More about the Play


“On its way to Earth a drama about the Pentecost, co-authored by Shakespeare and St. Paul, gets quietly revised by its seraphic messenger – a budding playwright in unrequited amoré who sees the script is light on comedy, with no roles for angels in love.”

The Prelude to God Touches is the playful mise-en-scène of the above synopsis and optional to productions. It was left out of the premiere to keep performances under two hours, though it adds a baklava of humor to the role of its Chorus, Michael, the seraphic messenger who revises the script he is sent to deliver.

It is presented here to tell a little ‘more about the play,’ and shows its original authors, Shakespeare and Saint Paul, walking through their set (above) – unbeknownst to them here, changed from a Convent to a Painter’s Loft – already a glimmer in the mind of their servant in a quantum’s stretch of time and space.

_________

PRELUDE

The LIGHT OPENS on JULIA as she walks to center stage beaming with confidence and genuine affection toward the audience. Her position triangulates two black boxes or cubes at the stage’s edge.

JULIA
During rehearsals for this play the author was asked by the principals involved what its genesis was. So here as prelude, and in the spirit of the saying, ‘If there’s an elephant in the room, and it’s your elephant, best introduce it,’  please imagine this scene in heaven between a boyish Shakespeare, diminishing in age because he reincarnates soon, and an aged St. Paul, who is finished with the Earth.”

The LIGHT CLOSES on Julia as she leaves and OPENS ON THE TWO, standing behind the audience as they start down the aisle toward the front of the stage.

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(London accent)
“You know that play you started me on and have been obsessing about?”

S. PAUL
(crisp Irish brogue)
“On the Pentecost, yes.  But obsessing is a strong word.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Not where you’re concerned.”

S. PAUL
Yes, well…”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Yes well, I finished it.”

S. PAUL
Good man, Will!  Know anyone on Earth who’s returned to the theatre?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Not a soul, no one’s that bonkers.”

S. PAUL
Pity.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Know someone in the Church?”

S. PAUL
No one who’d produce a play of yours.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
I know an angel, who knows an archangel, who knows someone.”

S. PAUL
In entertainment?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
No, in marketing.”

S. PAUL
A frustrated artist, I’d be wary, they’re the worst. “

They step between the cubes onto the stage.

BOY SHAKESPEARE
It’s true they can be.”

S. PAUL
A poseur and dilettante very likely.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Yes, it’s likely.”

S. PAUL
Mark my words, he’ll muddle it, not to speak of your messenger.  How many angels are in your play?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(at a small refrigerator)
“None.”

S. PAUL
“None.  Five acts?

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(opens door, takes out water bottle)
“Three, set in a convent like you asked.”

S. PAUL
A convent. Good.
(sees painting of partial nude)
But this doesn’t look like a convent to me.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(inspecting water bottle)
May be a modern one.”

S. PAUL
Yes. But is there a chorus in the play?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
No.”

S. PAUL
(at a hotplate)
“And it’s a drama?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(closes refrigerator)
“Strictly.”

S. PAUL
(lifts lid on kettle)
“Ha!”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(starts toward easel)
“What’s so comic?”

S. PAUL
(turns knob, puts hand on red burner)
“You know how the angels are always saying as Heaven’s delivery crew they get the stick’s short end?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
I wasn’t aware they say that at all.”

S. PAUL
(hand still on burner)
“That’s what’s comic. Who’s the messenger?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
I’m told it’s Michael.”

S. PAUL
(removes hand, starts toward easel)
“Michael, at his mercy again.  And about this marketer he says what?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
That at his worst, he’s quite fastidious. And at his best, that he’s diligent.”

S. PAUL
Funny, like your man, Kent, I always liked him.”
(studies painting)
So the writer’s diligent— is he brilliant?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(leaves for bookcase)
“Not according to Michael, but…”

S. PAUL
Compared to him…”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Whose bulb is?”

S. PAUL
Yes. And what about piety? Is he religious?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(snags and opens  Joyce’s Ulysses)
“No, but he does pray… some.”

S. PAUL
Oh?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
On his knees.  He needs bags of help and he apparently knows it.”

S. PAUL
Even better.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
(puts down Joyce, snags an Emerson)
“But he doesn’t take himself too seriously.”

S. PAUL
Better still.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
And he’s a good listener.”

S. PAUL
(beat)
“He’ll do. Set it up.”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Brilliant.”
(puts down Lectures, starts to leave upstage)
By the way, ever stop by Ireland in your travels?”

S. PAUL
Memory fails, there were so many stops.  I think once, perhaps. Why?”

BOY SHAKESPEARE
Just curious.”

They EXIT together. The hot plate’s diminishment brings down the LIGHT.

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