Monday, February 25, 2013

THE MAKING OF ANOTHER MIDSUMMER








The first thing necessary when writing a play about fairies is access to places where they hang out.  Gardens are a good start.



It makes a good impression upon the Fairy Kingdom if you arrive by elephant and bring an exceptional picnic basket full of wondrous treats.



A nice leafy salad is a good bet.  There are plenty of good fairy cookbooks available if you're looking for a new recipe.




You may have to go on foot, once the forest gets thick.


Don't worry about bringing a walking stick.  They tend to fall out of the trees just when you need one.



Look closely or you might just miss them.



Sometimes when I'm too busy to travel to the forest, I find the fairies will come to me as I day dream on the stage.  Just be careful not to fall asleep or you may wake up with acorns in your nose.


We hope you have enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the making of ANOTHER MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

Act 4 Scene 1 HIDEOUS BLUE / THE ARTEMIS STONE




Act 4

Scene 1

~ Curtain Opens ~

The Temple of the GODDESS ARTEMIS.
Enter OBERON and his fairies, all heavily armed.  A  VOTRESS stands on the steps of the temple.

VOTRESS
You must return with the blue diamond.

OBERON
Votress, where is Titania?

VOTRESS
It is as I told you.  When the stone is here, only then will Titania appear.

PUCK
 Does the great Goddess Artemis only protect virgins who give her jewels? 

[ PUCK lunges towards the VOTRESS but OBERON holds him back. ]

VOTRESS
The Artemis Stone is a weapon, stolen from this temple.  Do not underestimate its power like you overestimate Titania's continence.

PUCK
Master, let me make this hag tell us the truth!
[ OBERON yanks PUCK  back again, harshly.]

OBERON
( To Votress)
We will bring you the stone.  Well I know where it is.
[ The VOTRESS turns and goes inside the temple.  OBERON motions for his train to follow him.  They begin to exit.]

PUCK
(to Oberon)
Master, how do you know where it is?  Is it not with your Queen? Have you seen it since?

OBERON
The hideous blue adorns the breastplate of Mab. We go to crack it now like the shell of a boiled crab.

[ Exit OBERON and his army of fairies. ]
[Enter ROWAN.  She kneels at the foot of the steps of the temple.  The GODDESS ARTEMIS appears.]

ROWAN
I stole the stone.  I meant to free Oberon from the curse and then return it before it was missed.

~ CURTAIN CLOSES ~

~ To Be Continued ~


    Act 3 Scene 6 THE BLOODY LETTER




    DAME JE MARSHALL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
    ANOTHER MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM 


