#16: THE VOICE SAID TO THEM

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/21/16
written for the 2016 31 Plays in 31 Days project

Joseph Frost, 2016

4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
* member, Dramatists Guild of America

Dim lights up.

4 figures on stage. They wear blindfolds.
They sit on chairs and hold books in front of them.
They turn pages at the same time.
They set down their books.
VOICE
And the voice said to them
They pull their blindfolds down and put them in their
mouths like a gag. They try to speak.
VOICE (CONTD)
Do not fear
Do not wither
Do not escape
While seated, they all begin to run.
VOICE (CONTD)
This is your task
to work against the challenge
to lean into the obstacle
They stop running.
VOICE (CONTD)
and it is not the failure to fear
it is the task undone
They all fall to the floor, on their backs.
VOICE (CONTD)
and it is not the work to wither
it is the soul
They all try to jump while laying down.

2.
VOICE (CONTD)
and it is not the action to escape
it is inaction
They lay still.
VOICE (CONTD)
And they replied
in silence
and they replied
in stillness
and they replied
in struggle
in stasis
in shame
They all stand.
They slam their chair down, take five steps away, then
make a motion as if they throw their chairs.
VOICE (CONTD)
And the voice said to them
whispers of truth
the watering of wounds
They all step back to their chairs. Sit.
VOICE (CONTD)
Presence is a gift
They all pull the gags of and drop them to the floor.
They extend their hands.
VOICE (CONTD)
You are hands
Be working Hands
They extend their fingers.
Lights down.