Copyright held by the Manhattan Experimental Theater Workshop
View Permission for Production Policy
Under our own influence
Directed by Gwethalyn and the directing team
Mortals speak:
Lines given with rhythm in round fashion once full voice then three times quietly
Hannah: Where the embers glow and die and Apollo sees the future in ashes
Havana: Terror Shakes my heart and I cry your wild cries
Jordan: Riddles – all you can say are riddles, murk and darkness
Lakin: You were my golden sun.
Mindi: A small beginning give us grounds for hope
Silence (six breaths)
Gods speak:
Lines begin all at once whispered and quick – repeat four times louder and slower each time – then given one after the other while the others breathe tremendously
Justin: Come with your face aflame with wine
Rebecca: He didn’t flinch at murder, he’ll never flinch at words.
Paul: I say you are the murderer you hunt.
Hunter: This is my blood my nature. I will never betray it.
Mortals: (Two breaths then Gasp) You see us before you now. Clinging to your alters. (Gasp)
Each begins feverishly repeating their line over and over at a whisper.
The whispers continue under the gods next lines.
During the next section the gods manipulate the mortals from on high.
Gods:
Justin: In a world of corrupt creatures there is no guarantee.
Paul and Rebecca: A shadow, bigger than you, standing over you.
Hunter: You can’t stop it.
Rebecca: Doing what you want gets you places.
All: But nothing can get away.
Justin: Combine emotion with logic.
Rebecca and Hunter: Pretend you’re pulling the strings.
Paul: It is in front of you getting closer and closer.
Paul, Justin, & Rebecca: You can’t do anything about it.
After their lines the Gods make a steady rhythm with their voices.
The Mortals have different reactions to the response of the Gods. They give their lines desperately.
Mortals Speak:
Lakin:
As if a puppet master were tugging at the strings.
It makes me feel angry and a little lost like looking at myself from very very far away.
Everything is blacked out and still. Terrified. Desperate.
Trying to ignore it by all means possible.
Anxiety. Longing. My feet sink into the ground like quicksand.
My heart deflates at an alarming rate.
Mindi:
If there is nothing I can do about a situation, no matter how horrible then why worry about it?
It is as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I can’t get away from it. It will always be there.
Blind and ignorant relief.
I feel confident, yeah. A light feathery brain.
Jordan:
Skin under my eyes is sagging, fingers are heavy. Knees are bricks.
A rat sloshing around in my stomach.
My mind wanders in to the deep down of my inside.
Shoulders stoop. Unworthy. Heavy with burden.
Everything reminds me of what I’ve done wrong.
Hanna:
My eyes connect to the ground and quietly hold on for dear life.
My spine seems to be disconnected from my head.
I feel dizzy. My entire body quivers.
It feels light and airy at first then there is regret.
Maybe it is not right.
Rag Doll. Lost Child.
Havana:
Confident. Certain. Cocky as hell. A driving force behind me.
The tips of my fingers tingle like bells.
Determination. My nose rises into the air.
It’s like a fire that grows filling my body with flames.
My mind swells. Taste of copper in my mouth.
Red. Cold. Delicious fire.
Mortals: (two breaths) Is it the right decision? Did we give up our choice?
SILENCE (8 slow beats)
Mortals Speak:
Each line is repeated by all the others in a whisper except Mindi’s line which is repeated full voice. A breath by all mortals works to break the rhythm between each line. On each ending breath one of the gods changes to a new pose, on the last breath they all begin a machine.
Hannah: Where the embers glow and die and Apollo sees the future in ashes
All: Where the embers glow and die and Apollo sees the future in ashes (breath)
Havana: Terror Shakes my heart and I cry your wild cries
All: Terror Shakes my heart and I cry your wild cries (breath)
Jordan: Riddles – all you can say are riddles, murk and darkness
All: Riddles – all you can say are riddles, murk and darkness (breath)
Lakin: You were my golden sun.
All: You were my golden sun. (breath)
Mindi: A small beginning give us grounds for hope
All: A small beginning give us grounds for hope (breath)
Gods (begin loudly get softer repeat three times):
The action of your dreams. Your Choice.
There is no guarantee.
To escape. To find out. To appease the gods.
To decide. To go free.
Heavy with burden. Power of choice.
There is no guarantee.
(Mortals after the gods have gone once through
their chant begin softly, getting louder repeat 3 times):
Gods:
The action of your dreams. Your Choice.
There is no guarantee.
To escape. To find out. To appease the gods.
To decide. To go free.
Heavy with burden. Power of choice.
There is no guarantee.
The action of your dreams. Your Choice.
There is no guarantee.
To escape. To find out. To appease the gods.
To decide. To go free.
Heavy with burden. Power of choice.
There is no guarantee.
Mortals:
To fight my fate
To seek the oracle
To solve the riddle
To curse the murderer
To commit the murder
To find the truth
To save my people
To keep my promise
To fight my fate
To seek the oracle
To solve the riddle
To curse the murderer
To commit the murder
To find the truth
To save my people
To keep my promise
To fight my fate
To seek the oracle
To solve the riddle
To curse the murderer
To commit the murder
To find the truth
To save my people
To keep my promise
To Choose
To Choose
To Choose
To Choose