    ACT 3

    Scene 6

    THE BLOODY LETTER

    ~ Curtain Opens ~ 
    The dark and dangerous clearing, deep in the forest where OBERON regroups and prepares for battle.  A low fog rolls in and a light snow begins.
     Enter HAREBELLE and YARROW, guarding the scene.
    HAREBELLE 
    It were good that Oberon restored our youth.  My older bones could not abide these battles and the wandering weathers of this night.  Mark how Oberon hath frighted summer's sultry night into these frozen vapors with the sting of a viper's bite.
    YARROW 
    Even our young bones may not launch arrows against Queen Mab's army to any effect.  We were defeated because her warriors were like open doors through which our arrows flew to lodge in trees!  But soft, villagers approach! Let them not see us!
    [ HAREBELLE and YARROW hide.]
     Enter NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM, PERCY PEAR, FRANCIS QUIBBLE, WALTER ANDREAS, TOOT and SIEVE
    PERCY PEAR
    We look like bears in these coats.  Are bears in season?
    WALTER ANDREAS
    Would you rather freeze to death?
    PERCY PEAR
    The season is not in season.  I suppose all bets are off.
    WALTER ANDREAS
    Nobody wants to hang your mug over their fireplace, believe me.  You're not in season.
    [FRANCIS  QUIBBLE is so cold his lips are blue and his tongue is tied.  He sees a tree studded with arrows and tries to warn everyone.]
    FRANCIS QUIBBLE
    Umteen ees nn seas on!  Ook at at eee! 
    [NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM fishes out black cloths from a bag and hands one to everyone.  He hands two to FRANCIS QUIBBLE.]
    NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM
    (To Francis)
    Your face is frozen! Tie the second one around your mouth...to warm your lips.  I can't understand a word you are saying. 
    NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM 
    (To everyone)
    This will keep us safe.  Tie on your bandit masks like so, everyone!
     [ FRANCIS sighs, turns his back on the arrow studded tree and follows WINTERBOTTOM and tugs on his coat sleeve to get his attention again.  Meanwhile, YARROW and HAREBELLE remove the arrows and hide again.]
    NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM
    I don't see anything.
    SIEVE
    Are we going to commit masked robbery?
    PERCY
    (To SIEVE)
    That's the plan.  Quick! Nab those pinecones before some squirrel beats you to it!
    PERCY 
    (To WALTER) 
    You look like a giant, woolly, prehistoric raccoon.
    WINTERBOTTOM
    We aren't going to rob. We are just borrowing the peace and quiet that robbers enjoy.  No one wants to bother a robber.  Now let's head up the mountain to that cave where I used to play as a boy.   We can build a fire and hide there tonight.  In the morning we will check to see if the village is still there.
    TOOT
    My bakery!
    SIEVE
    I wish I had robbed your bakery before we left the village, but I wasn't a robber then.
    They all exit. 
    Enter YARROW and HAREBELLE, followed by TOADFLAX and YEW carrying POPPY on a stretcher which they place of the ground gently and replace the cloth that was covering POPPY'S face.  POPPY is dead.
    TOADFLAX
    How stood your guard?
    HAREBELLE
    Quiet, save for some villagers seeking refuge in the caves
    TOADFLAX
    There is no refuge in this night.  Like as not they will find in the cavern some relative to the merciless spirits who killed our Poppy.  I would not venture the caverns tonight.
    YEW
    Nor would I
    Enter FOXGLOVE, BUD, PUCK, OBERON and a legion of OBERON'S FAIRIES, all armed with bows and arrows.  PUCK bows to OBERON before making his report.
    PUCK
    Before the attack I was given a letter by Rowan.  A letter writ by Queen Titania.  Upon my injury, I gave the letter to Poppy for safe keeping.
    TOADFLAX
    Poppy is dead. 
    Enter more Soldier Fairies carrying the bodies of STRAWBERRY and FORGET-ME-NOT, which they place beside POPPY.  PUCK  is sickened by POPPY'S death, but does what he must.   He kneels and searches POPPY for the letter.  He finds the letter soaked with POPPY'S blood.
    PUCK
    (Softly to Poppy)
    Gentle Poppy, I do not think heaven has had time to prepare for you.  Do your best to persuade them to allow me to enter when my time comes.  I desire more adventures with you.  Who are your companions?
    [PUCK pulls back the cloths and to reveal STRAWBERRY and FORGET-ME-NOT. PUCK weeps a little and quickly pulls himself together.]
    PUCK
    (Softly to POPPY)
    Good choice of traveling companions, Dear Poppy. Look after eachother.
    (PUCK kisses POPPY'S forehead)
    PUCK 
    Until we meet again.
    [PUCK rises and quickly brings the letter to OBERON as the soldiers continue to bring in more of the dead and place them next to POPPY.  PUCK hands the blood soaked letter to KING OBERON.  OBERON opens it carefully.] 
    OBERON
    This is my Lady's hand.  The ink runs with Poppy's blood, joined by my tears, for Titania  has refused to remain my wife.
    [OBERON crumbles the letter, throws it on the ground and turns away so no one can see him weep.]
    Enter HERALD with his golden beaver down. Before HERALD can say a word, OBERON'S FAIRIES have  all drawn their weapons and have HERALD in their sites.   OBERON spins around with no trace of the heartache that gripped him a moment ago. OBERON motions for HERALD to approach. 
    OBERON
     (Aside to PUCK)
    I know that gait, and yet I should not, for it's owner is a dead man.
     OBERON
     (To Herald)
    Speak Herald. Tell us thy name and speak of ransom.
    HERALD
    Queen Mab graciously grants King Oberon permission to gather his dead and leave this island before dawn, never to return.
    OBERON
    Speak thy name, Herald.
    HERALD
    Thou knowest I am the Herald Bandar, once Knight of thy train, stolen from the Indian King, stolen from thy Virgin Queen,  stolen from thee by death, stolen from death by my dread mistress Queen Mab.  Take flight with thy dead, former master, before their souls are snatched and forced to kill thee. 
    PUCK
    Surely Poppy is already beyond Mab's reach!
    HERALD
    No one is beyond Her Majesty's reach.  Accept the mercy Queen Mab offers and flee.  Heed this the message or suffer my fate.
    OBERON
    You may tell your Queen that her message is understood and that we will spend this night searching for a worm vile enough to eat her wretched heart for breakfast at dawn.  Fare-thee-well, Bandar, Herald from hell.
    BANDAR THE HERALD bows and exits.
    OBERON
    (To PUCK)
    Select a group to tend the dead and tell the rest to prepare to embark at once.  We are going to the Temple of The Virgins.  This eve turned when that blue diamond appeared upon my love's sweet neck.   Suddenly she is moved to remain a virgin for all time and will have none of me.  The Goddess Artemis knows Titania's heart is mine.  Prepare the troops to hunt the Great Huntress!
    PUCK
    (Bows and prepares to exit)
    Good, my Lord.
    OBERON
    And let it be known by all that Rowan is a traitor to be killed at first sight.  Do not attempt to capture her. Kill Rowan.
    PUCK
    (To himself)
    I will kill Rowan tonight as I have killed her many times in my dreams.  It is an honor I dream of often.  It is an honor I will not share.  Rowan is mine and mine alone.
    PUCK and the remaining FAIRIES exit.
    [OBERON stands alone with the dead]
    OBERON
    May the Gods forgive me if Rowan is not a traitor.  Traitor or no, she deserves to die for not protecting Titania.
    OBERON exits.
     [Two knotholes in a tree open and reveal  a pair of eyes that look about.  ROWAN steps out of the tree.  She looks upon the dead and SIGHS sadly.  She walks to where OBERON threw the letter and picks it up, carefully uncrumpling it.]
    ROWAN
    (To herself)
    O letter misread! True writ, but thy ink hath bled.  I must take you now to Artemis.  Nothing here to be done or said.  Everyone here wishes me dead.
    ~Curtain Closes~

