Shanesphere (the playwright's early work)

Hello I would appreciate any comments to this thread to be made in my Poetry thread, Shane Contra Mundum. Thank you.

A wake (Awake)

persons of the play

Marcus Bridlington ; The bereaved
Jon Piers Damacy  ; The concerned friend
Sissy Tombar  ; Best friend of the deceased
Miles  Tombar  ; Her aimiable husband
6 Pall bearers  (unspoken)
2 Removal porters (unspoken)


Time
The glorious past..

A Wake (Awake)
_{a short play about dying}


Act 1

Pre curtain opening speech;

MARCUS: "Oh, Sophie! Why?" (his voice trails off as the curtain rises upon..)

Scene 1

Scene

Reception room in a Surburban home, airy and large, empty of most furnishings, there are two couches and a trestle table which has been covered hastily with a large dust sheet the kind painters use, evidence of paint can be seen upon it. On top of the trestle table is a coffin, it is almost black in colour, the coffin is not lit, there is a simple arrangement of white flowers on top of the coffin. There is a panelled door to allow players acess at the back of the room.

- Marcus Bridlington, sits alone on one of the couches,in his hands is a short tumbler of whisky he has a soda syphon at his feet. He is dressed in an evening suit that looks as though it has been wore since the previous evening, he also has the beginnings of a beard.

MARKUS: "Why? Why?Why?" (he shakes the glass, the ice jingles)

-Jon Piers Damacy Enters, he is also wearing an evening suit from the night before and gives the impression of being quite drunk, he is carrying a MUG and a bottle of Champagne.

JON: "Oh Marky old thing, shame to leave the old house isnt it? I mean (he looks at the coffin) as if it isnt enough?"

MARKUS: (looks at him) "I can find you a proper glass you know, besides..(he trails off looking at the coffin) Besides this was our house, Sophies and mine, we where going to make a family here.."

JON : (reading the mug, it should be something witty as he laughs a little to himself then looks guilty) (LAUGHS) " Yes, yes you are right,so terribly right, sorry to be such a pain, I really have no idea what to say, I'm on insensitive dangerous ground with every word I try, I really dont know what to say" (he quaffs)

MARKUS: (Stands speaks as he walks towards the door)
"That'll be Sissy, you know Sissy? She said she wanted to see Sophie off"(pauses at the coffin) "I best let her in" (he trails his hand along the coffin as he passes it, patting it as he reaches the door, he turns and looks at Jon) "Claymore is getting the flat ready for tommorow, so theres nobody to even open the door in this drab empty coffin of a place." (he sighs and as he leaves through the door...)

JON: (shouting) "Or pour a drink!" (he looks about him, at his mug at his bottle at the soda then his eyes rest on the coffin)

-from corridor

SISSY: "Oh Markus, a beard, how terribly romantic. Although you mustnt let yourself go, not completely, a little is attractive, but not too much."

-Sissy Markus and Miles all enter through the door. Miles is stroking his full beard and looks slightly annoyed. The couple are in smart evening dress.

I thought it started off ok

JON:  (empties his glass) " I guess we all need a drink?Champagne okay?" (pauses, there are quiet nods, Sissy and Miles have noticed the coffin. Miles looks uncomfortable) "I might have to improvise" (he smiles and shows the mug JON EXITS- carrying his mug and Markus's glass)

MARKUS: "Its the move into the flat, I've scarcley got anything left unpacked, there should be some absinthe glasses from Turkey in the cupboard next to the sink,a present never liked them, vile things"

SISSY: "Well they wont be half big enough for Champers.."

MILES: "Ah absinthe yes,not quite the night for self induced hallucinations really is it? Nice place you seem to be moving from, nice old house," (Smiles)

MARKUS:  (politely) "Thanks"

SD (They all look uncomfortable, JON returns with a tray of various oddments, his mug, a pint glass, a small ornate vase and the whiskey glass)  

MARKUS  " Oh well done Jon old thing."

JON:  (hands out the drinks, Miles gets the pint glass Sissy the vase) " I gave it a rinse it looks aincent"

SISSY:  (Smiles although we can see she finds this revolting) "Very pretty"

JON:  (Turns over the tray it is a biscuit tin lid of some age) "Tah Dah!"

SISSY:  "Oh very resourcefull"

JON:  (puts the lid onto one of the couches, they all stand round the coffin)

MARKUS:  " To my darling wife Sophie"

REST:  (they raise their glasses) "To Sophie"(they drink)

CURTAIN