(The audienceenters in the theatre to discover a stage bare of curtains.
Dec 16, 2017 These kids are GREAT! But as a disclaimer - this video was made during a dress rehearsal that I was photographing (to be used as my reference material only) so the video quality is.
At stage left looms a metalsculptureintended to represent: [a] a totem
pole/Christmas tree that stands in an abandoned lot, [b] a wood burning
stove with a snakychimney that is at the center of MARK and ROGER's
loft apartment, and [c] in Act II, a church steeple. On stage the
five-musician band performsunder a woodenplatformsurrounded by
railing. The woodenplatform has a staircase on the upstage side.
Downstage left is a black, waist-high rail fence. Once the audience is in
the theatre, CREW and BANDMEMBERS move about informally
onstage in preparation for Act I).
ROGER DAVIS, carrying an electric guitar, entersupstage left and
crosses to a guitar amp sitting on a chair at center stage. He casually
plugs his guitar into the amp and adjusts levels, then crosses downstage
and sits on the table.
After a few chords, the COMPANY, led by MARK COHEN, enters from
all directions and fills the stage. MARK sets up a smalltripod and a
16mm moviecameradownstage center, aimed upstage. He addresses the
audience.)
'INTRO'
MARK:
We begin on Christmas Eve with me, Mark, and my roommate, Roger. We
live in an industrial loft on the corner of 11th street and Avenue B, the top
floor of what was once a musicpublishing factory. Old rock 'n' roll posters
hang on the walls. They have Roger's pictureadvertising gigs at CBGB's and
the Pyramid Club. We have an illegal wood burning stove; its exhaust pipe
crawls up to a skylight. All of our electricalappliances are plugged into one
thick extension cord whichsnakes its way out a window. Outside, a small tent
city has sprung up in the lot next to our building. Inside, we are freezing
because we have no heat.
(He turns the camera to ROGER)
Smile!
'TUNE UP #1'
MARK:
December 24th, Nine PM
Eastern Standard Time
From here on in
I shootwithout a script
See if anythingcomes of it
Instead of my old shit
First shot -- Roger
Tuning the Fender guitar
He hasn't played in a year
ROGER:
This won't tune
MARK:
So we hear
He's just coming back
From half a year of withdrawal
ROGER:
Are you talking to me?
MARK:
Not at all
Are you ready? Hold that focus -- steady
Tell the folks at home what you're doingRoger ...
ROGER:
I'm writing one great song --
MARK:
The phone rings.
ROGER:
Saved!
MARK:
We screen
Zoom in on the answering machine!
(An actorplaces a telephone on a chair and we see MARK'S MOM in a
special light.)
'VOICE MAIL #1'
ROGER & MARK'S OUTGOING MESSAGE
'Speak' ... ('Beeeep!')
MOM:
That was a very loud beep
I don't even know if this is working
Mark -- Mark -- are you there
Are you screening your calls --
It's mom
We wanted to call and say we love you
And we'll miss you tomorrow
Cindy and the kids are here -- send their love
Oh, I hope you like the hot plate
Just don't leave it on, dear
When you leave the house
Oh, and Mark
We're sorry to hear that Maureendumped you
I say c'est la vie
So let her be a lesbian...
There are otherfishies in the sea
... Love Mom!
(Lights fade on MOM and answering machine.)
'TUNE UP #2'
MARK:
Tell the folks at home what you're doing Roger
ROGER:
I'm writing one great song
MARK:
The phone rings
ROGER:
Yesss!
MARK:
We screen
ROGER & MARK'S ANSWERING MACHINE
'Speak' ... ('Beeeep!')
(Lights fade up on the street: the front-door area of MARK and ROGER's
building. Nearby is a batteredpublic pay phone. TOMCOLLINS stands
at the phone.)
COLLINS:
'Chestnuts roasting -'
ROGER & MARK
(as MARKpicks up the phone)
Collins!