    ACT 3 Scene 5: DRINK THOU THIS HELL-BROTH


     
    DRINK THOU THIS HELL-BROTH 
     
    ACT 3
     
    Scene 5
     
    ~ Curtain Opens ~
     
    The forest, in the mountains of the enchanted Greek island, where the trees are dead, all save one, which appears dead as well, but has eyes that spy.
     
    [ The evil spirits AGONIGHTUS,  KALIMAY, WACANDAMACA and FIFI  stand in a small clearing in front of a cave. Their faces are melted to the bone from the exposure to St. John's Wort flowers at Thisbe's Tavern.  ROWAN spies on them as a dead-seeming tree.]
     
     AGONIGHTUS
     
    Someone watches us.  Yet behold how the Belladonna still rests upon her  bed of the sea.
     
    [ AGONIGHTUS points off stage.]
     
    KALIMAY
     
    If not Belladonna, then who can it be?
     
    FIFI
     
    [ Points to the heavens.] 
     
    Does Beatrice watch us with starry eyes?
     
     
     
     WACANDAMACA
     
    Forgive us, Beatrice.  We could not have known.
     
    AGONIGHTUS
     
     We should have known the Groach was made of lies and she and Mab already had the stone.
     
    FIFI
     
    Twas their plot that stripped our faces to bone.
     
    KALIMAY
     
    We seek to save you and make them atone.
     
    [ They raise their arms to the skies. ]
     
    ALL
     
    By Groach and Queen Mab we have been betrayed!
     
