| |
| HISTORY | 1996:
Play commissioned by Birds of Paradise, a charity Theatre Company for disabled
performers. 1997: Published as a play by Dog and Bone
Press, Glasgow. 1997-8: Taken on tour through Scotland
by Dog and Bone Theatre Company | | CAST
Unless stated
otherwise below all actors perform in wheelchairs. Where sex not given, actors
can be either: | ABLE
MCMANN, a young man with working legs but usually in wheelchair | BARTENDER
Scenes 1, 9. | THRUST,
a business person Scenes 1, 9. | BLAND,
a big businessman Scenes 1, 7, 9. | COY,
a seductive woman Scenes 1, 9. | SUAVE,
a seductive man Scenes 1, 9. | SOCIAL
WORKER, blind Scenes 1, 5, 9. | MANAGER,
a business person Scenes 1, 5, 12. | BETTY
MACRAE, our heroine Scenes 3, 4, 6, 12. | UNDERMANAGER
| ) | | | WAITRESS
| ) | | | BETH
| ) | Scene
3 – all but waitress wear | | LIZ
| ) | party
paper hats. Alex wears a | | ALEX
| ) |
flamboyant waistcoat. Liz and | | SANDY
| ) |
Lex are not essential. | | LEX
| ) | | | MRS.
MACRAE, Betty’s mother Scenes 4, 6, 12 | MR.
MACRAE, Betty’s father Scenes 4, 6, 12. | PRIME
MINISTER, blind Scene 5. | MEG,
a conscientious office worker Scene 6. | FOUR
DEAF MUTES consisting a Scene 8 benefit tribunal, and APPLICANT with working
legs and one line | MISS
SHY, who has working legs Scenes 9, 10, 12. | FOUR
POLICEMEN: no lines Scene 9 . | EDITOR
Scenes 10, 12 | REPORTER,
SUB-EDITOR Scene 10 |
NURSE | ) | | SISTER | ) | | SURGEON | ) | Scene
11 | ANAESTHETIST | ) | | HOUSE-OFFICER | ) | | ADMINISTRATOR | ) | | POLITICIAN
and JUDGE Alternative Scene 11 |
SCENES As
in Shakespeare’s theatre scenes can be set by properties. These, except
9 essential wheelchairs, are listed below. ACT
ONE: BACK TO NORMAL 1
– Lounge Bar – Gantry with glasses, bottles, telephone. A folding
stool. 2 – Manager’s Office – Desk, low door, folding
stool, extra wheelchair for Able. 3 – Office Party – Balloons,
streamers, party hats. Music, off. 4 – Macrae Living Room - Standard
lamp, hearthrug, low sideboard. 5 – Several Places – Drip-feed,
manager’s desk. 6 – Macrae Living Room - As before. ACT
TWO: ROAD TO RUIN 7
– Supply Office – Two desks, two word processors and phone 8
– Benefit Tribunal – Platform, table, 4 chairs, pushbell, voicebox,
white mat. 9 – Lounge Bar – As Scene 1, with ropes, handcuffs,
truncheons. 10 – Newspaper Office – Long table, two word
processors, three phones. 11 – Shadow Play – Table, anaesthetic
machine, surgical tools, tray of drinks. 12 – Hospital Ward –
Hospital bed, drip-feed, spectacular new wheelchair. Alternative Scene
11 with two brandy glasses. | | |