Look,
sometimes I get notes from people about how things on stage are not acceptable
behaviors and too triggering or extreme for a character to do and still be
liked (or the play to be liked) by audiences.
These same
people watch almost nothing but SUPER extreme art films but… whatever.
Hold the
theater to the restraints of corporate HR approved market tested global
blockbuster films.
Fine.
Let’s do it.
Write a
totally ethical play.
No actions can
be unethical. Nothing can participate in advancing a problematic history or
pattern or culture.
All actions
have consequences that are acknowledged… perhaps even physicalized RIGHT ON THE
STAGE.
If there’s the
need for a debate in a moment, fine. Have it.
Then move on
with a decision and another action.
Use a
classical structure. Stasis, inciting incident, rising action, etc. Heck, LABEL
IT.
Bonus: NO
FOURTH WALL… and a pretty horse.
*******
And again, still plugging
away on the Spellbound new play...
*******
SARAH and AUGGIE are standing close together.
AUGGIE is holding his guitar in front of him. He's not playing at the moment, but he could.
SARAH
OK,
hand it over.
AUGGIE
What?
SARAH
The
guitar.
AUGGIE
Why?
SARAH
'Cause
you're no longer required to entertain anyone?
AUGGIE
I
forget it's there.
SARAH
It's
there. It's a part of you. Like an extra limb.
AUGGIE
Yeah.
SARAH
It's
also between us at the moment.
AUGGIE
Oh. Right.
AUGGIE, almost reluctantly, disengages from the
guitar.
SARAH holds out her hand for it.
AUGGIE (cont'd)
I
can put it away.
SARAH
I
know.
She extends her hand again.
SARAH (cont'd)
I
want you to trust me with it.
AUGGIE
I'm
not going to treat you like you're my roadie.
SARAH
I'm
not looking at it like that.
AUGGIE
How
are you looking at it?
SARAH
I'm
looking at it like you trusting me with something very important to you. Like you trusting me not to break it. Because I care about it as much as you do.
AUGGIE
I
trust you.
She extends her hand again.
He hands over the guitar.
As she speaks, she carefully places the guitar in a
stand. She even secures it in the stand.
SARAH
I
love this guitar.
This
guitar, your music, brought us together.
It's
like your baby.
So
I'm going to treat it with the care it deserves.
SARAH turns back to AUGGIE.
AUGGIE is shifting on his feet.
She smiles.
SARAH (cont'd)
You
feel a little naked without it, don't you?
AUGGIE
Don't
make fun of me.
SARAH
I'm
not.
I'm
not.
It's
sweet.
Thank
you.
AUGGIE
Why
is this so weird?
SARAH
Because
we haven't had a proper date yet, not without the guitar.
AUGGIE
We
haven't?
SARAH
We
haven't. I see you at a gig, or hang out
while you practice or write something new.
The guitar's always there.
AUGGIE
Between
us.
SARAH
Figured
I ought to do something.
You
have that issue with all your female friends?
AUGGIE
Didn't
think so.
But
maybe that's why some of them didn't stick around.
SARAH
Couldn't
stand the competition?
AUGGIE
It's
not a competition.
SARAH
Oh,
I know that.
The
guitar can give you things I can't.
I
can give you things the guitar can't.
We're
operating in different arenas.
AUGGIE
I
like your arena.
SARAH
And
I like your music. So I don't mind.
I
just wondered.
Who
you were.
AUGGIE
Without
a guitar attached to me?
SARAH
Yup.
AUGGIE
So,
how am I holding up so far?
SARAH
I
like it.
AUGGIE
Good.
You
could probably get closer now.
If
you want.
SARAH
Oh.
She does.
AUGGIE
Like
it.
SARAH
Yes,
I think I do.
SARAH looks over to the guitar.
SARAH (cont'd)
Should
we shield its eyes?
AUGGIE
Nah,
that's OK. That old guitar has seen a
lot.
SARAH
Oh
really?
AUGGIE
Really.
SARAH
So
we should probably add something new to its memory bank.
AUGGIE
Gotta
be careful though. You never know what
might come back out of it again later.
SARAH
You
think I'm worth a song or two, do you?
AUGGIE
Right
now, I can't begin to see the end of the songs I could write about you.
SARAH
Careful. I'm likely to hold you to that.
AUGGIE
You
go right ahead.
SARAH and AUGGIE hold one another.
Perhaps they kiss.
The guitar sits nearby.
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