‘It’s a Prairie Tale’ – NETG, 1993.
Performance
Dank, dusty, sweat-smells in the soft blue light.
Rope, sandbags, tape-marks glow.
Scene-stays, props on table in regimental order.
Act 1,2,3.
Black on white ‘Silence for Performance’.
Soft sneakers pressed gently in front of each other.
Movements slow – considered care.
Audience clapping.
Murmur as Curtains Close
Act 1.
Audrey rushes off-stage, clattering
– chattering to her waiting beau,
loudly declaring her excitement
at first performance.
Two fingers to mouth for silence ignored.
Quick, frustrated grab in the once-again dim light.
Hand wraps around wooden grip of silence
sign banged impatiently against thigh.
Hushed stumble down to dressing dungeons.
Annoyed – door locked – can’t knock – too loud.
Scratch a little – reign in – wait with rebuke ready.
Click (unlock) creak open. Not welcome.
Insist. Force sign through crack ‘Quiet’.
Race back upstairs, heart pumping
– missed the Curtain Open Act 2.
Act 3. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Heels approach uncaring,
echoing through wooden stairs and stage floor. Audrey!
Mouth opens, frustration bites hard and I scream “QUIET!”
Shattering the cast onstage into obedience.
Even the audience waits in breath-held awe
for the next development.
Frances Macaulay Forde © 2001
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