Boxes: Excerpt
An original script by K.W. Poole and
MVRHS Theatre II Class 2006-2007
© K.W. Poole 2006
Permission must be obtained by the author to perform and/or reproduce this script
Writer/Director’s Forward & Notes
Boxes was created specifically for the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival of 2007. The process was a challenging and inspiring event for teacher & students. One thing is certain the rewards have been endless. We learned a great deal about ourselves, the world and theatre through improvisation, creating characters and writing both what we knew & what was most confusing to us. Students participated in activities including: a Harald, based on the theme of boxes in our world; writing monologues for a character they chose in a modern painting; writing essays about our concerns for the United States & the World at large. But most of all we made it personal. Each participant was asked on a daily basis to explain or include how these concerns and observations affected them personally, and what their responsibility was as a change agent. The results were profound; the ensemble unique. To date this is my favorite theatre experience over a long career of acting, teaching, writing & directing!
As a teacher of theatre I am completely open to the next interpretation of our play. We all know there are playwrights & directors who work under the auspices that their way is the only way a show should be produced. I welcome change and encourage creative choice to all directors who choose to take on this piece. The following suggestions are merely notes I feel will help support the power of the piece in staging the production. Do with them, as you will.
A sparse set is essential as the boxes, which should be rectangular in shape (not square) are the focal point which represent the twin towers & their windows. The boxes should be either translucent, or covered in shiny silver, or blue, we used Mylar, to create not only the window effect, but also creating a shadow and glisten effect with the lights which are the true set for the play. (Our lighting designer had 29 cues in his plot, the most of any show at festival that year.) The office meeting into explosion scene started in cold stark blues and ended in deep hot reds & ambers to create a fire effect. (This proved very powerful – I highly recommend playing around with this!) The box dimensions for a cast of 9 were 12x12, created simply with spiking tape – we found it helpful to spike with an x the three standing spots for each actor on each side of the square to keep them centered throughout the performance.
Although you will notice in our original casting some actors were double cast – this is NOT necessary! So cast any way you choose.
We hope your experience is as exceptional as ours was!
Boxes
An original Script
Dedicated in loving memory of David Rivers
Written by K.W. Poole
Improvisational writing and performance Creative team: the MVRHS Theatre 2 class 2006-2007
Original Cast in order of appearance
Chorus.....................................................................All
President Baffeledor........................................Jonah Lipsky
Angelica (deaf interpreter).................................Ashley Peters Vincent......................................................Jake Estabrook
Tarragon Tumultuous (News Anchor).. ..................Jerome Pikor
Perplexia Injudicious(News Anchor)...................Annie Finnerty
Malvolio Meddelant (Herald Reporter)....................Julian Reed Portia.........................................................Anna Convery
Davio Riveria (Journalist) ...................................Julius Lowe
Antonio........................................................Tony Alosso
Doorman........................................................Julian Reed
CEO...........................................................Jonah Lipsky
Arabella.......................................................Ashley Peters Secret Service Agent........................................Julius Lowe
Reporters............................................................Chorus
Crew
Director......................................................K.W. Poole(Murray)
Creative Team .............Kate Medeiros, Ed Cisek, Devin Colter, Marlan Seigleman, Dan Ellis,Nolan Burke, Katie Clarke, Tom Neadow
Production Stage Manager..............................Matthew Fisher
Light & Sound Design & Tech.............................Adam Clark
Production & Costume Manager............Kirkland J Beck
Costumer Designers....KJ Beck, Annie Finnerty & Jonah Lipsky
Please Note: The content of this play may be disturbing to some audience members; the tragic events of September eleventh are the focus. Traveling between the boxes of human life, scenes take place in two different elevators, several offices, a train, a bus, a car and the television set. The play takes place in New York City leading up to the fall of the Twin Towers September 11, 2001 – the action continues through the blasts and on to a disturbing conclusion between two characters, who narrowly escaped the towers fall.
PART 1 Scene 1 – The Ruler
Opening scene is the chorus standing in one large box facing outward. They begin pattern of movement as they speak the lines together.
Chorus:
Mark ye the tale of the glorious king,
Who tried to make the world his own and bring his power to boastful force, that wouldst not show,
The least compassion for friend and for foe,
This king let the earth and heavens collide with an energy too strong to deny, and lost it all for those who abided and for those who rightfully chided.
When one doest close, blind one’s eyes to the wrong,
And allows the weak to follow the strong,
Without a fight or utterance of word,
The fates with stealthiest of ears have heard,
And without a second thought, will make sure, guilty pay for what they have made occur, and then must own their burden and endure the path they cut & forged forevermore.
chorus box breaks open to create scene inside of box.
President Baffeledor:
Ye and as thy President elected,
I will prove to be the most effective, At turning all our troubles ‘round, And mending all relations sound, I’ll make this country stronger yet, So all the nations n’ere will forget, The glory that our people spread, The future we will pave ahead.
