Shadow Play
Shadow Play
By Daniel Brothers
For my brother Robby,
“I left a steady plane for worlds of uncertainty
I miss the sureness of my feet, but god…
...what wonders there are to see”
Nigel: A man
Mistress mysterio: Mysterious proprietor of the house of shadow
At rise: Mistress Mysterio sits on the stage, not fully decked out, but certain dress seductively. She is sitting casually and comfortably
[Nigel is thrown from offstage. He is awkwardly dressed in poorly fitting leather scrappy clothing put on him as if he didn’t really understand the exact purpose of all the different latches. He is also gagged]
Nigel: [gagged] Whoa! Hello there how are you?
Mysterio: Do you crave a new sexual experience?
Nigel: [gagged] I would like to know your name first i think.
Mysterio: Nod for yes, shake your head for no
Nigel: [shakes head]
Mysterio: Just come over here. [she removes the gag]
Nigel: My goodness that is very hard on the jaw. My name is Nigel pleasure to meet you.
Mysterio: Charmed. You’re looking very pale, did my assistant bind you too tightly
Nigel: Oh no that’s just my skin. The doctor’s say I’m a medical marvel.
Mysterio: Are you ready to begin then?
Nigel: Oh this wasn’t a part of it yet?
Mysterio: Not even close.
Nigel: Oh that is exciting.
[She prepares a chair for him]
Mysterio: This is your first time to the house of shadow is it not?
Nigel: Yes it was a birthday present from my late wife. There is a lot to unpack there
Mysterio: Let’s not
Nigel: Are you sure?
Mysterio: [taking him to chair] You are here for the experience
Nigel: Oh right yet good. This is quite the seat.
Mysterio: [cracks whip]
Nigel: How exciting!
Mysterio: Shh Shh Shh. Sit back and let the experience take you. [gags him, and then walks away from them] Are you ready?
Nigel: [gagged] I am quite ready!
Mysterio: Let us begin
[lights shift to cast large shadows on the back wall, or procenium visible both to the audience and Nigel. Mysterio then begins to cast shadow puppets on the wall. A spider, a crocodile, some bunny rabbits. The shadows touch Nigel. Mysterio takes pride in their work. Nigel begins to become more confused as he realizes that this is what was meant by shadow play]
Nigel: [gagged] Um. Excuse me. Excuse me Mistress
Mysterio: Yes Nigel?
Nigel: [gagged] What exactly is this supposed to feel like?
[Mysterio removes the gag]
Nigel: Am I supposed to be feeling something.
Mysterio: Yes, you are feeling something.
Nigel: I don’t think I am
Mysterio: The shadows are touching you.
Nigel: But it’s just light you can’t feel light
Mysterio: It’s the absence of light, the empty air sensation, the thought of the shadow, the tickle in the mind of the concept.
Nigel: But you can’t literally feel it? It’s all in your head?
Mysterio: Your mind can feel it. Let your head fill in the gaps of your sensation.
Nigel: [debates for a solid moment] Well it was a gift, when in Rome as they say! I did quite like the bunnies
Mysterio: [gagging him again] Rabbits are my specialty
They return to shadow play, and eventually the lights go down on the scene.