Writing
black stage, one actor, one tech
Walking in the Light, a ballet in three acts, by Stewart Brann
Act One- “In the beginning…”
Cast- Every, fan operator, fan hanging from its own chord.
The Fan-
Lights slowly brighten to reveal (Every) in fetal position on side under the fan.
Fan, on three-speed variable control, lowest position, is turned on and slowly Every begins to wake up- 2 minutes.
Sitting under the fan, Every rocks to the fan, happily humming and singing.
Fan on second position, Every rises, dancing gently and playfully with the fan, back and forth- 5minutes.
Every meets (invisible) Eve, Operator holds fan in middle of the stage, hand holding, dancing, kissing.
The trouble begins, Eve invites Every off stage with sexy.
Every returns and barely missed by (operator pushing) fan on high speed, moving periodically, but now strategically manipulated by operator.
Every walks around the stage, minding his own business.
Every is barely missed by a chaotically moving fan
Distracted Every avoids the fan while talking to someone, typing on computer (cube in), talking on cell phone, sitting in chair (cube in), walking purposefully, fan becomes (operator) dangerous and Every in a dangerous world.
Frightened Every makes it to center stage and lies down to go to sleep (two cubes) with the fan swinging over his head.
--Curtain--
Act 2- Every Day
Props: black 2-foot cubes and board, (rotatable platform, lock at 45˚ ?),
Operator: to remove and replace bench into and out of circle
(Every) Person in gray full-body lycra suit
Curtains open on Every sleeping (cubes and board in).
Every stretches and gets out of bed
Operator moves cubes and board out of circle
Walk means “moon walk” everywhere to stay in circle
Walk to bathroom. (cube in), Sit on toilet flushes
Walk to Shower (cube out)
Walk to Brush teeth
Walk to get dressed.
Walk out of house, lock door.
(cube in) walk to car
(cube out) walk to work
get cell phone call
open door of work
wave hello
(cube in) sit at desk type on computer
(cube out) wave at students
take a note from a child and read
take up homework, put on desk
write on chalk board
lecture
experiment- pouring into another then “boom!” is seen
bow and hand out notebooks
take up notebooks
wave good-by
(x2 and faster)
Walk to lunch
Eat lunch (cube in)
Cell phone call (cube out) walk away
(2x and fast)
Leave work get in car (cube in)
Go to gym (cube out)
Get dressed
Swim (cube in)
Get dressed (cube out)
Drive home (cube in)
Open door (cube out)
Eat dinner
Read book
Take shower
Dress for bed
Go to bed (cube in)
--Curtain--
Act 3- Walking in the light
Every, cube, book, hoola-hoop with two push-pull rods for operator
Every in fetal position inside hula
Waking up inside the light
Joyous dance in the light
(cube in) Dance on cube in the light
Tired, sit down in the light
(Cube out) Sit on ground for a while till bored
The light moves to left
Bumps into Every, he jumps up, annoyed
Light continues to move left, under feet and to other side of the stage
Light stops
Every, angry, stomps to the light and in
Opens book and reads
pause
Light moves slowly and he looks up from his book and moves to stay inside the light
Light stops and he keeps moving out of the light
Every looks up and motions for the light to come to him
It does not
There is a stand-off
Every flips through his book for answers
He puts the book down
Runs to the light and jumps (in it)
Light moves quickly to avoid him
He tries to sneak up on the light on hands and knees
As he reaches out to touch the light
Pleads with the light to return
Offers it money
The light exits the stage
Every looks up, seeing that the light is gone, sits down and cries
The light enters from another part of the stage
Every sees it and takes one step towards the light
The light moves toward him and stops
Every takes a step
The light moves towards him
Every takes a step… until
Every moves into the light
Every does a dance of celebration and thanks
Light moves, he moves
Light continues to move with him
Every walks around the stage in the light
Every lies down in the middle of the stage,
Then, curling into a fetal position, in the light.
--Curtain--