Burnt by the Sun (NHB Modern Plays) by Peter Flannery

Author:Peter Flannery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epub, ebook, QuarkXPress
ISBN: 111-1-11-111111-1
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Scene Four

The music room. MITIA – in borrowed dressing gown and still wearing his gas mask – is at the piano along with MAROUSSIA – in a simple white dress now and also wearing her gas mask. They are playing together. Puccini again. Standing or sitting around are VSEVOLOD, OLGA, LIDIA and ELENA – chattering and laughing under the music.

NADIA arrives from outside, taking off her sun bonnet. She stands near the piano, smiling.

OLGA. I remember… Boris had decided to give work to a poor student – Mitia. His job was to make Maroussia work harder on her music – she was such a lazy girl.

MAROUSSIA would look outraged if she weren’t wearing the mask.

And as long as I was here in this room keeping an eye on them, they were serious. Legato… syncopated pedal… appoggiatura… But…

MAROUSSIA takes off her mask, laughing, knowing what’s coming. They are still playing, but the tune is morphing, led by her.

MAROUSSIA. But…

OLGA. Yes, but, one day – I’d only just stepped out of the room but they thought they were safe…

‘Ooooohs’ and ‘Aaaaahs’ of mock concern as they all remember with pleasure the story that’s coming.

KOTOV arrives in a linen suit. He stands apart, watching and listening.

And when I come back in, what do I hear…?

MAROUSSIA is already picking out the first notes of the can-can.

Mitia! You must remember!

They both start playing the can-can, quite slowly at first – but then picking up speed.

MAROUSSIA. The can-can! Mother came back into the room. I was Nadia’s age…

She turns round on the piano stool, facing them, and starts lifting her dress to the knee and kicking her feet.

OLGA. I thought I was going to faint!

MAROUSSIA. And I was doing this!

OLGA (copying her). And with great style for a ten-year-old!

MAROUSSIA shrieks with pleasure at the memory and stands to dance. MITIA picks up the tempo and the volume as the others join in the dance.

KOTOV looks on.

Shrieks of delight from MAROUSSIA and NADIA as they hold hands and dance a full-blown can-can.

KIRIK arrives, running.

KIRIK. They’re dancing! Why didn’t you call me?!

KOTOV (above the music). Because I don’t speak French!

KIRIK joins in, enthusiastically. MOKHOVA arrives.

MOKHOVA (shouting). Serguei Petrovich! Shall I serve lunch? Serguei Petrovich! Shall I serve lunch?!

He ignores her. He watches the dancing and the menacing figure of MITIA, orchestrating the wildness. He seems to be staring straight at KOTOV. His playing becomes slightly discordant and mad; quicker and quicker, louder and louder.

Lunch! Lunch is ready!

VSEVOLOD. Lunch!

KIRIK. Lunch!

MAROUSSIA. No, no! More! More!

KIRIK leads the dance out towards the dining room. MAROUSSIA dances on alone, madly, spinning.

KOTOV stays.

MITIA goes on playing. Very loud, very mad, very menacing. He suddenly stops.

Don’t stop, Mitia! More, more, again, again!

She sees KOTOV. She stops dancing. She regains her senses. She leaves.

MITIA and KOTOV look at one another as MITIA continues the music of madness.

Blackout.

End of Act Two.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.