[Written] → A Modest Proposal

[bookworldly]

To the residents of Luceti

Comments

[gamblinghigh]

I'd be willing to lend a hand.

[bookworldly]

As an actor, you mean? Do you have any prior experience?

[gamblinghigh]

I've never acted before, no. Unless you count minding the cards on the table.

[bookworldly]

[At least she can count honesty amongst his virtues. Sort of.]

Nevertheless I'd be happy to have you on board.

[And then ... a thought strikes her.]

You have seen a play before of course?

[ written ]

[slaying]

[ there are a lot of false starts and scratched out comments. ]

What kind of play? You're not thinking of a musical, are you?

I'm not sure you'll find many actors in this cross-section of...

[ the strike-outs are still fairly readable, but clearly second-guessed. buffy doesn't write anything else, although perhaps she's simply still agonizing over what to write. ]

[ written ]

[bookworldly]

[Thursday is reluctant to respond. It is clear, after all, that Buffy had decided on retracting each of her questions in turn, but... these might be questions on other peoples' minds as well. The questions of other curious Lucetians too timid to speak up. Better that they get their curiosities addressed then.]

The kind of play that we eventually produce would be based on the resources available to us. If the majority of the actors who stepped forward were versed in Shakespeare then the choice would be obvious. If, on the other hand, a fair number of them were trained sword fighters then I might decide upon a greek tragedy. We would be certain to consider the preferences of those involved, too, of course. I would aim for it to be an enjoyable experience for audience and actors alike.

[ written ]

[slaying]

I thought you were a detective.

Like Oedipus Rex? [ which...she did, once. at a talent show. but it was so bad, thursday. so bad. ]

[ written ]

[bookworldly]

[Now she can discriminate between an un-asked question and an intended one. Good. She feels much more comfortable this way.]

Possibly -- or something with a little more sword-fighting. An excerpt from The Aeneid for example, or Hecuba. Those with weapons training could battle it out Trojan-style in the background while the main action of the play took place in the foreground.

[poorneedyand]

I love going to the theater. You can count me among the audience if you put something on.

[bookworldly]

Fantastic! Do you have any preferences? I can't promise anything, but it pays to know your audience.

[poorneedyand]

Oh, I like just about anything. I saw a fantastic play in March--have you heard of "The Crucible," you know, playing at the Martin Beck? Not all the critics liked it, from what I heard, but I thought it was wonderful.

And anyway, there's not a lot to do here at night. No matter what play you do, I'm sure people would come.

[bookworldly]

I don't have anything against Martin Beck's writing - I only read "The Crucible" once and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a little jealous actually. It must have been fascinating to see performed live.

Unfortunately, though, I think the Salem Witch Trials might be a little bit too limiting a reference to make in a place like Luceti. And if I'm honest, subtextual MacCarthyism might not be the best subject for a play staged here either.

Or at least, I'd like to think that those are two historical events which don't have analogues in too many other worlds. Still, I'll certainly keep the atmosphere of Beck's works in mind.

[bookworldly]

Fantastic - what's your name?

[bookworldly]

Next, Thursday.

And I must say, you do have a name for show business.

[Written]

[falenanthief]

[Pinged by mention of theatre.]

I can help out.

[Written]

[bookworldly]

On stage, you mean? Or do you see yourself more as an administrative type?

[Written]

[falenanthief]

On stage. I've been taking some acting training back home.

[Written]

[bookworldly]

Oh, really? That's perfect! Wow, I hadn't expected this much interest if I'm honest. We have three, potentially four actors now, a set designer and props to boot. And best of all - would you believe it? An audience! Albeit a small one for now.