The Flutter of the Goldleaf, and Other Plays

by Olive Tilford Dargan

"The Flutter of the Goldleaf and Other Plays" by Olive Tilford Dargan and Frederick Peterson is a collection of plays written in the early 20th century. The opening play, “The Flutter of the Goldleaf,” revolves around the character Philo Warner, a student immersed in scientific exploration, and his struggles with mental health as he becomes increasingly obsessed with his inventions and theories. This collection likely explores themes such as ambition, societal expectations, and the fraught line between genius and madness. At the start of "The Flutter of the Goldleaf," the scene is set in the attic laboratory of the Warner cottage, where Philo's parents, Hiram and Mary Ann Warner, express their concern over Philo's obsessive studies and the potential arrival of doctors to evaluate him. They discuss his increasingly erratic behavior, hinting at his struggle with mental instability, while also highlighting the complexity of parental love and concern blending with fear for their son's wellbeing. Philo’s interactions with his parents reveal tension and misunderstandings, further complicated by the impending visit of two doctors—Dr. Bellows and Dr. Seymour—who raise the question of whether Philo's brilliance is leading him toward ruin.