Exhibit 'A' by Neil LaBute

Author:Neil LaBute [LABUTE, NEIL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: DRA000000
ISBN: 9781468316537
Publisher: The Overlook Press
Published: 2018-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

EXHIBIT ‘A’

EXHIBIT ‘A’ had its world premiere as part of “Walking the Tightrope” (a collection of anti-censorship plays) at Theatre Delicatessen in London, England, in January 2015.

It was directed by Cressida Brown.

ARTIST Syrus Lowe

SUBJECT Kelly Burke

Silence. Darkness.

Lights up to reveal the SUBJECT. Down on all fours (or bent over a table or whatever works). Tape over his mouth. Tied up. Looking out at us.

After a moment the ARTIST walks out and stands over him (or next to him or whatever works).

ARTIST … good evening and welcome. Thank you for coming. I’m glad you all could make it here. Much appreciated. With so many entertainment choices available to you in a city of this size, it’s nice to see it when people make the choice to actively support the arts. I love that. I really do. I dig it. Makes me feel good … good about what I do and why I do it. (Beat.) I’m an artist and so this … (Indicating the audience.) … seeing all of you here, being a part of this … it means a lot. (Beat.) Believe me, seeing those others out front with their signs and placards, screaming shit at me when I arrived … I understand, I do. The arts bring out the passion in us and that’s good. That is great. But come on, it’s also scary! I mean, those people are … they want me to stop. Or worse. To die. To be dead. DEAD. For what? For being an artist? For making “art?” And I know, I know, I am touching on a subject here that is volatile—taboo, even—but that’s the point! This needs to be exposed … examined … evaluated. (Beat.) And where better than here? In a sacred space like this one: an art gallery. Just because it’s scary and tough, it shouldn’t stop us from interacting … from us coming together in a moment such as this one—as artist, subject and audience—and exploring it. Should it?

The ARTIST starts to unbuckle his belt and remove it. Keeps one eye on the audience.

ARTIST Maybe you’ve heard about me … what I’ve been working on this year. On this. Right here. (Pointing to the SUBJECT.) I’ve been working on this for the past several years, actually. I mean, not just this one—this subject over here … but this exhibit. My “Exhibit ‘A’.” That’s what I call it. “Exhibit ‘A’.” (He smiles.) I was gonna call it ASS or MANHOOD or something like that but … you know … it seemed a little bit obvious.

The ARTIST pulls off his shirt now, revealing his bare chest to the audience.

ARTIST To be honest … I don’t think there’s anything we can’t do in an art gallery—once you call it “art,” give something that label—then it should be safe and off limits. Whatever you do or say or create … if you truly believe it to be art, then it is. At least to the artist.

The ARTIST takes off his shoes now. Places them carefully next to the SUBJECT.

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