ALICE DE JESUS (2F drama short play script)
Preface to the publication (2002)
Now, in 2002, I realize how some light and stage directions were misplaced, after putting on paper some of my own ideas about how I wanted the play to be staged; I am a little more modest now that I’m away from the theater, so feel free to discard all my indications, they are just a kind of anachronism.
Some ideas are still valid, as texts for theatrical skits are always hard to find. So, the idea of a complete play for the theater audiences, however short, still seems to be an interesting idea nowadays.
Victor M. Sant’Anna, 30thMay, 2002
Introduction (1990)
This play is part of a series of “annexed plays,” a dramatic text to be staged alongside the main event. Annexed plays have the advantage of being short, allowing the performers an experience only common in theater labs and academic plays. They serve as an “appetizer” to the main play, offering the audience not only extra entertainment, but another opportunity to get to know more than just one work made by the same director or group on the same day.
‘Aliceof Jesus’isa simpleplay,a smalldrama.This script came to my mind in January 1990, while trying to createsomething tobe stagedbefore acomedy.
Alice is a young girl oppressed by her mother. There isn’t much to do or say, the text is simple and easy to understand. All symbols used are clear, and the play is great for beginner acting groups. New experiences are welcome; after all, this is the spirit present behind every “annexed play”
ALICE DE JESUS
First Part
On stage: A clothesline (a rope hanging from one side of the stage to the other) with some clothes hanging from it. A woman (with her back to the audience) simply dressed (as a laundress) is hanging up more clothes, taking them out of a plastic basin, which she pushes along the floor with her foot as she walks. She keeps doing this until all the clothes have been hung out. This scene takes a few minutes.
After this,sheturns tothe audienceand talks likeif she was tellinga secret:
MOTHER: My daughter is graduating today…
The main lights fade away while a spotlight increases on stage left, from where Alice enters. When the light is only on her, she talks while the mother leaves. Alice wears a graduation robe or other clothing that resembles she is graduating on that day.
ALICE: I know I am being naive. But I couldn’t do anything else! The only way out was to do as my mom had ordered me…
In fact, she wouldn’t give me an order. She is a really cool mom. She just wanted for me what she never had. She honestly never gave me an order. I was her puppet. She blackmailed me with kindness and love. Mothers always want the best for their daughters. She pushed me. She made sure I graduated, even against my will. She did for me what was best … for her.
When I was little, I liked to poke around in people’s mouths and she said: “When you grow up, you will be a dentist!” For me, it was just child’s play. For my mother, it was a prophecy!
She always wanted me to have the best, even when she couldn’t give it to me. She always wanted me to be the best. From childhood, I was always studying. I always wanted to be the best in class. I always did for my mother what was best for me…
She wanted for me what she didn’t have for her: opportunity! A chance to be free! And that’s what she built in me: a free person! I can go wherever I want. If I want, I can drop everything and go. I am free! My mother made me free!
Gradually the smile she has on her face disappears. Then, another smile, born of cynicism, invades her face. Her face continues to transfigure until it shows intense anger. The light fades and she leaves.
Part 2
When the main lights increase again, the mother is sitting on a rocking chair, stage left, in front of the clothesline. She is waiting for someone (Alice) and is distraught, looking for something with her eyes, all the while rocking in the chair. It takes some time before Alice enters. Occasionally, the mother stands up and looks through an imaginary window, as if she has sensed Alice’s imminent arrival. Then, she goes back to the chair and tries to sleep, but can’t. Alice enters stage right. She tries to walk slowly so as not to wake her mother. She is not wearing the graduation robe. Alice crosses the stage on her tiptoes, very slowly, until she is behind her mother’s chair.
MOTHER: What took you so long, Alice?
Alice comes around to the front of the chair and kisses her mother’s hands. Alice sits or kneels in front of her mother, who stands up, goes to the audience and begins to speak energetically:
MOTHER: Alice! What time do you call this? Is it what you said you would do? You promised you’d come early, didn’t you? Didn’t you say you’d be back before I even noticed you were gone? That I wouldn’t feel a thing? Didn’t you say you would be quick? Do you think you are early now? At this late hour? Do you think it’s ok to come back at this hour?
Aliceis quiet, looking at thechair.