Part 1 Sc 2 – The Lovers
Angelica in very full elevator people talking all around. Chorus makes bell noise, open doors, Vincent enters; Angelica & Vincent keep looking at each other awkwardly.
Chorus:
Thou art silent my love,
Thou art silent my love
Like the rain & the snow you wash o’er me, while the rest of the world screams round and round,
Cries from behind liquid crystal displays, with high definition distortions.
Thou art wondrous my love and full of grace, While the rest of the world is cold, encased By their laptops and TVs, train cars and cabs,
Their rooms and offices, video fads.
How keep thee silent in spaces so small,
When the man thou dost long for stands a wall,
Between you and door to your immanent fall?
Thou art silent my love,
Thou art silent my love,
Silent as the stars that fall from above.
Vincent enters elevator – crowded – A & V look at each other smile. All characters freeze except those speaking.
Angelica (inner monologue):
Here he is again, what manner of man,
His cheek so blushed, his eyes full and kind– Each day he dost smile upon mine own eyes, Not knowing the truth of me in disguise.
If he were to know that which I am,
Would he continue with the same plan?
For I am sure by his advances thus,
That he intends to woo my utmost trust.
He is of kind eye and greets with such grace, That I hear him speak he might speak his case; What of that? It will not come to be,
When this suitor learns parts that breaketh me.
Angelica freezes along with other characters as Vincent breaks freeze.
Vincent (Inner monologue):
O’ sweet temptation of gentl’st love,
As Gods look down upon us from above,
Each morning her eyes lock with mine in gaze, Placing all others in blurry haze.
That I were worthy of such love as hers, Desire to hold such beauty, in me stirs,
And calls my heart to cry with angel’s tears, Thus to approach her battles all my fears.
PART 2 Scene 1 – The Ruler
Chorus:
Trapped. Trapped.
Thou art trapped within these fettered boxes. The confines of society’s clutch,
And politicians who create distrust,
As we search to contact life throughout space We lose the track of the most human race.
Sly News Cast
Tarragon Tumultuous: I am Tarragon Tumultuous. Perplexia Injudicious: Ye, with Perplexia Injudicious. Both: And this is Sly News at half past seven.
PI: This just in the polls to win, and yes ‘tis true, ‘tis true! TT: We’ve a new president elect, the one & only due-
PI: Baffeledor swept the polls, no question he has won!
TT: Well actually there were questions, but answers there were none –
PI: For he will be the greatest king, no matter how it’s done!
TT: True, oh true, it matters not how Baffelador this poll has won!
For complete script and/or rights to produce see Contact Page...
An original script by K.W. Poole and
MVRHS Theatre II Class 2006-2007
© K.W. Poole 2006
Permission must be obtained by the author to perform and/or reproduce this script
Writer/Director’s Forward & Notes
Boxes was created specifically for the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival of 2007. The process was a challenging and inspiring event for teacher & students. One thing is certain the rewards have been endless. We learned a great deal about ourselves, the world and theatre through improvisation, creating characters and writing both what we knew & what was most confusing to us. Students participated in activities including: a Harald, based on the theme of boxes in our world; writing monologues for a character they chose in a modern painting; writing essays about our concerns for the United States & the World at large. But most of all we made it personal. Each participant was asked on a daily basis to explain or include how these concerns and observations affected them personally, and what their responsibility was as a change agent. The results were profound; the ensemble unique. To date this is my favorite theatre experience over a long career of acting, teaching, writing & directing!
As a teacher of theatre I am completely open to the next interpretation of our play. We all know there are playwrights & directors who work under the auspices that their way is the only way a show should be produced. I welcome change and encourage creative choice to all directors who choose to take on this piece. The following suggestions are merely notes I feel will help support the power of the piece in staging the production. Do with them, as you will.
A sparse set is essential as the boxes, which should be rectangular in shape (not square) are the focal point which represent the twin towers & their windows. The boxes should be either translucent, or covered in shiny silver, or blue, we used Mylar, to create not only the window effect, but also creating a shadow and glisten effect with the lights which are the true set for the play. (Our lighting designer had 29 cues in his plot, the most of any show at festival that year.) The office meeting into explosion scene started in cold stark blues and ended in deep hot reds & ambers to create a fire effect. (This proved very powerful – I highly recommend playing around with this!) The box dimensions for a cast of 9 were 12x12, created simply with spiking tape – we found it helpful to spike with an x the three standing spots for each actor on each side of the square to keep them centered throughout the performance.
Although you will notice in our original casting some actors were double cast – this is NOT necessary! So cast any way you choose.
We hope your experience is as exceptional as ours was!