    Thus our faces taken by their device!
     
    Faceless we are but are not to be stayed!
     
    Double crossed we, but never so done twice! 
     
     
     
    [ A sinister VOICE comes forth from the CAVE with a glowing green mist.] 
     
     VOICE FROM CAVE
     
    Sisters, I am more here than I am there!
     
    So by the Stone of Artemis torn twain,
     
    My good nature imprisoned where you stare,
     
    The rest of me cast near hell worse than slain!
     
    [ They all walk to the mouth of the cave.]
     
    ALL
     
    Beatrice!
     
     
     
    VOICE FROM THE CAVE / BEATRICE 
     
    Aye, my greater part is here in this hold,
     
    By Queen for her King was I stole from life!
     
    Secrets of the battle I now unfold.
     
    She herself did cut with the diamond knife!
     
    Her good self now locked in same stars with mine,
     
    Her bad side walks the isle still in body,
     
    Whilst I, an ooze, locked in earth do confine!
     
    Till thee drink of me to my soul embody!
     
    Drink thou this hell broth and speak only death!
     
    All who smell thy words shall die of thy breath!
     
    Make haste and to thy fell purpose take seize!
     
    There is life left yet in one of these trees! 
     
    [ The CAVE vomits a disgusting looking, lumpy broth.  WACANDAMACA, AGONIGHTUS, FIFI and KALIMAY fall to their knees and scoop up handfuls of the hell broth and drink.  They all rise and don golden helmets exactly like the one QUEEN MAB wears.  They all exit.]
     
    VOICE FROM THE CAVE / BEATRICE
     
    [ Hissing out with a rolling green fog] 
     
    Die! 
     
    [ ROWAN exits the tree she was hiding inside. ]
     
    ROWAN
     
    [Sighing to herself]
     
    O most horrible sight!
     
    Long yet short grows this night!
     
    [ ROWAN exits just before the deadly green fog reaches her hiding place.]
     
    ~ CURTAIN CLOSES ~
     
                                      ~ TO BE CONTINUED ~ 
     
     
     
     

    ACT 3 Scene 4 THE RATH OF OBERON


     ACT 3
    










    ACT 3 Sc 3 MEANWHILE BACK AT THISBE'S




     "Morning  found us calmly unaware. Noon burnt gold into our hair."  -The Doors





       ACT 3
              
    Scene 3
    MEANWHILE BACK AT THISBE'S/
    SUMMER'S ALMOST GONE
    ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM
    Inside Thisbe's Tavern
    [ Thisbe's is crowded. AGONIGHTUS, KALIMAY, WACANDAMACA and FIFI are seated in a booth facing the audience. They are wearing crowns of the fake St. John's Wort flowers. On the karoke stage at the rear is a HANDSOME GREEK VILLAGER wearing leather pants and softly singing SUMMER'S ALMOST GONE by the DOORS in the background while the witches talk.]
    HANDSOME GREEK VILLAGER
    [singing]

    Summer's almost gone.

    Summer's almost gone.

    Almost gone.

    Yeah it's almost gone.

    Where will we be

    When the summer's gone?

    Morning found us calmly unaware

    Noon burnt gold into our hair.

    At night we swam the laughin' sea.

    When summer's gone,

    Where will we be?

    Where will we be?

    Where will we be?

    Summer's almost gone.

    Summer's almost gone.

    We had some good times,

    But they're gone.

    The winter's comin' on.

    Summer's almost gone.

    AGONIGHTUS

    I don't think she's spying on us. She's too busy playing with her food.

    KALIMAY

    What if you're wrong?

    AGONIGHTUS

    I don't care anymore.

    WACANDAMACA

    [Deep sigh of relief]

    Then mutiny it is!

    [ Enter STRAWBERRY, an elderly version of herself, dressed as a barmaid. She carries a tray to a table nearest to the witches' booth and stands there with her back to them.]

    KALIMAY

    I don't want to die.

    FIFI

    I would rather die than feel this way again. She tells us to go and wait for her in the village when there is hardly any time left to rescue Beatrice. It is only a few hours until midnight.

