'TICKETS
PLEASE'
"How
can the theatre be entertaining and at the same time instructive? How
can it be taken out of the traffic in intellectual drugs and transformed
from a place of illusion to a place of insight?" – Bertolt
Brecht, "On Experimental Theatre" (1939)
(As the lights fade down in the theatre, the Chorus begin to talk
in the darkness)
Chorus: The lights slowly dim and a gentle hush falls.
The tails of amiable conversation dissolve into smothered thoughts.
(A pause. The curtain opens to reveal the performers sitting in
two rows of seats – much like the audience themselves. They are
watching the audience. One or more members of the Chorus stand and address
the real audience)
Chorus: When the curtain rises, when the lights fully
rage down on the stage, the actors emerge and for a few brief moments
you are no longer yourself. You become a part of a larger assembly –
part of a tradition which transcends time and culture. Supplicants in
the dythrambic chant, spectators by the Globe's rickety stage, revolutionaries
with the Berlin Ensemble. Theatrical styles may change. Actors will
blaze and then fade. There is only one constant. You sit wrapped in
the security blanket of darkness – expectant – an audience.
(The next scene is set – a line of chairs for the auditioning
panel across the front of the stage, backs to the audience. It will
begin as an audition but end as a firing squad. The Assistant Director
calls out for the next auditionee.)
Assistant Director: Next!
Director: Come in and sit down.
Actor: Hi, it's really great to be here…
Panel: (In a cold and staccato unified voice)
Name.
Actor: (A tad bit over-awed) Morgan Hall.
Panel: Age.
Actor: 23.
Panel: Experience.
Actor: Well I've had a lead role in…
Panel: Portfolio.
Actor: Yes… I've got it here… (He/She
begins to fumble; nerves) Oops! I'm a little bit nervous.
Assistant Director: Could you just read this scene
for us. (He/She is handed a clean sheet of white paper)
Actor: Sure… but… You've given me the wrong
page.
Director: That's the correct page.
Actor: But there's nothing written on it.
Director: Read the scene please.
Actor: But it's blank…
Panel: Read the scene…
