Sunday, March 6, 2011

Broadway Revival of an Old Favorite


Scripting had been simple:
total improv, each night
a different story, whatever
inspired the sole cast member:
a voice blaring on a loudspeaker.

The director’s job was easy:
put your name on the program
and coach the voice to speak,
preferably loudly; no music,
no choreography, no budget.

The hard work belonged
to the set designer, who later
said in a celebrated interview
that it took more than work,
more than sweat; blood.

Like the voice on the loudspeaker
the audience changed each night
but generally had the same
predictable reaction: great
expectations, disappointed.

Democracy in America: A Contemporary Reprise
Based on a work by Alexis deToqueville

This poem is submitted for One Shot Sunday, sponsored by One Stop Poetry. To see other poems prompted by the photograph and an interview with the photographer, Jacob F. Lucas, please visit the site.

Photograph: The Show Must Go On by Jacob F. Lucas. Used with permission for One Stop Poetry.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Glynn, this is a rich and vivid poem, really got drawn into the production ;)

Brian Miller said...

ha. entertaining themselves...certainly sounds like the self centered...smiles.

Louise Gallagher said...

I opened my browser this morning and clicked on your blog and as I clicked I thought... I wonder what wonder Glynn has in store for everyone today.

And... I wasn't disappointed.

Wonderful take on One Shot!

Louise

dustus said...

Ha! Made me think of the prompts (& props) given by Drew Carey on Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Used to be addicted to that show). Nice job taking the improv angle for the prompt. "no choreography, no budget" My kind of show.

JL Dodge said...

Great One Shot !! well done !

hedgewitch said...

Read it, then reread it in the light of the de Toqueville reference, a theme I saw in this picture also, and was blown away. Really acerbic, telling commentary, and a fine sense of what really goes on on that decaying stage. You even got the blood and sweat in, and I'm thinking the tears are implied.

Gigi Ann said...

I was not disappointed.. Nice take on the prompt.

signed...bkm said...

Make me think that even for actors life becomes mondane and expections are to often a let down...nice writing Glynn..bkm

Steve Isaak said...

Enjoyable history of a theater. Good work. =)

Beachanny said...

Oh yes, Little Theater, if you don't know the players it's a total bust unless you can enjoy the camp element. Usually I just leave disappointed except for maybe that one spark of talent there not in the spotlight. I usually always find at least one good thing..in this case the artist known as the set designer. Great take and well written. Thanks, Gay

Anonymous said...

witty one..

well done..keep tickling..
:)

Anonymous said...

Improv at its best!

Duane Scott said...

Wonderful poem!