Boxes
An original Script
Dedicated in loving memory of David Rivers
Written by K.W. Poole
Improvisational writing and performance Creative team: the MVRHS Theatre 2 class 2006-2007
Original Cast in order of appearance
Chorus.....................................................................All
President Baffeledor........................................Jonah Lipsky
Angelica (deaf interpreter).................................Ashley Peters Vincent......................................................Jake Estabrook
Tarragon Tumultuous (News Anchor).. ..................Jerome Pikor
Perplexia Injudicious(News Anchor)...................Annie Finnerty
Malvolio Meddelant (Herald Reporter)....................Julian Reed Portia.........................................................Anna Convery
Davio Riveria (Journalist) ...................................Julius Lowe
Antonio........................................................Tony Alosso
Doorman........................................................Julian Reed
CEO...........................................................Jonah Lipsky
Arabella.......................................................Ashley Peters Secret Service Agent........................................Julius Lowe
Reporters............................................................Chorus
Crew
Director......................................................K.W. Poole(Murray)
Creative Team .............Kate Medeiros, Ed Cisek, Devin Colter, Marlan Seigleman, Dan Ellis,Nolan Burke, Katie Clarke, Tom Neadow
Production Stage Manager..............................Matthew Fisher
Light & Sound Design & Tech.............................Adam Clark
Production & Costume Manager............Kirkland J Beck
Costumer Designers....KJ Beck, Annie Finnerty & Jonah Lipsky
Please Note: The content of this play may be disturbing to some audience members; the tragic events of September eleventh are the focus. Traveling between the boxes of human life, scenes take place in two different elevators, several offices, a train, a bus, a car and the television set. The play takes place in New York City leading up to the fall of the Twin Towers September 11, 2001 – the action continues through the blasts and on to a disturbing conclusion between two characters, who narrowly escaped the towers fall.
PART 1 Scene 1 – The Ruler
Opening scene is the chorus standing in one large box facing outward. They begin pattern of movement as they speak the lines together.
Chorus:
Mark ye the tale of the glorious king,
Who tried to make the world his own and bring his power to boastful force, that wouldst not show,
The least compassion for friend and for foe,
This king let the earth and heavens collide with an energy too strong to deny, and lost it all for those who abided and for those who rightfully chided.
When one doest close, blind one’s eyes to the wrong,
And allows the weak to follow the strong,
Without a fight or utterance of word,
The fates with stealthiest of ears have heard,
And without a second thought, will make sure, guilty pay for what they have made occur, and then must own their burden and endure the path they cut & forged forevermore.
chorus box breaks open to create scene inside of box.
President Baffeledor:
Ye and as thy President elected,
I will prove to be the most effective, At turning all our troubles ‘round, And mending all relations sound, I’ll make this country stronger yet, So all the nations n’ere will forget, The glory that our people spread, The future we will pave ahead.
Part 1 Sc 2 – The Lovers
Angelica in very full elevator people talking all around. Chorus makes bell noise, open doors, Vincent enters; Angelica & Vincent keep looking at each other awkwardly.
Chorus:
Thou art silent my love,
Thou art silent my love
Like the rain & the snow you wash o’er me, while the rest of the world screams round and round,
Cries from behind liquid crystal displays, with high definition distortions.
Thou art wondrous my love and full of grace, While the rest of the world is cold, encased By their laptops and TVs, train cars and cabs,
Their rooms and offices, video fads.
How keep thee silent in spaces so small,
When the man thou dost long for stands a wall,
Between you and door to your immanent fall?
Thou art silent my love,
Thou art silent my love,
Silent as the stars that fall from above.
Vincent enters elevator – crowded – A & V look at each other smile. All characters freeze except those speaking.
Angelica (inner monologue):
Here he is again, what manner of man,
His cheek so blushed, his eyes full and kind– Each day he dost smile upon mine own eyes, Not knowing the truth of me in disguise.
If he were to know that which I am,
Would he continue with the same plan?
For I am sure by his advances thus,
That he intends to woo my utmost trust.
He is of kind eye and greets with such grace, That I hear him speak he might speak his case; What of that? It will not come to be,
When this suitor learns parts that breaketh me.
Angelica freezes along with other characters as Vincent breaks freeze.
Vincent (Inner monologue):
O’ sweet temptation of gentl’st love,
As Gods look down upon us from above,
Each morning her eyes lock with mine in gaze, Placing all others in blurry haze.
That I were worthy of such love as hers, Desire to hold such beauty, in me stirs,
And calls my heart to cry with angel’s tears, Thus to approach her battles all my fears.
PART 2 Scene 1 – The Ruler
Chorus:
Trapped. Trapped.
Thou art trapped within these fettered boxes. The confines of society’s clutch,
And politicians who create distrust,
As we search to contact life throughout space We lose the track of the most human race.
Sly News Cast
Tarragon Tumultuous: I am Tarragon Tumultuous. Perplexia Injudicious: Ye, with Perplexia Injudicious. Both: And this is Sly News at half past seven.
PI: This just in the polls to win, and yes ‘tis true, ‘tis true! TT: We’ve a new president elect, the one & only due-
PI: Baffeledor swept the polls, no question he has won!
TT: Well actually there were questions, but answers there were none –
PI: For he will be the greatest king, no matter how it’s done!
TT: True, oh true, it matters not how Baffelador this poll has won!
For complete script and/or rights to produce see Contact Page...