Shadowplay: Thirteen Ways of Looking at A Carrion Bird, Act I
Shadows on the Wall: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Carrion Bird
A Play in Five Acts by Gathering Shadows Kashira Theatre
ACT I: In a Castle in the Sky
[Scene: A pillared hall with a throne, stage right. The large pillars and the dreamy, pastel landscape beyond them recall the Maxfield Parrish painting "Daybreak," but there are five pillars instead of two. A-ko, dressed in a girl's Ohtori uniform, is sitting on the throne playing with what looks like a Victorian chatelaine -- a large piece of ornamented silver from which depend chains holding a pair of scissors, a ring of keys, a cell phone, a dainty wallet, an appointment or address book, and a small round box which could hold bonbons or pills. B-ko, dressed in a boy's Ohtori uniform, is standing with her back to a pillar, looking towards the throne.]
A-KO: [Sighs and puts her chin in her hand] I have much to do.
B-KO: [Stretching] I will be your humble knight.
A-KO: Of that I have no need.
B-KO: Hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven, for your like on earth I ne'er did see.
A-KO: That name does not belong to me. Hold your peace.
B-KO: I would rather you stopped my mouth.
A-KO: [Stands up] I have much to do. [She walks down the steps leading up to the throne.] I must finish writing. [picking up a book, then a set of large sheets of paper] I must finish building. I must finish this song, this poem, this speech, this tapestry.
B-KO: I broke a mirror. I will have seven years.
A-KO: Seven times seven is forever and ever. First, I must go to my sister.
B-KO: You cannot! You cannot go to where C-ko is.
A-KO: But I must, for I must go to her when she is so sad.
B-KO: But C-ko is--
A-KO: She is my sister and my friend. Bring my robe, my flowers, my finest jewelry.
B-KO: Do you even know the way?
A-KO: It is downward. Many fall down.
B-KO: And few return to the sunlit lands.
A-KO: That does not concern me. [She proceeds to put her hair up and put roses in it, then puts on a long, trailing robe of (possibly red) velvet, a many-stranded necklace of beads, a rose seal ring on one finger, and the chatelaine at her belt.] Give me the gifts.
B-KO: [Hands A-ko a basket covered with a checked cloth, presumably containing food, and a sword that looks suspiciously like the Sword of Dios.] This is not the way.
A-KO: This is the only way. [She puts the basket over one arm, tucks the sword into its handle, and exits stage left, opposite the throne.]
B-KO: [As if to herself, mocking] Where is your white horse now?
[Lights down; end of Act I]
To Act II
A Play in Five Acts by Gathering Shadows Kashira Theatre
ACT I: In a Castle in the Sky
[Scene: A pillared hall with a throne, stage right. The large pillars and the dreamy, pastel landscape beyond them recall the Maxfield Parrish painting "Daybreak," but there are five pillars instead of two. A-ko, dressed in a girl's Ohtori uniform, is sitting on the throne playing with what looks like a Victorian chatelaine -- a large piece of ornamented silver from which depend chains holding a pair of scissors, a ring of keys, a cell phone, a dainty wallet, an appointment or address book, and a small round box which could hold bonbons or pills. B-ko, dressed in a boy's Ohtori uniform, is standing with her back to a pillar, looking towards the throne.]
A-KO: [Sighs and puts her chin in her hand] I have much to do.
B-KO: [Stretching] I will be your humble knight.
A-KO: Of that I have no need.
B-KO: Hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven, for your like on earth I ne'er did see.
A-KO: That name does not belong to me. Hold your peace.
B-KO: I would rather you stopped my mouth.
A-KO: [Stands up] I have much to do. [She walks down the steps leading up to the throne.] I must finish writing. [picking up a book, then a set of large sheets of paper] I must finish building. I must finish this song, this poem, this speech, this tapestry.
B-KO: I broke a mirror. I will have seven years.
A-KO: Seven times seven is forever and ever. First, I must go to my sister.
B-KO: You cannot! You cannot go to where C-ko is.
A-KO: But I must, for I must go to her when she is so sad.
B-KO: But C-ko is--
A-KO: She is my sister and my friend. Bring my robe, my flowers, my finest jewelry.
B-KO: Do you even know the way?
A-KO: It is downward. Many fall down.
B-KO: And few return to the sunlit lands.
A-KO: That does not concern me. [She proceeds to put her hair up and put roses in it, then puts on a long, trailing robe of (possibly red) velvet, a many-stranded necklace of beads, a rose seal ring on one finger, and the chatelaine at her belt.] Give me the gifts.
B-KO: [Hands A-ko a basket covered with a checked cloth, presumably containing food, and a sword that looks suspiciously like the Sword of Dios.] This is not the way.
A-KO: This is the only way. [She puts the basket over one arm, tucks the sword into its handle, and exits stage left, opposite the throne.]
B-KO: [As if to herself, mocking] Where is your white horse now?
[Lights down; end of Act I]
To Act II