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From Issue #5, Summer 2004 RT
in the Great Northwest The site of my planned production of the comedy, Today, I Am A Fountain Pen has ample playing space, but the lighting is limited to six unalterable spots out front, and beyond On/Off switches back stage, no controls at all. The script calls for many areas: the front room; a living room with a piano; kitchen; child’s bedroom; the store, and a park. As a newly formed group with limited resources, I believe a staged reading will serve this family comedy best. But even for a staged reading, a few props couldn’t hurt. The piano, a large child’s crayon drawing for the bedroom; a cash register on a short counter with shelves below for a blanket and a sheet for the shop; two pole stands at center and right stage, each holds a funnel. A speaker tube connects them to the shop and the front room. At the opening of the show House lights and stage spots are on. Ardenshensky, The Narrator, who plays many roles, enters through the audience. A very friendly character, he stops to shake hands with acquaintances, finally stops at center below the stage. Ardenshensky introduces the Mother who enters to Center. He points to the piano to introduce Irving. He bows and exits right. House lights out. In Black, Irving enters to sit at the piano which is Left Center. Taped Chopin has started. The actor does not play the piano. A row of chairs is aligned across Center stage. Esther is discovered standing at Center. At Lights Up, she speaks directly to the audience. To communicate with Moses, who has entered and stands at the counter by the cash register, Esther crosses to the funnel and shouts into it. Each actor carries a script. All are costumed for the 1940. Except, when the script requires the character to be in a specific area, each actor sits in the row of chairs at Center. To create the scene in a specific area, actors cross into the area when first entering from off stage. Rather than exit, actors cross to sit in the Center row. Later, the characters cross into their area from the Center chair. Ideally, all lines are learned. The actors consult the script often enough to establish that this production is a reading without set or furniture. Music is used sparingly to establish the period. Mr.
Zimmer has directed successful staged readings of Moliere, Shaw, and
other scripts so don't be hesitant about performing the 'great ones'
as Readers Theatre!.
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