Insurrection: Holding History

Robert O'Hara

• Publisher: Theatre Communications Group
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781559361576
• eBook ISBN: 9781559368308
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: American Drama
• Index: Literature

The first publication of Insurrection, a remarkable debut of a major new African-American theatre artist. The playwright won the distinguished Oppenheim Award from Newsday for best new playwright of 1997. Insurrection is a chilling exploration of the roots of the Nat Turner slave insurrection through the eyes of a contemporary black man who is transported back through time with his grandfather.

Plantation

The MO’TEL Farm.

The BED has landed.

It Rests upon the Back of a DEAD SLAVE OWNER, who is MASSA MO’TEL.

The MO’TEL SLAVES, who were in the middle of their Cottonpickin’ STARE at the DEAD SLAVE OWNER and the 2, still sleeping, passengers, RON and T.J.

DEAD SILENCE.

Various Slaves are equipped with Shackles, Neck locks, Neck rings, Masks and Bits. A few if not all are chained together. MUTHA WIT is now a crippled slave, named simply MUTHA. also there is a PO’ WHITE TRASH indentured servant, named BUCK NAKED.

MO’ DEAD SILENCE.

A Slave woman, IZZIE MAE, weary, moves, barely, closer to DEAD MASSA MO’TEL. She bends, almost, to the ground. She blows lightly at DEAD MASSA MO’TEL.

HAMMET: Izzie?

IZZIE MAE: Huh.

HAMMET: Izzie?

Is he dead?

IZZIE MAE: uh-huh.

OMNES: YEEEAAAHHH!!!

(T.J. and RON Awaken.

T.J. is now the same age as his Great. Great. Grandson, and

like RON he is a handsome fit young man.

With his own voice, T.J. bellows.)

T.J.: HOME!

(The Slaves begin a FULL-THROTTLE, NO-HOLDS-BARRED,

11:00, BROADWAY, SHOWSTOPPING, BRING

DOWN THE HOUSE, PRODUCTION NUMBER, Chains

and all.

SONG: “HE’S DEAD”)

SLAVES:

take these chains offa me

unlock these bolts from ’round my feet

that there bed landed on his head

nah cain’t nobody tell us massa ain’t dead

no mo’ ya’suhs from this heah slave

quick niggas com’ on let’s dig his grave

these cottonpickin’ fingers git mighty weary

but they still turn and wave so long dearie

(Chorus)

yeah!!!

ouuuu

he’s dead (5x)

solid-rock dead

dead as a skunk

from head ta toe my body aches

my bent black back’s about to break

my sunburnt neck’s gat a permanent crook

he took my child befo’ I gat a good look

he sold my mama to a man named John

he raped my sista just fo’ fun

he beat my father both black and blue

if he had the chance he’d fuck you too

but!!!

ouuuu

he’s dead (5x)

(dance break)

not catatonic or merely sleepin’

if ya take one sniff ya com’ back weepin’

his skin is rottin’ his lips are cold

this song is endin’ nah you been told

that cracker chalky pastey paleface peckerwood red

neck ofay hick

honkey hoogie blue-eyed devil

IS DEAD

YEAH!!!

(MISTRESS MO’TEL appears.

DEAD SILENCE.

MISTRESS MO’TEL gives the Slaves a knowing glance BUT

doesn’t see DEAD MASSA MO’TEL.

SHE SPOTS KATIE LYNN, WHO CARRIES A BABY.)

MISTRESS MO’TEL: Katie Lynn? Katie Lynn?

KATIE LYNN: Yes’um?

MISTRESS MO’TEL: Ain’t I don’ tol’ you ’bout hangin’ out ’round these heah common field niggas yousa house niggra and yous need ta start ta ’ppreciate mo’ what it mean ta be my house ni...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• The Characters
• Author’s Note
• Prologue
• A Midnight Shine
• On The Road
• Motel
• II
• Plantation
• Nat’s Turn
• Some Enchanted Evening
• Love For Sale/The Last Supper
• Massacre Mourn
• About the Author