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Reading #1
Man:
I hate theatre. Well, It’s so disappointing, isn’t it? You know what I do when I’m sitting in a darkened theatre waiting for the curtain to rise? I pray. Dear God, please let it be a good show. And let it be short, oh Lord in heaven please. Two hours is fine, three hours is too much. And keep the actors out of the audience. God. I didn’t pay a hundred dollars to have the fourth wall come crashing down around my ears. I just want a story, and a few good songs that will take me away. I just want to be entertained. I mean, isn’t that the point? Amen.
(pause)
You know there was a time when people sat in darkened theatres and thought to themselves, “What have George and Ira got for me tonight?” Or “Can Cole Porter pull it off again?” Can you imagine? Now it’s, “Please, Elton John, must we continue this charade?” It used to be, sitting there in the dark, you knew that when the lights came up you would be taken to another world, a world full of color and music and glamor. And you thought to yourself, “My God when are they going to bring up the Lights?”
[Lights up.]
A note from the director:
The Man in Chair acts as a narrator for the entire show. He lives alone in an apartment and has had some struggles with depression. He fights his gloomy moods by escaping into the world of theatre through his original cast recordings of his favorite shows. Man in Chair is a complex character with a lot of secrets to discover, backstory, and fun quirks. I am looking for Man in Chair to communicate clearly and build a strong relationship with the audience. Tip: Don’t let the lines drag; this show is fast-paced. On the other hand, don’t read so quickly that the meaning is lost.
Reading #2
Superintendent
Hi.
Man
Hello.
Superintendent
Your lights are out.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
Yea, we had to shut the power off because we’re replacing the breaker panel in the basement.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
So, we replaced it, but when we turned the power off the breakers in all the apartments tripped.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
That’s what happened. It’s normal.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
So, I got to rest your breakers.
Man
Now?
Superintendent
It’ll only take a second.
Man
Alright, alright, alright.
The two flashlights move across the stage
Superintendent
Because I tried calling you earlier before, but there was no answer.
Man
Oh, I’ve been having problems with the phone.
Superintendent
Here We go.
The superintendent switches the power back on, the lights come on revealing the cast, the music roars back.
All
SKY!
The man quickly takes the needle off the record.
Superintendent
What was that?
Man
Um, it was a record.
Superintendent
What kind of music was that?
Man
It was just music, It was a show. You know, a musical.
Superintendent
you like musicals?
Man
No.
Superintendent
I love musicals. I go with the wife all the time. It’s amazing what they can do nowadays. Did you see Miss Saigon? They landed a helicopter on stage in that one.
( MAN glances at the plane.)
Yeah, I’ve seen ’em all. I’ve seen Cats, Les Miz, Saturday Night Fever- I liked the movie better-
Man
Really. Well, Goodbye.
He closes the door
Reading #1
Man:
I hate theatre. Well, It’s so disappointing, isn’t it? You know what I do when I’m sitting in a darkened theatre waiting for the curtain to rise? I pray. Dear God, please let it be a good show. And let it be short, oh Lord in heaven please. Two hours is fine, three hours is too much. And keep the actors out of the audience. God. I didn’t pay a hundred dollars to have the fourth wall come crashing down around my ears. I just want a story, and a few good songs that will take me away. I just want to be entertained. I mean, isn’t that the point? Amen.
(pause)
You know there was a time when people sat in darkened theatres and thought to themselves, “What have George and Ira got for me tonight?” Or “Can Cole Porter pull it off again?” Can you imagine? Now it’s, “Please, Elton John, must we continue this charade?” It used to be, sitting there in the dark, you knew that when the lights came up you would be taken to another world, a world full of color and music and glamor. And you thought to yourself, “My God when are they going to bring up the Lights?”
[Lights up.]
A note from the director:
The Man in Chair acts as a narrator for the entire show. He lives alone in an apartment and has had some struggles with depression. He fights his gloomy moods by escaping into the world of theatre through his original cast recordings of his favorite shows. Man in Chair is a complex character with a lot of secrets to discover, backstory, and fun quirks. I am looking for Man in Chair to communicate clearly and build a strong relationship with the audience. Tip: Don’t let the lines drag; this show is fast-paced. On the other hand, don’t read so quickly that the meaning is lost.
Reading #2
Superintendent
Hi.
Man
Hello.
Superintendent
Your lights are out.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
Yea, we had to shut the power off because we’re replacing the breaker panel in the basement.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
So, we replaced it, but when we turned the power off the breakers in all the apartments tripped.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
That’s what happened. It’s normal.
Man
Yes.
Superintendent
So, I got to rest your breakers.
Man
Now?
Superintendent
It’ll only take a second.
Man
Alright, alright, alright.
The two flashlights move across the stage
Superintendent
Because I tried calling you earlier before, but there was no answer.
Man
Oh, I’ve been having problems with the phone.
Superintendent
Here We go.
The superintendent switches the power back on, the lights come on revealing the cast, the music roars back.
All
SKY!
The man quickly takes the needle off the record.
Superintendent
What was that?
Man
Um, it was a record.
Superintendent
What kind of music was that?
Man
It was just music, It was a show. You know, a musical.
Superintendent
you like musicals?
Man
No.
Superintendent
I love musicals. I go with the wife all the time. It’s amazing what they can do nowadays. Did you see Miss Saigon? They landed a helicopter on stage in that one.
( MAN glances at the plane.)
Yeah, I’ve seen ’em all. I’ve seen Cats, Les Miz, Saturday Night Fever- I liked the movie better-
Man
Really. Well, Goodbye.
He closes the door