Playing at Bowls

A single bowl comes curving slowly down towards Chauvelin who leaps up nervously.  Marguerite stops the bowl with her foot.

Chauvelin:  And now what are they doing!  What is this?

Marguerite:  Playing at Bowls.  What did you take it for?  A cannon-ball?

Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls, called bowls, so that they stop close to a smaller, normally white, bowl called the "jack". Bowls is usually played outdoors, on grass but are also available in indoor varieties.  The history of the game can be traced back to the 12th Century.  It is most popular in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and in other Commonwealth nations.

The opening scene in Act II of Beverly Cross's The Scarlet Pimpernel, begins in the Blakney's garden.  There we find Sir Percy playing a game of Bowls with the HRH Prince of Wales.  Unfortunately, Chauvelin, is not impressed with this game he knows nothing about. Sir Percy proceeds to use the rules of the game as a metaphor to warn Chauvelin from his pursuit of the Scarlet Pimpernel.  The warning appears to be lost on him - but not for long - by the end of the scene, Chauvelin discovers the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

To witness this match of wits yourself, you will have to attend the Classic Players production of The Scarlet Pimpernel!  And when you see cast members tossing Bowls around the stage, have no fear - they're Bowls -not cannon-balls!