Mirth

(a play at play)

Archy

How’d it go?

Gaby

It’s over.  I think.  Don’t let it trouble you.  Nothing falls neatly in place.

Archy 
Do we ever find our place in this world?  Do we even have a place?

Gaby 
Those are just the wrong questions.  

Archy 
What are the right ones?

Gaby 
Are we alone? Do the angels watch over us?  

Archy
Do the angels even exist? What angels would bother with us?   

Gaby

The art on the walls and the books on the shelves are your excellent angels.  They were inspired by the muses. 

Archy
They’ve become material possessions sought by collectors.  Would angels profit from collectors?

Bertha

American dreamers think money will solve their problems.

Martin

Let them dream. Everything must end. Even dreams.

Bertha

So? 

Gaby
Do you dream?

Archy
I dreamed I was loved and valued.

Martin

Dreams are the garbage of the brain.  

Bertha
They don’t matter.

Archy

I can't walk away.

Bertha

You’re committed to the show.  Enjoy it.

Gaby

You won’t suffer forever.

Bertha

I’m quite satisfied with what you’ve put on exhibit.  

Martin

We were not expecting much.

Gaby

Just leave my delusions intact.  

Bertha
Gaby.  You ought to exhibit your work.  

Gaby
I brought bread and cheese from the market.

(a burst of light and sound of a loud blast followed by silence)

Archy

The city is under siege.

Gaby
What?

Archy
What will we do?

Gaby

I listen to the wind.

Bertha

What do you hear?

Archy

We should put up a pot of tea and live for the moment.

Gaby

We share our moments with our guests.

Archy

Send the audience home. The end is beginning and I’m feeling weak.

Bertha

Get on with your life. Make the best of it.

Gaby

What of the audience?  Do we need them?  

Archy
An artist ought to be paid a living wage.

Martin

You need contracts.

Archy

Let’s not talk about it.

Bertha

Do you prefer to be alone?

Martin

Does that surprise you?

Archy

We should quit using words . . . 

Martin

We need to give voice to our anger.

Gaby

Are you angry?

Archy

I didn’t want to do this.

Martin

But, you did it anyway.

Archy

What was I doing? Where could I go? Wherever I went, I couldn’t get away from myself.

Gaby

It’s getting late.

Bertha

Why would you leave?

Martin

No one would know if you went or stayed.

Gaby

All artists start with a single gesture, a response to a perception. They continue until they stop. Then they walk away.

Bertha

Listen to the children’s voices.

Gaby

I hear the children’s voices -- 

Bertha

You can sustain their hopes.

Gaby

Until they look into the abyss, and find despair for themselves.

Bertha

Your art would survive.

Archy

I’ll do what I have to.

Gaby

Come, swift Spirits of might and mirth,

Archy

I’ll live in the present. The audience sat through the entire play.

Bertha

The audience leaves after every performance.

Gaby

But we’ll return with other bodies.

Archy

Can I exist outside the theater?

Martin

At the end you are free. You may leave the theater.

Archy

It is time to begin again.

(sunrise. bright house lights)