    AGONIGHTUS

    Death is a higher probability if we don't mutiny. When she is finished pretending she's Queen and done forcing a command performance out of that troupe of actors, she isn't going meet us in the village.

    WACANDAMACA

    Right. She's going to eat us AND the village.

    KALIMAY

    OK. I'm in. What's the plan?

    [ STRAWBERRY turns around and places a pitcher of beer on the witches' table]

    ANCIENT STRAWBERRY/BARMAID

    'ello ladies. Best ale in the village. Good for what ales you. Get it?

    [The witches make demi-smiles, shrug, wince. They each slap money on the table.]

    FIFI

    Keep the change.

    ANCIENT STRAWBERRY/BARMAID

    Thank you. I see you ladies are wearing the wort. Good for romance, good luck in child birth and keeping witches away. There's some handsome galoots in here tonight, to be sure!

    [ Enter PHILLIP STRAIT, DAPHNE, HANK-IN-LEO'S-BODY, WINTERBOTTOM, PERCY, QUIBBLE, WALTER, TOOT, SIEVE & OTHER VILLAGERS]

    BARTENDER

    [SHOUTING over the SOUND of KARAOKE SINGER to Phillip Strait]

    Back so soon!?

    PHILLIP STRAIT

    Rehearsal on the roof is cancelled. It's raining rocks! Look at these things!

    BARTENDER

    Let me see.

    [ PHILLIP STRAIT puts a handful of the stones on the bar.]

    BARTENDER

    Ah. Staurolite. Fairy crosses. A talisman of good luck.

    PHILLIP STRAIT

    Tell that to the knots on our heads!

    [ ANCIENT STRAWBERRY/BARMAID turns and rolls her eyes at ANCIENT FORGETMENOT/BARMAID standing near PHILLIP STRAIT]

    BARTENDER

    [ Shouting over MUSIC to Phillip Strait]

    You think you got problems! I've got old barmaids I've never seen before in my life. I suppose it's alright. It's never been this crowded in here before.

    [ DAPHNE grabs SIEVE'S arm before he can get lost in the crowd.]

    DAPHNE

    [Shouting over MUSIC to Sieve]

    I want you to take me to the other side of the island, where you took Hank!

    [ HANK-IN-LEO'S-BODY grabs DAPHNE by the arm. DAPHNE turns and SIEVE disappears dancing into the crowd on the dance floor, waving his arms in the air slowly to SUMMER'S ALMOST GONE with the others.]

    HANK-IN-LEO'S-BODY

    [Shouting over Karaoke singer]

    Daphne! Listen to me!

    [ VILLAGE GIRLS SCREAM and swoon over the HANDSOME GREEK KARAOKE SINGER'S sexy gyrations as he continues singing like Jim Morrison: SUMMER'S ALMOST GONE]

    DAPHNE

    Let me go!

    HANK-IN-LEO'S-BODY

    Daphne! It's me! I have NEVER loved anyone but you!

    DAPHNE

    Then show me your chest!

    HANK-IN-LEO'S-BODY

    Here? In public!

    DAPHNE

    Show me or I'm going to scream!

    HANK-IN-LEO'S-BODY

    Alright, then.

    [HANK-IN-LEO'S BODY rips open his shirt. To his horror and Daphne's, there is a huge heart tattoo that says "LEDA FOREVER" on his chest. Both SCREAM and disappear into the crowd in different directions.]

    FIFI

    [ Scratching her face]

    I think I'm allergic to this beer! There's something floating in it!

    KALIMAY

    That's your NOSE! Your nose just fell off!

    WACANDAMACA

    My face!

    AGONIGHTUS

    It's wort! There's real wort nearby!

    [ The witches exit, SCREAMING, holding their faces. The Handsome Greek Villager finishes his karaoke song. The villagers SCREAM and APPLAUD].

    [Enter ROWAN]

    ROWAN

    [ To Ancient Forgotmenot/Barmaid]

    Where is Puck?!

