The Theatre of E. E. Cummings by e. e. cummings

Author:e. e. cummings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liveright

ANTHROPOS

or

THE FUTURE OF ART

SCENE: one-half of the dim interior of a hemispherical cave. In the foreground — to the audience’s left, three uncouth infrahuman creatures smothered in filthy skins squat, warming their gnarled paws at what was once a fire — to the audience’s right, a naked man (his back toward the trio) is cautiously, with a few crude painting tools, outlining some monster on the upcurving wall before him. In the central background hangs a curtain of skins: somewhere behind this curtain, a sequence of rattling gushing hissing rumbling clanking noises repeats itself without interruption.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE (staring at the embers, speaks grayly): Well, as I was saying . . .

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE (ditto): Ugh-huh.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE (ditto): I know what you mean, G.

A pause. All three stare dully at the embers. The man continues to paint, warily and precisely, on the wall before him.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: What we need is a slogan.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Absolutely.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: That’s talking, O, my boy.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: You’re on the right track, O.

Another pause. The three stare. The outline grows.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: How do you like this?

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Which?

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “Taboogeyman’ll get you if you don’t watch out.”

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Too long, D, too long.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: And much too true.

Another pause. The three stare. Planes begin.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: I have an idea.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: No!

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Let’s hear it, O.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “Save your sorrows for tomorrows.”

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Pretty weak. (To 3rd) What do you say, D?

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Sure. They want something more positive.

Another pause. The three stare. Tones build.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Here’s a beaut.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Ye-ay-uh?

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “Get wise to yourself.”

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Nn-nn.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Too matter-of-fact.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: You must interest their imaginations, G.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: They’re just children after all, you know.

Another pause. The three stare. Masses coalesce.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Listen.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: WELL?

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “Time is money.”

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Nothing doing.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: We’ve got to kid ’em along. (To 1st) Haven’t we, G?

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Remember, D, they have sensibilities.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Why not appeal to their higher natures, eh?

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: That’s the stuff, O; give ’em something ideelistic.

Another pause. The three stare. Volumes poise.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: I’ve thought of a peach!

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Fire away, O.

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “It’s crucified.”

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Rotten.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: No punch.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Insipid.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Lacks pep.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Too psychological.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: They wouldn’t understand it.

Another pause. The three stare. Color weaves.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Zowie!

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Shoot, G!

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Spit it out, G, old man!

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Come clean!

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Make it snappy!

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Shake a leg!

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Let’s go!

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “Nothing succeeds like success.”

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: AWFUL.

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: I should say NOT.

Another pause. The three stare. The elephantine design has not quite achieved itself — the man hesitates, perplexed.

ALL THREE INFRAHUMAN CREATURES (simultaneously): I GOT IT!

They leap up.

FIRST INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: “Ev-

SECOND INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: O-

THIRD INFRAHUMAN CREATURE: Lution.”

ALL THREE

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.