Marin Sorescu: Varul Shakespeare

Tragedie in cinci acte
1987-l988

PERSONAJELE

SHAKESPEARE — dramaturg si actor
HAMLET — printul Danemarcei
DOAMNA BRUNA — iubita lui Shakespeare
ANNE HATHAWAY SHAKESPEARE — sotia lui Shakespeare
BEN JONSON — dramaturg
SORESCU — un danez
IDELE LUI MARTE
CAMELIA — sora Ofeliei
TINE-CAL — un copil
TITIREZ, GILMA - mascarici
SIR JOHN DOWNTOWN zis PERIFERIE, THOMAS BLUR, PORCIUS BLISTER – scriitori, rivalii lui Shakespeare
RICHARD ZERO, FLY, HEIFER - actori, rivalii lui Shakespeare
FANTOMA
CALAUL
VOICEA — personajul care nu incape in Shakespeare
CORABIERUL — un corabier american
BIRMINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM, BRISTOL - nobili
ARIEL — spiridus
MARY (VALY) — gemene
VRAJITOAREA
Actori, mascarici, soli, negustori, tarabagii, lume.

PROLOGUL (intra imbracat in toga, cu masca si pe coturni):
De-i spatiul curb ca mingea, ce in perete
Dac-o izbesti, iti sare-n piept — si astfel
Tot cautind pe altii, dai de tine...
Atunci si 'timpu-nehis in minge-aicelasi
Ramine secole, milenii lungi
Si zile, chiar din drojdia genezei,
Se-nvecineaza cu-ale tale clipe...
Stau secolele dupa gard, cu mina
Le atingi si respirind acelasi aer,
Aceleasi viziuni ai...
Toti de-a valma
Ne-mpleticiim parca-n aceeasi piasa,
Pe care inicercam s-o tot rescriem,
Dar replicile ni-s mereu suflate
Si tra'se-n pie-pit de-apuse generatii
Si vintul ce roteste-n veci pamintuil
Ne sufla sufletele... si le-ncurca...

(Intra Titirez.)

TITIREZ (facind citeva tumbe) :
Tu, aschie cu forme sincopate,
Lungind prologul, ne maninci din piesa!
Ca titirezul itotu-o sa se-nvirta,
Degraba veti vedea... Mai fac o tumba
(Mai face.)
PROLOGUL:
Ia seama, Titirez, batjocorind
Taina Prologului, greu epilpg avea-vei!
TITIREZ:
Prologul are-o taina ? S-o destainui.
(Isi smulge masca. Apare un chip de femeie.)
Femeie, cine esti, ca de uimire
Imi cade nasu-n gura... si-mi miroase
Vorbirea a coliva...
PROLOGUL:
Spurcata vorba! Te duhneasca dracii!
Sint Idele lui Marte...
TITIREZ :
Vai, ma clatin!
De ce-ai jucat prologul ?
IDELE:
Nu sint oameni.
De-acum prologu-i gata. Tine malsca,
Ti-o trebui la-nmormintari solelmne.
A ta va fi ia fel ca a lui Yorik.
Si zi-mi pe nume : Idele lui Marte...
TITIREZ:
Eu...sarut mina...plec…cinstita cobe!
(Aparte:)
De nu te-as mai vedea, ai creste-n ochii-mi.
(Tare, luind masca:)
Eu ies pe-aici... Sa nu vii dupa mine!
De-i spatiul curb, eu il masor cu tumbe.
Raspunderi mari incumbe-ne, incumbe.
(Iese, facind o tumba nereusita si speriata.)

Ramona Zamfirescu
 

Cousin Shakespeare
(A Play in Five Acts)

CHARACTERS

SHAKESPEARE -- playwright and actor
HAMLET -- the prince of Denmark
DARK LADY -- Shakespeare's lover
ANNE HATHAWAY SHAKESPEARE -- Shakespeare's wife
BEN JONSON -- playwright
SORESCU -- a Dane
IDES OF MARCH
CAMELIA -- Ophelia's sister
HOLD-HORSE -- a child
SPINNING-TOP, LUMP -- fools
SIR JOHN DOWNTOWN aka OUTSKIRTS, THOMAS BLUR, PORCIUS BLISTER -- writers, Shakespeare's rivals
RICHARD ZERO, FLY, HEIFER -- actors, Shakespeare's rivals
The GHOST
The EXECUTIONER
VOICEA -- THE CHARACTER THAT DOESN'T FIT IN SHAKESPEARE
The SAILOR -- an American sailor
BIRMINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM, BRISTOL -- noblemen
ARIEL -- an elf
The WITCH
MARY (VALY) -- twins
Actors, fools, messengers, merchants, stall-keepers, people.

PROLOGUE

The PROLOGUE
(enter wearing a toga, a mask and buskins)
If space be round like a ball, if thrown
Against a wall, it bounces back into your chest -- and thus,
Always looking for others, you finally find yourself--
Then even time enclosed in the ball remains the same
For centuries, for long millennia
And days, even from Genesis's yeast,
Become neighbours with your moments --
The centuries stay hidden behind a fence, you touch them
With your hand and breathing the same air,
You share the same visions -- All of us stumble
As if actors in the same play,
Which we've been trying to rewrite,
But our lines seem always corny
And taken in by bygone generations
And the wind that forever blows the earth around
Blows over our souls -- and scatter them away
(Enter Spinning-top)
SPINNING-TOP
(turning somersaults)
You, chip with syncopated forms,
Prolonging the prologue, you're eating up our play!
Everything will spin like a spinning-top,
You'll see it soon--I'll do another somersault.
(He does another.)
The PROLOGUE
Be careful, Spinning-top, mocking
The Prologue's mystery will bring you a harsh epilogue!
SPINNING-TOP
The Prologue has a mystery? Let's see it.
(Snatches off the Prologue's mask. A woman's face appears.)
Who are you, woman, for my jaw just dropped
With wonder -- and my words
Smell of funeral treat --
The PROLOGUE
Wicked word! I hope the devils take you!
I'm the Ides of March--
SPINNING-TOP
Oh, suddenly I don't feel too good!
Why did you play the prologue?
IDES
We had no one else left for this part.
Now the prologue's done. Take the mask,
You might need it for solemn funerals.
Yours will be like Yorik's.
And call me by my name: Ides of March --
SPINNING-TOP
I -- kiss your hand -- I'm going -- earnest jinx!
(Aside.)
I'd like you so much more, if I didn't see you again.
(Loud, taking the mask.)
I'll leave here--Don't come after me!
If space be round, I'd measure it with somersaults.
High responsibilities rest with us, rest with us.
(Leaves, turning an unsuccessful and frightened somersault.)