Interview with the Sphinx by Jack Matthews

Author:Jack Matthews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: American Literature
Publisher: Personville Press
Published: 2013-03-20T05:00:00+00:00

Interview with the Sphinx

A Long Play in One Act

Cast of Characters

SPHINX : A woman of indeterminate age, who remains invisible throughout most of the play, but reveals herself as attractively flamboyant when she finally does appear.

INTERVIEWER: A man in his thirties or forties, of some sophistication and obviously skilled in interviewing. His voice and mannerisms are suggestive of both the professional broadcaster and the academic intellectual.

SCENE: A room somewhere in a modern city. Throughout most of the play, this room remains dark, except for a small pool of light, showing the INTERVIEWER.

TIME: An unspecified present.

* * * *

A completely dark room, except for the INTERVIEWER, who is sitting in a pool of light, facing upstage, with an open notebook in his hand. The only pieces of furniture visible are a table, lamp and the chair he is seated in. The SPHINX's feet, shod in stylish high-heeled shoes, and the lower sections of her shapely legs, comfortably crossed, can be seen from both sides. Perfume pervades the atmosphere. The voice of the SPHINX is a pleasant, rather seductive, though ageless, mezzo-soprano. Her voice seems to emanate from the darkness generally, not from any clearly localized source. If such an effect were theatrically possible upon some ideal stage, one might say that her voice fills and warms this room much as her perfume does. [If desired, her voice and that of the INTERVIEWER may easily be amplified through what is ostensibly an audio recorder placed upon the table beside the lamp; of course, for the most of the play, their voices could even be recorded].

AT RISE: The INTERVIEWER has just gotten settled in his chair and is about to begin questioning the SPHINX.

INTERVIEWER. First of all, I want to thank you for this opportunity to interview you. Although I must say, the circumstances are … ah, a bit unusual. I hope you don't mind my saying so.

SPHINX. Of course not. But everything has been explained to you, hasn't it?

INTERVIEWER. I think so. Although I'm still not sure why you insist upon being interviewed in darkness.

SPHINX. Well … let's just say that it's to protect my privacy. I'm sure you understand. Although I certainly am aware of how ironic it is.

INTERVIEWER. Of how ironic what is?

SPHINX. What? Oh. How ironic it is that everybody wants to become famous, but the instant they succeed, they begin to crave the privacy they've just relinquished by becoming famous.

INTERVIEWER. Is that how it is with you?

SPHINX. No.

INTERVIEWER. But … I thought you were saying that …

SPHINX. (airily) Oh, I'm not famous any longer. Perhaps I was at one time … but you see that was a long, long time ago.

INTERVIEWER. Well, I think most people would agree that you're still very famous. Do you object if I record the interview as well as take notes?

SPHINX. Of course not. It's all the same to me.

INTERVIEWER. Good. Then, let me pursue this matter of your insistence upon darkness. Do you always give your interviews under such strange circumstances? If I may put it that way.

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