Copyright & Permission to Reproduce
Motionless
with lines chosen by the company from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
directed by the directing team
under our own influence
[There is one character, Victor, who traverses the performance space in a "slow motion race" that takes the entire time of the performance. The rest of the company is "the company."]
[A]
[Each member of the company is standing in a position at the edge of the performance space, separated from the others.]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [2 voices]
Like the turning of a wheel [4 voices]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [2 voices]
Like the turning of a wheel [4 voices]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [2 voices]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
Like the turning of a wheel [1 voice]
[This is followed by regular, slow drum-beats for about 10 seconds.]
Victor: Did the principle of life proceed.
[B]
[During the following, the company moves to form three groups of images: The images are of caring.]
Group A: I gradually saw. I saw plainly. I gradually saw plainly.
Clear stream. Trees shaded me.
Group B: I crept along. I crept along the shores of a river. Among its willow islands.
My place of refuge. I remained motionless. The thunder ceased.
Group C: Happy, happy earth! The stars shown. The clouds passed. The dark pines rose.
A delightful house. A fire to warm the chill.
[At the beginning of the following, each of the three groups begins to change its image to one of lust, rejection, rape, or some other vile action/concept.]
Group A: We grow older. Softened feelings steal into my heart.
The instructor of my brothers. The employment of others.
Group B: I love to tend to her. I love my cousin tenderly. I embrace her.
Nothing could equal my delight.
Group C: Is she accused? Everyone knows that. No one believes it. You are mistaken.
[The following is repeatedly whispered in unison, building the whispered volume then letting it fade away.]
[As this is whispered, each group detaches itself from the images it has made, arriving at a neutral position.]
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
The survivors are the greatest sufferers.
Victor: Did the principle of life proceed?
[C]
[Each member of the company chooses one of the following lines to say. They need not all be said. Nor need they be said in this order. The only exception is the line marked with an asterisk, which must be said.]
[During the following, the company moves to form a pile of bodies, roughly in the center of the performance space.]
The surface is uneven, rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descending low.
Utterly and entirely lost.
Exploded systems, useless names.
The sounding cataract haunts like a passion.
On the point of death; my ravings.
My hopes fluctuate.
Hard, and chill, and bare.
*I saw the grave-worm crawling in the folds of her flannel.
A wildness in my eyes.
The sun becomes heartless.
Rain and snow pen around me.
I see the dreaded spectre glide into the room.
Mighty rivers are frozen.
[One person then shouts the following line.] I start from my sleep with horror.
[D]
[At this shout, each member of the company jumps up and runs to the place where s/he began the piece and forms a shape ready for the next section, which is a pattern of chasing/being chased.] [A steady drum beat from a single drum stick, on metal, wood, or cement, accompanies the movement in this section. This accompaniment is concluded with a final louder drum beat.]
[E]
I saw the grave-worm. [1 voice]
I saw the grave-worm. [1 voice]
I saw the grave-worm. [1 voice]
[At this point, the company begins to move onto "the object" while continuing the chant. This chant repeats, continuing just long enough for everyone in the company to arrive in position, and to take the shape of a seed.]
I saw the grave-worm. [1 voice] [beat, beat] Hard. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Chill. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Bare. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Useless. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [new voice] [beat, beat] Hard. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Chill. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Bare. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Useless. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [new voice] [beat, beat] Hard. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Chill. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Bare. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Useless. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [new voice] [beat, beat] Hard. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Chill. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Bare. [the rest of the company]
I saw the grave-worm. [same voice] [beat, beat] Useless. [the rest of the company]
Victor: Did the principle of life succeed?
[F]
[There is a snarling, biting sound from the company, out of which gradually emerges the following lines. Again,each member says one of these lines. Each line may be repeated as often and as varied as the performer chooses. This is a kind of word jazz in which each allows the other to have her/his say, and uses her/his own line as accompaniment.]
[During the saying of the lines, each member of the company grows into an ugly flower.]
It is dark when I awake. So cold. So desolate.
My heart is full. Cursed, cursed creator!
The dull yellow eye. Skin scarcely.
The work of muscles and arteries beneath.
Am I a monster, a blot upon the earth?
I am a wild beast that breaks the toils.
I am a wild beast that destroys the objects that obstruct me.
My shriveled complexion, my straight black lips.
Did I request thee maker?
[When the word jazz is done, as determined in rehearsal, the company repeatedly whispers the following. It should be in unison for the first three times. Then it may fall apart and gradually come to a stop.]
[As the company whispers the following they allow their flowers to wither.]
I am alone. I am alone. I am alone.
I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone.
Victor: Now I have finished, the beauty, the dream, vanish, breathless terror, disgust.
[G]
[The following is chanted in unison, building from a low vocalization to full volume. We will experiment with how precisely to end the piece. This chanting may be mixed or finished with snarls, grunts and growls; but whatever is the last line or last sounds, that is the climax of the piece.]
[The company rise, during the unison chant, and then bury Victor with their bodies. They should be facing out, up, down, anywhere except at Victor or at each other.]
Did I request thee maker? Did I request thee maker? Did I request thee maker?
Did I request thee maker? Did I request thee maker?
From my clay to mould me man?
Did I solicit thee from darkness to promote me?
I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone. I am alone.
I am alone. I am alone.
I AM ALONE.
[Blackout.]
