Illyria (TCG Edition) by Richard Nelson

Author:Richard Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theatre Communications Group
Published: 2019-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Scene 3

August, 1958. The temporary stage of the Shakespeare Festival, Belvedere lawn, Central Park. Night. Eleven P.M.

A short time after the final performance of Twelfth Night. What remains of the last scene: two camp stools, a bench, a pewter pitcher and steins on the ground and prop leaves. Faintly, from another part of the park—folk dancing music; as well as other park sounds and distant traffic throughout.

Joe sits on the bench and looks out into the empty ‘theater.’ John is entering with a small box for the prop leaves.

JOE: There you are, John.

JOHN: I just heard Carol saying, she thinks she now understands her ‘fucking’ part. (As Carol) ‘And now I have to fucking stop.’ Actors, Joe …

JOE: Actors … I know, John. Oh I know. I do think she got better.

JOHN: I need to pick up all these— (Leaves, etc.) They’re borrowed.

JOE: You want help?

JOHN: I can do it.

JOE: I’ve been a stage manager, John.

JOHN: I know.

JOE (Looking out): Look out there. I’ve been watching them. Why are they still here? The last two. And what the hell are they talking about so earnestly.

JOHN: Maybe the play.

JOE: No. No. I doubt that. Maybe—where to eat … Whether to walk or take the subway. Whose bed they’re going to make love in.

JOHN: Joe, we have to figure out how we’re going to get this goddamn stage out of here. And when do we do that? Tomorrow?

JOE: We’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll get a truck.

JOHN (Smiles): Garbage truck?

JOE: If I have to.

JOHN: Good. I don’t think we can store it anywhere. Can we? I’ve asked around … So we’ll have to junk it for scrap. That seems a shame.

JOE: Don’t be sentimental, John. It’s just a bunch of wood. And next summer we’ll get a real trailer and stage. And a truck. I have a friend in Queens. He’ll give us a deal. It’ll even be bigger. And one that doesn’t bounce.

JOHN: Or feel like it’ll flip over when you drag it around a corner …

JOE: Guaranteed. He’s a friend.

JOHN: Good. That’ll be a nice change.

JOE: Nice for you. For stage management. But this was okay. She served us well. She got us this far. Leave them (The camp stools) … I’ll store them in our apartment. We own these, right? We didn’t borrow them? The bench too. It’s a nice bench.

JOHN: I’m not sure, Joe.

JOE: I think we own them.

(Gladys enters.)

GLADYS: Didn’t rain. That would have been a real shame to cancel the last one.

JOE: Is Stuart still here? I know. He ‘loved the show.’ Thinks I’m now a wonderful director. That’s what he says to my face. Is that what he told you?

GLADYS: Stuart said he loved it. (To John) You need help? (He shakes his head, she continues) He’s taking some of the men down to the Cedar … He asked me to see if you’d come. Want to? I’m sure he’d be thrilled—

JOE: I’m going to go out with John. Buy him a drink. He’s earned it. Just us stage managers.

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