eBook - ePub

The Darker Face of the Earth

Name: The Darker Face of the Earth
Author: Rita Dove

Rita Dove,

104 pages
English
ePUB (mobile friendly)
Available on iOS & Android

eBook - ePub

The Darker Face of the Earth

Rita Dove,

About this book

Published to coincide with its British premiere at the Royal National Theatre, The Darker Face of the Earth is Rita Dove's first play. Set on a plantation in pre-Civil War South Carolina, it has been performed to great critical acclaim.

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Yes, you can access The Darker Face of the Earth by Rita Dove in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & British Drama. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Publisher

Year

Print ISBN

eBook ISBN

Edition

Topic

Literature

Subtopic

British Drama

Index

Literature

ACT TWO

SCENE 1

Dream sequence.

Dimly lit, the light rather blue. Each group is in its appointed “place” on stage – AMALIA in her parlour with TICEY standing impassively in the background; LOUIS above, in his study ; most SLAVES going about their chores ; SCYLLA isolated, with her herbs and potions. In the swamp, HECTOR searches for snakes ; the CONSPIRATORS huddle, occasionally lifting a fist into the circle. AUGUSTUS stands front and centre, back to the audience, gazing at AMALIA. Mostly silhouettes are seen, except when a single voice rises out of the chanting, which will grow to cacophony at the end of the sequence.

SLAVES: They have bowed our heads,

They have bent our backs.

Mercy, mercy,

Lord above, mercy.

AMALIA: I slept, but my heart was awake.

How beautiful he is!

SLAVES: Lord have mercy.

They have bowed our heads...

SCYLLA: There’s a curse on the land.

The net draws closer.

HECTOR: Under rocks, ’twixt reeds and roots...

SLAVES: They have bent our backs,

They have snatched our songs...

AUGUSTUS: (Singing.)

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child...

SLAVES: ( Joining in.)

A motherless child, a motherless child,

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child –

Continue humming through most of the scene.

LOUIS: (In a scientific voice, detached, as if reciting.) Every night at the same hour, each star appears slightly to the west of its previous position. Scientists calculate that the 12 houses of the zodiac have shifted so radically since ancient times, their relation to each other may now signify completely different portents.

HECTOR: So many, so many.

SLAVES: (Singing.)

A long way from home.

AUGUSTUS: One soft night, Massa stood up –

CONSPIRATORS: Selah.

AUGUSTUS: – and laughed to himself.

CONSPIRATORS: It is time.

SCYLLA: The net draws tighter.

CONSPIRATORS: Selah!

AUGUSTUS: One darkening evening, I stood up –

SLAVES humming, CONSPIRATORS chanting “Selah” in a barely audible whisper.

– and she was mine,

mine all night, until

the day breathed fire

and the shadows fled.

AMALIA: Look, how beautiful he is!

CONSPIRATORS: Rise up!

SLAVES: (Simultaneously.)

Mercy, mercy.

AMALIA: His eyes, his brow,

his cheeks –

CONSPIRATORS: Rise up!

AMALIA: — his lips...

AUGUSTUS: ... until the day breathed fire...

HECTOR: Eshu Elewa... ogo... gbogbo.

SLAVES: They have bowed our heads,

They have bent our backs.

SCYLLA: Closer...

PHEBE dashes to centre-stage, hands outstretched as if to hold back a flood.

PHEBE: Stop it! Stop!!!

Everyone freezes.

SCENE 2

The tableau remains.

PHEBE drops her arms and moves slightly stage-left. AUGUSTUS, with his back still to the audience, backs downstage, towards the slave cabins, looking alternately at AMALIA and the CONSPIRATORS until the tableau disintegrates. PHEBE taps him on the shoulder, and he whirls around.

PHEBE: Evenin’.

AUGUSTUS: Oh! Phebe. Evening.

PHEBE: You’re trembling.

AUGUSTUS: I am?

Laughs.

Cold spell coming on, I imagine.

PHEBE: No, that’s what you said to me!

AUGUSTUS looks at her, uncomprehending.

That time I was coming back from Scylla’s,

scared to open my mouth, you said:

“What’s your hurry?” And then you said,

“You’re trembling,” and I said, “I am?”