Sentence Death
Cast:
Subject
Verb
Adjective
Direct Object
Indirect Object
Prepositional Phrase
Setting: The ether of idea and thought.
(Lights up, enter Subject)
Subject: Subject. Subject. Subject. Subject. Subject. Subject....
(continues softly)
(enter Verb, muttering, looking at floor)
Verb: Verb. Verb. Verb. Verb. Verb. Verb....
(continues softly)
(eventually Verb bumps into Subject, they look at each other, their hearts open up, great passion develops, they hug and look into each other's eyes)
Subject: Verb?
Verb: (nodding) Subject?
(Subject nods, they continue holding onto each other and walking around the stage)
Verb: Subject verb.
Subject: Subject verb.
(continues softly in any manner Subject and Verb wish, enter Adjective)
Adjective: Adjective. Adjective. Adjective. Adjective. Adjective. Adjective.
(Subject and Verb move to Adjective)
Subject: Adjective? (points to self) Subject. (points to Verb) Verb.
Adjective: (eyes light up, points to self) Adjective!
(they all hug, and begin speaking quickly, excitedly)
Adjective: Adjective subject verb!
Subject: Subject verb adjective!
Verb: Adjective verb subject!
(continue on softly with variations on that theme, enter Direct Object)
Direct Object: Direct object. Direct object. Direct object. Direct Object. Direct Object.
(continues softly)
(the group approaches)
Verb: Direct object?
Direct Object: (nodding) Direct object.
Verb: (introducing) Verb. Subject. Adjective.
(They all touch Direct Object)
Direct Object: (stunned at this turn of events, huge smile) Verb? Subject? Adjective?
(Verb, Subject and Adjective all nodding)
Direct Object: Subject verb adjective direct object!
(variations on this as they hug and walk around, delerium at their good fortune, enter Indirect Object)
Indirect Object: Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object.
(continue softly)
(group approaches)
Direct Object: Indirect Object?
Indirect Object: (nodding) Indirect object.
Direct Object: Direct object!
(they all hug, introduce themselves)
Adjective: Adjective!
Subject: Subject!
Verb: Verb!
Indirect Object: Verb subject adjective indirect object direct object!
(this continues softly and excitedly, enter Prepositional Phrase)
Prepositional Phrase: Prepositional Phrase. Prepositional Phrase. Prepositional Phrase. Prepositional Phrase. Prepositional Phrase. Prepositional Phrase.
(continues softly, group approaches)
Subject: Prepositional phrase?
(Prepositional Phrase nods)
Subject: (introducing) Subject. Verb. Adjective. Direct object. Indirect object.
(Prepositional Phrase jumps into the arms of the group)
Prepositional Phrase: Verb subject prepositional phrase adjective indirect object direct object!
(variations continue for a little while, then they draw very close in the group hug, quiet words are exchanged)
All: (A chant, starting in low, then starting to grow) Sentence. Sentence. Sentence! Sentence!! Sentence!!! Sentence!!!!
(They quiet down, then they nod in agreement, they spread out, taking time to put themselves into proper order, shuffling around, then joining hands, facing audience, looking triumphant and glorious, they are in order, left to right, as they speak)
Subject: Salad...
Verb: remembered...
Indirect Object: himself...
Adjective: intractable...
Direct Object: colon...
Prespositional Phrase: with seagulls!
(they smile a little less excitedly, then look confused, then say it again, more quietly)
Subject: Salad...
Verb: remembered...
Indirect Object: himself...
Adjective: intractable...
Direct Object: colon...
Prespositional Phrase: with seagulls...
(they barely acknowledge one another as they part company, each slowly wandering off stage, speaking meekly, at the same time)
Subject: Subject. Subject. Subject. Subject.... (continues as Subject exits)
Verb: Verb. Verb. Verb. Verb.... (continuing during exit)
Direct Object: Direct object. Direct object. Direct object. Direct object.... (while exiting)
Prepositional Phrase: Prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrase.... (while exiting)
Indirect Object: Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object. Indirect object.... (while exiting)
(Adjective stands there, dismayed but thinking, looks up and asks for help)
Adjective: Writer?
(lights out)
(end)
1 comment:
People frequently say to me: "What did that play mean?"
I say to them: "Why are you so stupid?" or "Fifty bucks? For what?!"
Anyway, this one was meant as a parable of group dynamics. The message being that, despite all their mutual acceptance and empowerment, they still need a good leader.
Its a-for this here friend-a-mine, a authoring-type woman who can write her some words real fancy-such.
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