    ANCIENT FORGETMENOT/BARMAID

    [Points to the dark karaoke stage]

    Not to be outdone!

    [ A spotlight illuminates the stage to reveal a decrepid, ANCIENT PUCK wearing the exact same sexy leather outfit the Handsome Greek Villager was wearing. ANCIENT STRAWBERRY, ANCIENT POPPY and ANCIENT HAREBELL are his backup singers, dressed like THE SUPREMES inspite of their old age. ANCIENT POPPY throws St. John's Wort flowers into the audience while ANCIENT PUCK uses a walker to slowly make it to the karaoke microphone.]

    ANCIENT PUCK

    [ Leans into the microphone and growls to the tune of ALICE COOPER'S: I'M EIGHTEEN]

    Dark spots on my face and my hands,

    Darkness forming all around,

    I gotta dribble into this bedpan!

    I'm alive and I'm a deadman!

    [ ANCIENT PUCK empties the bedpan on the audience. It is just yellow St. John's

    Wort flower petals but the audience GASPS and SCREAMS before they realize it's safe.]

    ANCIENT PUCK CONTINUES

    I'm EIGHTY,

    And I forget what I want!

    EIGHTY!

    I just forgot what I want!

    EIGHTY!

    There just ain't no escape!

    My own kids put me in this place!

    With just this cane and a bloody back brace!

    [ ANCIENT PUCK kicks the bedpan off the stage, throws the walker away and yanks off the vest-like backbrace, revealing his old, droopy chest. STRAWBERRY and POPPY hold him up while he gyrates his hips. This time HAREBELLE tosses the wort petals into the air, then yanks off ANCIENT PUCK'S toupee.]

    ANCIENT PUCK CONTINUES

    Oh Yeah!

    I'm a baby again and I'm an old fart!

    Took all this time to get no where!

    Don't remember where I left my toupee!

    Hope that sweet little nurse didn't throw it away,

    Again!

    Yeah! Yeah!

    Dark Spots on my face and my hands!

    Darkness forming all around!

    I'm on the border, the edge of this life!

    I'm alive and I'm a dead man!

    I'm EIGHTY,

    EIGHTY,

    EIGHTY,

    EIGHTY,

    This is goodbye, kids!

    Yes! Bye Bye, Kids!

    Bye Kids!

    EIGHTY!

    EIGHTY!

    This is GOODBYE KIDS!

    [ The stage goes dark again and before the audience can react, there is a great EARTHQUAKE. There are LOUD CRASHES, the SOUND of BREAKING GLASSES, everyone in Thisbe's Tavern starts to SCREAM.]

    BARTENDER

    Earthquake!

    ROWAN

    [ To Strawberrry]

    It's Oberon! Where are you going! Come back here!

    [Lightning and Thunder add to the earthquake noises. STRAWBERRY slowly makes her way up to the stage. She is determined to take her turn singing no matter what.]

    STRAWBERRY

    [ Starts singing while the crowd ignores her & continues to panic.]

    When I want you,

    In my arms,

    When I want you,

    And all your charms,

    Whenever I want you,

    All I have to do is,

    Dream.

    Dream, Dream, Dream.

    When I feel blue,

    In the night,

    And I need you,

    To hold me tight,

    Whenever I want you,

    All I have to do is,

    Dream,

    Dream, Dream, Dream.

    I can make you mine,

    Taste your lips of wine,

    Anytime night or day.

    Only trouble is,

    Gee wiz!

    I'm dreamin' my life away.

    I need you so,

    That I could die,

    I love you so,

    And that is why,

    Whenever I want you,

    All I have to do is,

    Dream,

    Dream, Dream, Dream.

    ~ CURTAIN CLOSES ~

    ~To Be Continued ~

    *Lyrics to "I'M EIGHTY" by J. E. Marshall @ September 13, 2011

    ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM/EVERLY BROTHERS



    SUMMMER'S ALMOST GONE/ THE DOORS/WAITING FOR THE SUN

    I'M EIGHTEEN/ ALICE COOPER/ MASCARA AND MONSTERS