While the sole physically-realised character, Joe, sat motionless (and speechless) on the side of his bed centre stage, he was talked to by a disembodied female voice located somewhere in the microphone-mediated ether. An image of his face -- projected onto a scrim in front of the playing area and filling almost the entire height of the proscenium -- captured every wincing, flinching, squeezing, swimmy-eyed moment of his respone to her monologue.
She reminded him of -- and at times seemed to reproach or even condemn him for -- the transgressions and breaches of faith that marred his life. Also of the fact that his end was nigh and that his religious convictions would soon be put to the test. She was once his lover ("Yes, great love God knows why") but in the end "found better".
The play ended with a tormenting description of the sea-side suicide of another of his conquests:
Gets the tablets and back down the garden and under the viaduct .... Takes a few on the way .... Unconscionable hour by now .... Moon going off the shore behind the hill .... Stands a bit looking at the beaten silver .... Then starts along the edge to a place further down near the Rock .... Imagine what in her mind to make her do that .... Imagine .... Trailing her feet in the water like a child .... Takes a few more on the way .... Will I go on, Joe? ... Eh Joe? ... Lies down in the end with her face a few feet from the tide .... Clawing at the shingle now .... Has it all worked out this time .... Finishes the tube .... There's love for you .... Eh Joe? .... Scoops a little cup for her face in the stones .... The green one .... The narrow one .... Always pale .... The pale eyes .... The look they shed before .... The way they opened after .... Spirit made light .... Wasn't that your description, Joe? ... All right .... You've had the best .... Now imagine .... Before she goes .... Face in the cup .... Lips on a stone .... Taking Joe with her .... Light gone .... 'Joe Joe' .... No sound .... To the stones ....
No comments:
Post a Comment