MOTHER: Is this how you treat me? Is this how you treat your own mother? Your mother, who is here waiting for you? Your mother, who believes her daughter when she says she will be back early? Why, Alice? What have I done to you? What have I done or said! Why hurt me like this? Why make me sad? Have I done anything? Have I done something wrong? Is that how you should treat your mother? Why, Alice? I always gave you everything! Did I not? Have I failed to give you anything? Have I? Did I not take care of my little girl all these years? Did I not sacrifice everything to give you all a poor mother could give? Did my daughter not get a good education? Didn’t I give you healthcare? Didn’t I give you the best? Answer me, Alice! What didn’t I give to you? Why are you doing this to me (she gets increasingly mad)? Answer me, Alice! Why hurt me like this? Do you want to send me to an early grave? Where on earth have you been?
Alice: (turns to the mother and answers) I was just hanging out with a friend…
MOTHER: A friend? Would you rather stay with a friend than your own mother? The mother who always gave everything to you? The mother who always did everything for you? Alice … (softly) I do not want you to be sad or unhappy. I only want what is best for you. If you think you should stay with a friend until late, it is ok with me … but I want you to think carefully about it. And, if you still think I don’t deserve your attention, you don’t need to spend any time with me in future. I can understand. I myself was born to suffer anyway… (Pretends to be comprehensive) Why didn’t you come back earlier and bring your friend with you, to our home? (She waits a while for an answer and then continues) I do everything for you and this is how you repay me . . .
The light dims a little, Alice gets up and goes to her mother, who is standing still, facing the audience. Alice talks to her mother as if she is talking to a portrait.
Alice: Mom … I met someone…Hetold me…He told me helikes me! Mother! Iwanted so much totell you! He likes me! (Gradually, she stops talkingto her motherand starts speakingto the audience) He likes meandI like him, too! He likes meand I can’ttell you! I can’ttell you I’mhappy!I can nevertell you anything! Iwanted to tell youso many things… Iwanted to tell youbut I can’t! I wanted to show you who Ilove! Iwanted you to meetmy boyfriends! I wish youwere my friend! That you could understand me! I’m so afraid! I’m so afraid of hurting you, hurtingyou…
The main lights gradually fade, and,in the left cornerof the stage,a spotlight(same position of the previous one) increases. Aliceapproaches it and walks through thelightwhile the motherleaves viathe other side of the stage.
Alice: When I was little, my mother would say, “Alice, when you grow up, you will not leave me alone …” I always thought: I will never leave my mother alone! Never. I will never leave my mother alone.
The main lights increase again. The motheris sitting on the rocking chair. She stands up,whilethe song ‘Happy Birthday’ is played. She walks to the right of the stageand comes back withanother rocking chair. She places itsymmetricaltothe other chair, both facing theaudience -the firstchairon the left, the secondon the right.
MOTHER: Come and try out your gift, Alice! (Goes to the chairs and sits on the left one)
Alice sits on the chair to the right. They both start to rock them. Someone comes from behind the clothesline and spreads the clothes apart, hanging up a bed sheet in the space they created. It serves as a screen for some images of birthday cakes, which are projected (from behind) with the main lights dimmed. The song ‘Happy Birthday’ is played again and again. The music stops. When the main lights increase again, Alice and her mother both stand up and hug each other.
The lights fade gradually and a large spotlight settles right above them. The mother exits stage left while Alice speaks as if her mother was still there.
Alice: Mom, I want to thank you so much … You always gave me what is best for me … thank you very much, Mom!
MOTHER: (voice only) Take the clothes down for me!
Alice takes the clothes off the line and puts them in a plastic basin. The main lights increase lightly. She also takes the bed sheet that is hanging there. Alice returns to the center of the stage, under the central spotlight. The main light is dimmed again. The mother returns with the graduation robe and starts to dress Alice. Another spotlight shines above the chair on the left side. The mother goes backstage (into the dark). Alice watches the chair and waits confused. Her mother returns with the clothesline. She ties it around Alice’s waist. She walks out of the spotlight and goes to the chair on the left side, tying the other end of the clothesline to it and then sits down. Alice examines the clothesline.
MOTHER: Bye,Alice. Come backearly!
The light on her mother (left seat) decreases gradually until it completely goes out. Only Alice’s spotlight is left on. She turns to the audience and, as the light fades slowly, says:
Alice: Thank you, mom.
The lights go out completely.
copyright Victor Martins SantAnna 1990