alarms and excursions

Frantic activity that causes a clamor. Often seen in Elizabethan drama as a stage direction denoting military activity. What on earth is going on? The alarms and excursions in the living room woke me from a sound sleep—keep it down!

alarms and excursions

confused activity and uproar. humorous

Alarm was formerly spelled alarum , representing a pronunciation with a rolling of the ‘r’; the phrase was originally a call summoning soldiers to arms. The whole phrase is used in stage directions in Shakespeare to indicate a battle scene.

See also: alarm, and, excursion

References in periodicals archive ?

ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS by Michael Frayn, Loft Theatre, Leamington, running time 2hr 25min, until June 21.

Funny, fast and furious; REVIEW

He has taken his amusing lecture recital about music in the theatre, Alarms and Excursions, on tour to universities in Australia and is due to gi ve it in the United States.

Music chief takes his final bow

David Bennett and David Hankins have designed and directed Michael Frayn's Alarms and Excursions for the Loft Theatre in Leamington.

Alarms and Excursions opens on Wednesday and runs until June 21.

GO: THEATRE: Farcical Frayne will have you aching with laughter

ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS - Priory Theatre, Rosemary Hill, Kenilworth, until Wednesday May 16.

Michael Frayn's Alarms and Excursions is a series of eight farce playlets about the chaos caused by misunderstandings and incomprehensible gadgets.

Priory's 'alarming' choice; REVIEW

The exhibition is called Watch This Space and will accompany the Priory production of Alarms and Excursions by Michael Frayn.