Playful

Three readers gave voice to the three monkeys that open the play – and they actually sang! The words on paper had no prepared music to support them, yet the three spontaneously found the music and sang the opening from some intuitive place!

Monkey 1 Oh, but quick we’ve brewed a story Of this newborn’s love and glory Monkey 2 But where is the best beginning This tale of virtue and sinning. Monkey 2 We will start… Monkey 3 …in a place that’s best Monkey 2 When does a bird… Monkey 3 …leave the nest? Monkey 1 When do human beings… Monkey 2 …first discover Monkey 3 The ticking and tocking… Monkey 2 …of one and another? Monkey 1 A place called… Monkey 2 …blind. A game of fools. Monkey 2 Where lessons are taught… Monkey 3 …but not in schools Monkey 1 Not below, not sideways, or above… Monkey 2 …but only in a place …. Monkey 3 …a thing called…. All Three …Love!

The monkeys sing of the unlikely love of Moliere and Madeleine who were born of different classes and status and would join to share a life in the theatre that would span 30 years. Carl Schlecht and Risha Murray read the speech of their first meeting in the play.

Moliere Hush, just stand as you are now Silently holding this picture of how In this tick of time it came to be The start point of such great reverie. (Madeleine begins to move) Hold, please do not move a finger That this vision of you is locked to linger. Would I were a maker of sculpture so fine Here I would study our piece in time When my past is rubbed out and erased You are my new life I can now embrace. (She begins to move again.) Stop, hold just a moment more still, While the river of mind is allowed to fill With the sweet water of our love so captured Our pond or lake of full joy enraptured. The future is ours, to face any and all harm, Madeleine But I must speak truly, I have a cramp in my arm. Moliere Then give me your arm and all of your pain And, come, come let us now dance a refrain Music, laughter, now day after day Step, turn, and dance all cares away!

Moliere and Madeleine would be together through three decades of all the joys and pains of life and love, and would die on the very same day February 17 exactly one year apart 1742 and 1743.

The success of their work was larger than each – very much one of a blend of personality, talent, and passion for the magic of theatre. Moliere speaks to his new found love for Madeleine and the theatre when he speaks to his dissolute company as he is about to be arrested for the debt the Theatre Illustrious had incurred in is first year.

Madeleine

This is the final curtain, and you should know
The Master Chandler demands payment of all money owed.
Officers are dispatched and have been seen on the road
To arrest the one who has signed to be libel to pay…

(Enter Moliere)
Moliere
(Long pause as Moliere takes in the grim and fearful faces staring at him)

To look at your faces, this is not your best day.
Denys, Joseph, Catherine, Marie, Mother Bejart
Madeleine, and all who have given your heart
To ring up the curtain at a given hour,
Regardless of any altercation’s power.
All for one and one for all is what we play
That we may pass through the portal and say
But a few lines, just words, to oft empty chairs.
Why? Why do we act words as prayers
Though they fall on a dark empty space?
Our pockets empty, our status disgrace;
We will not be buried on blessed holy ground
Since, our heaven it seems on earth we have found.
All this is all quite new and glorious to me
In you there is magic, I thought could not be.
The troubling things now happening here
Are but cast in this place and this year,
But have little to do with the full play at hand.
We are not now at the final act of our grand
Performance nor will I take bows for such.
The muse will go forth with it’s fairy touch,
Weaving and winding the love that is us
Into a scene, a play, dance at red dusk;
The promise to sailors to sleep with delight
For tomorrow we sail on soft seas and might
Reach the place on the distant shore
For treasures of love gifts of speeches and more.

In the spirit of the treasure of friends, love gifts, speeches and more – the evening at the Old Oak Inn ended only to begin the journey to the premiere opening of “House of Monkeys” at the North Crawford High School on Aug 1st. You won’t wont to miss it.