ANYONE HERE?
SCENE: The stage setting is the same as the auditorium’s most recent performance: Antigone, Death of a Salesman, The Rhinoceros, Breath, whatever; the play itself is unimportant; what matters is that the stage setting be the remains of some previous performance–-one that is no longer playing in the theater.
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After curtain rise, lights up and hold for several moments.
A man of indistinguishable age-–at least 33, but perhaps older, perhaps much older–-enters, stage right. He wears a robe (white), a beard (greying); his hair is shoulder length (grey), and he carries a shepherd’s staff. He wanders about the stage, exhibiting, at different times, different moods: authority, humility, intelligence, wrath, confidence, confusion. He continues to wander. After many long moments of this wandering, he stops at center stage. Looks around. Speaks (in a shout):
"Anyone here!"
No reply. He wanders. Then:
"Anyone else here?"
Wanders about for more moments, changing moods: confidence, doubt, confusion, returning to renewed confidence. Speaks again (not quite a shout):
"Where is everyone?
Pause. Wanders about among props (though seemingly unaware of them as props). Suddenly:
"Where is everyone else?"
Continues wandering. For a moment puts on threatening airs, raises staff, but then tries other moods–-cheerfulness, timidity, sobriety, despair–-angst--before settling into a more comfortable, more inviting atmosphere of congeniality: love. Wanders slowly about stage in silence. Stops. Thinks. Speaks:
"Father?"
Pause.
Reflects.
"My Father?"
Speaks again:
"Son?"
Pause.
Reflects.
"My Son?"
Wanders briefly.
Speaks suddenly:
"Where are you?"
Pause.
Angst. (Also–-perhaps-–schizophrenia.)
Another pause.
Wanders about stage. Stops. Speaks:
"Where am I?"
Wanders. Looks out to audience; seems to notice audience for first time. Looks about stage; seems to notice stage setting for first time. Reflects. Wanders about stage, looking at different stage props. Touches one. Touches another. Another. Tests several for stability, permanence. Eternal value. Faces audience, speaks (slowly):
"Where are we?"
Listens for an answer–-or an echo. Hears neither.
Pause.
Angst.
Looks skyward. Hold. Looks outward: toward audience. Hold. Looks outward: offstage, right and left. Hold. Looks downward: to his feet. Hold. Wanders about stage, touching props on the set. Hold. Stops. Speaks:
"What should I do?"
No reply. Wanders about stage, still touching props on the set. Stops. Speaks again:
"What should I do with these?"
Again, no reply. Continues to wander. Continues to touch things. Picks up one prop. Looks at it; inspects it. Drops it. It crashes to pieces. Pause. He picks up two of the bigger, broken pieces. Returns them to their prior position on the floor, with the other broken, smaller pieces on the stage floor. Picks up another prop. Looks at it. Studies it. Drops it. It too crashes, but not to pieces. It does not break. It remains intact. Pause. Reflects. Looks. Pause. Reflects. Looks around. Pause. Reflects. Stomps on unbroken prop. Breaks it to pieces. Pause. Leaves pieces in their new position. Wanders about stage, among props.
Stops suddenly, as if in new thought. Speaks (slowly):
"Have I done anything wrong?"
Listens for an answer--or an echo. Hears neither.
"Have I done anything else wrong?"
Again, no reply. Wanders about stage, touching objects. Wanders about stage, not touching objects. Wanders about stage, wandering. Wanders off stage.
Pause.
Lights dim. Curtain falls.
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