I thought it would good to the post said script on here as it is now out of its development stages and can be shared openly. If you're hoping to come to the performance in November you might not want to read too much or you'll spoil it for yourself!
The script is essentially a deep philosophical exploration of the war ordinary people face with daily life. It is structured in six acts each consisting of one scene lasting no more than two minutes. Each scene is followed by a thirty minute interval. I thought this would be the optimal structure as it would really encourage the audience to think about what they saw. The National Theatre particularly liked this as they felt it was innovating the theatre form.
I shall make a few comments after the text.
Act 1: EPISTEME
Scene 1:
Lights Up. Two men (Lazaros and Thales) stand at a sink, one washing, one drying. They face the audience. They wash in silence for several minutes. The washer cleaning each dish thoroughly, the dryer drying each item placed on the drainer and stacking them neatly on the other side of the sink.
A female offstage shouts: "Watch your waist line!"
Thales: (Looks up, freezes) I cannot watch my waist line any longer. The war has taken a lot from me. So much... so much... And now I am lost unable to find waist line amongst the myriad bodies of the dead. Am I not fat. Or just lost. For I am stuck here washing for the dead, washing for the lost... or drying... as the case may be. (Grasping Lazaros' arm) For indeed you are the washer Lazaros.
Chorus: (Off Stage) FOR HER IS THE WASHER
Thales: I can no longer live in this terrible time against the thousand glorious hours of death that play towards me in endless harmony. Of the war, of the terrible loss. PLEASE! Don't look at me anymore... for I am dead...
Curtain Down. Lights Up.
-------------------- INTERVAL-----------------------
Act 2: ELENCHOS
Scene 1:
Thales and Lazaros are still washing up.
Thales: Did you break another meringue into the Eton Messe?
Lazaros: (Pauses in his washing and looks at Thales) Is that a metaphor...?
Curtain down. Light up.
-------------------- INTERVAL-----------------------
Act 3: GNOSIS
Scene 1:
Thales and Lazaros sit at a table just to the left of the sink eating an large Eton Messe with rasperberrys in it.
Thales: Did you know that when Etonians are in Eton they are only allowed to eat Eton Messe.
Lazaros: They've taken everything from us, and they take more...
Thales: So much more... (Pauses)
Lazaros: I can't take it anymore! Why are those fucking rich country runners allowed to only eat Eton Messe when they go to Eton and we have to eat it for every meal!!! (He violently smashes the bowl of Eton Messe on the grounded)
Thales: Now you've made a mess...
Curtain down. Lights up.
-------------------- INTERVAL-----------------------
Act 4: SOPHROSYNE
Scene 1:
Thales and Lazaros continue washing up in silence. Carefully Thales sweeps up the remains of the bowl and Eton Messe and deposits them in the bin.
Curtain down. Lights up.
-------------------- INTERVAL-----------------------
Act 5: EPOCHE
Scene 1:
Thales and Lazaros continue washing up.
Lazaors: (Stops suddenly) Look an audience! (Pointing at the audience)
Thales: I know
Lazaros runs over to a small wall makes out of garish children's building blocks with the number four chalked on it which has been standing innocuously on the side of the stage throughout the play and kicks it over. He comes back and they continue washing up.
Curtain down. Lights up.
-------------------- INTERVAL-----------------------
Act 6: AXIOS
Scene 1:
Lazaros and Thales have almost finished the washing up.
A woman's voice shouts from offstage "I'm coming out!"
Lazaros: (Sighs loudly)
Thales: For she will always be outside...
Chorus: (Offstage) OUTSIDE!
Thales: ...never to seen or heard again. Locked against here will, fettered the very breathing earth which invests her souls and body. Oh Christ! Why!? Why!? (Shouting) Carrying on into nothing sequencing into death itself (whispering. Thales slumps down despondently next to Lazaros' tense form)
Lazaros: I see now. Excuse for a moment... I must get a breath of fresh air... just a moment outside... (Lazaros leaves, Thales stands quietly weeping, on his own by the sink)
Thales: You've left the tap running...
Curtain down. Lights up.
-------------FINE-----------------
So there you have it. The first time I showed it to the programming director at the National Theatre she wept, broke down, it was very sad. She was unable to speak for several minutes but she finally agreed that she had to program it.
You may be finding it hard to concentrate on this after the enormity of what you have just read but please don't become overwhelmed. You may be asking yourself, "how can one human being produce such perfection?" And I would say "while the work is perfection, the vessel is not. I am simply a channel for a higher power, and while I am a literary and artistic genius even I when I wrote it could not conceive of the great and powerful work it would become."
I hope you can carry on living your life having read what you have read, it affects everyone in a different way but just remember, if you suddenly feel that you must change your life, then do it, live as a new person, let the art transform you into something new!
(And buy a copy of the play from my short order website for £169.99. It's worth it.)
No comments:
Post a Comment