditions of early twentieth-century youth entertainment, offering a window into a bygone era of innocent boarding school high jinks. Reading it today feels like flipping through an old scrapbook of clever banter and adolescent mischief, capturing the warmth of lifelong friendships forged over shared secrets and minor rule-breaking. Modern readers should be aware that the text reflects the language, mild social hierarchies, and dramatic conventions of 1912 school comedies, which can occasionally feel dated in their phrasing. However, its brisk thirty-five-minute runtime, witty verbal sparring, and universally relatable themes of youthful ambition and sisterly rivalry ensure that it remains an entertaining, quick read that stays with you long after the final curtain falls.