(rhetoric) X (labor) : an identity play in one act -- Prelude and Scene One [2012]

Characters:

M - a disembodied, narrating voice

N - a disembodied, narrating voice

T - a poet

A - a body/voice

G - a body/voice

U - a body/voice

CHORUS - A, G, and U in unison

Setting:

Now

Location:

Inside a live-electronics circuit

PRELUDE:

T walks out to the center of the empty stage, turns to face the audience, and recites a short poem.

T

I've not stopped being

any of the Xs

I am

and

this creates me

exhausted and unfamiliar

T exits stage, leaving it once again empty.  The house lights go out.  The overture begins to play.  Throughout the duration of the overture, A, G, and U take turns walking back and forth across the stage, occasionally stopping to make hand gestures toward the ceiling, always with their backs to the audience.  Overture ends.

END PRELUDE

SCENE ONE:

Still lights out.  Sounds of unknown origin.  After approximately 30 seconds, a white backdrop begins to display a series of quotes.  This creates a dimly lit space, into which A, G, and U enter.  G is carrying a trumpet.  They mill about aimlessly, as if in a trance, occasionally bouncing off of one another, but they never make any further attempts at engagement.

G

There are many different types that 

I am interested in.

A

Disposing of "content" is more

difficult than generating it.

G

I assumed that it was beautiful, 

and I was correct.

U

Why was I in X's parents' home in 

last night's dream?  What was I

hoping to achieve?

G

I imagine myself as a single square

in an immense plaid pattern.

U

Why are there so many light and

sculpted beards?  I mean, they're

hardly there.

A

Perhaps the mystery is being 

removed from the process, and this

is a vital element?

G

The "I" is less prevalent in later

chapters.

CHORUS

Am I no longer listening?

G

If I encountered him now, I would 

no longer allow him to pass.

U

Perhaps I should alphabetize the

library.  This could be the 

disorder.

A

If you follow the directions, all

the necessary information will be

revealed.

U

Something is wrong, though it is 

almost nothing.

G

My shoulders are not sharp or 

frail.  I could not crush them in

my hands.

U

What might I see if I bothered to

look?

G

I must resume the search for it.

A, G, and U continue to move about the space, though no longer trance-bound, performing odd solo activities, and occasionally taking notice of M's tale.

M

I stood on the tips of my sneakers,

attempting to balance on the edge 

of the air conditioning unit, and

X was on the ground next to me, 

spotting me, looking up with eager

eyes.  The light had just gone on

in her room, and through the

window pane, she began to undress

before me.  I think X might

actually have been drooling in

anticipation.  I whispered to X

(lying), indicating that she had

left the room, so that I might

enjoy the show all for myself.  

And, as her bra and panties came 

off, I was truly alone.

The three bodies snap back into the cycle of trance-like meandering.

A

(shouting)

The ellipsis is a whore!  Fuck her!

(as if making a realization)

Or... pimp her.

U

(exasperated)

Time?  What the hell good is that 

going to do me?

A

Tickling is a re-engagement with

strangeness.

G

If only this were as easy as 

blowing my horn.

(momentarily pensive)

Wait... that became quite

difficult, didn't it?

U

I wish things were as simple as

the symbols we wear.  I might

pout and smoke.

A

Empty seats are preferred,

especially considering what might

fill them.

CHORUS

If only I were fortunate enough

to not know that this is cyclical

by nature.

G

I miss the team.  We're all just

individual players now; free agents

who will not be signed.

A

Sometimes a smile is all that is 

necessary, or a dumb look.

G

He is perceived as a fantastic 

companion, but I know better.

U

I am too easily stunned when I'm

sitting in public areas.

G

Why do I not want to be right 

and/or good?

U

I might just suck on a Slurpee and

get fatter, sicker, and deader.

G

I need a sandwich.

A, G, and U cease wandering and line up, side by side, backs to the audience, in the extreme fore of stage right.

N

I am the as-yet-unknown entity.  I

have fabulous taste in music, as

well as in literature, art, film, 

fashion, and architecture.  I am

what they all aspire to be.  I am 

a teacher, and an artist.  I am

sophisticated, and I am dangerous 

in more than one way.  I am also

mysterious, and nearly 

unidentifiable.

A, G, and U drop out of line and return, once again, to their meanderings.

A

And the object was something that

should be objected to, too.

U

Green is something to carry the 

weight and moisture, but it is not

a sponge.

A

Another was grinning in fishnet

stockings.

U

There was a welcome mat outside the

door that read:  "this is working".

CHORUS

(momentarily frozen in place)

This is working.  This is working.

This is working.

G

I should wake up tomorrow and get to

the gym, or even go right now.

U

Why can't I seem to reconcile my

contrasting arguments?

G

There is a bowl of steaming clam

chowder awaiting me in the foyer.

A

The other eye is crying at the same

time.

CHORUS

Left and right are not the same as

they once were.  Understanding is

trouble.

G

I occasionally mistake the sound of

her voice for that of a cuica.

A

A dozen young people spoke of their

experiences and lied.

U

He claimed to be burning more 

calories standing up.

A

It was off-putting to see him 

exposing himself like that.

U

The bulk of him appeared below the

belt line.

A

"They" are polite and cordial as 

they greet "them".  What are "they"

selling?

A stands frozen in place as G and U exit the stage.  G and U return with a table and two chairs, and proceed to set them up with the table stretching lengthwise from fore- to background, and with the chairs on opposite sides, facing stage left and right, respectively.  G and U then sit opposite one another, shake hands, and stare blankly into one another's eyes.  A then leaves the stage and returns with a boom-box, which is placed at the background end of the table with A standing directly behind it.  A presses PLAY on the cassette deck and an approximately 75-second clip of Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" is heard.  A, G and U listen intently.  When the clip ends, A presses STOP on the cassette deck and the three bodies remain in position.  The white backdrop no longer displays quotes.  The sounds of unknown origin fade.  The house lights come on.  A, G and U remain in place as T walks out to center stage, turns to face the audience, and recites a short poem.

T

some have been happy from

the beginning     smiling

(I'm confusing them now)

I am witnessing the "first"

in relation to all four

A and T exit, leaving G and U on stage as house lights fade.

END SCENE ONE