Narrator – 50 to 75 year-old – Native American – The Narrator is an elder who understands the world around them and sees those connections other people can’t see. As the Narrator they let the audience understand what is happening in the piece, but also communicate with the other actors as well.
Editing
Synopsis:
Written as a textual intervention from Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Indian Camp,” Wondrous Stories reimagines the story of a Caucasian doctor and his son taking over the birth of a baby from the perspectives of the Native American’s waiting for the child to be born.
Setting:
- A Native American encampment somewhere in Massachusetts
Themes:
- Perceived superiority of one over another
- Balance of nature and one’s life
- Reclaiming the truth of Native American life
Cast of Characters: 1 Female, 3 Males, 3 Any Gender
Night Owl – 21 to 25 year-old – Native American – Night Owl is the brother-in-law of the woman giving birth. He brough the father and Nick from the mainland to the encampment but doesn’t understand why. He is frustrated with the way Father treats him and his people.
Dawn Feather – 19 to 24 year-old – Native American – Dawn Feather is the woman giving birth. She arrives to put things straight for those who assume she doesn’t have a voice. She is a strong, outspoken person who isn’t afraid to get into anyone’s face or afraid to set the record straight.
Father – 35 to 40 year-old – Native American – Father is an original creation of Ernest Hemingway. He is an arrogant, self-absorbed individual who doesn’t care much for the world around him. He is focused on his goals and care little for anything else.
Nick – 12 to 18 year-old – Native American – Nick is an original creation of Ernest Hemingway. He is the son of Father and curious about the world. Nick follows Father around trying to understand him but doesn’t hold the same values.
The River – Any Age – Native American – The River is a personification of the river which brought Night Owl, Father and Nick to the encampment. The River sings their thoughts instead of speaking. They act as a “chorus” telling the audience the mood of the situation.
Azeban (Raccoon) – Any Age – Native American – Azeban is a trickster animal. He is represented by a puppet, but has a strong personality of his own. Azeban is non-speaking, but very charasmatic.
Inspiration:
This is a textual intervention of Indian Camp by Ernest Hemingway. A textual intervention is a way to reimaging a story from a different perspective. Some famous textual interventions are Gergory Maguire’s Wicked (based off of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz books), John Gardner’s Grendel (based off of the epic poem Beowulf), and Laila Lalami’s The Moor’s Account (based off of Cabeza de Vaca’s The Relación).
Excerpt:
SCENE – EXT. A NATIVE AMERICAN ENCAMPMENT
LIGHTS UP.
The stage is bathed in blue light broken up with a gobo representing branches. On stage right an entrance to a small cabin is shown. A lantern hangs in the window of the house. The Lantern is not bright enough to illuminate anything inside the cabin. The sound of a flowing river should be played over the sound system.
In the center of the stage sits a small circle of stones with a campfire in the middle. The campfire is lit with the logs configured in two different ways: in the middle the logs are arranged in a pyramid with a point towards the sky; the surrounding logs are stacked on either side of the triangle two-by-two in layers (layer one: east side and west side of triangle. layer two: north side and south side. layer three: east side and west side; layer four: north side and south side). These stacks form a “log cabin” configuration that surrounds the pyramid in the center. To the stage right side of the circle of stones is a larger flat stone that holds a pot of water. There are two logs towards the back of the circle of stones. These are used for sitting.
On stage left is a piece of blue cloth that lays on the floor. It is 8 feet wide and laid flat at an angle from upstage left to downstage center left.
As the actors enter the stage the lights should shift from an evening blue to a morning amber on stage right, while stage left should remain more in the blue light. The NARRATOR enters from the door in the cabin while THE RIVER enters from stage left. With the focus being on the NARRATOR the entrance of THE RIVER should not be as focused for the audience to notice. Before the NARRATOR speaks the sound of the river should fade out.
NARRATOR
(entering)
Hello.
(walking to a stump)
Thank you for coming to this performance.
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(sitting down)
This is a piece called “Wondrous Stories” written by E. Salvador Chapman. This is a work of fiction called a …
(pulling out an index card from his pocket)
Textual Intervention.
(placing the card back)
Textual Interventions are written responses to a piece of literature, usually created from a different perspective than the original. This play is a response to “Indian Camp” by Ernest Hemingway. If you know the work than you might get more out of the play. If you do not … well … no need to worry.
(smiling)
This piece is so much better.
(a beat)
I am, what you would call, the omniscient narrator. I see all, know all and will point out important things to you with which you you should be aware.
(to THE RIVER)
Good morning, River.
(The river sound should be heard)
I hope you are well and healthy. Thank you for providing much needed sustenance for the people.
The RIVER takes a deep bow. AZEBAN, a marionette of a raccoon, enters in from stage right and scurries to the NARRATOR. AZEBAN looks around the NARRATOR, and eventually jumps up on the log next to the NARRATOR and sits. Before the Narrator speaks the river flowing sound effect should fade out.
NARRATOR
Well hello, Azeban. How are you this morning?
AZEBAN looks at the NARRATOR and rubs his head on his sleeve. After getting comfortable AZEBAN jumps up alerted. AZEBAN runs to the riverside. The RIVER picks up the blue cloth and starts to ripple it. AZEBAN puts his hands in the river and washes his eyes. He looks over the river and sees something in the distance. Alerted, AZEBAN runs to the NARRATOR, waves then runs off stage right behind the cabin.
NARRATOR
(to AZEBAN)
Wli nanawalmezi (wo.lay nah.nah.wal.meh.zee)
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Off stage right a woman screams a painful scream.
NARRATOR
Not a moment too late, either.
The river sound effect should fade in. Off stage a drum starts a slow beat. After 8 counts a Native Flute plays a slow minor melody. The RIVER sings the following passage with the help of the flute.
THE RIVER
Calmly, We rest
Flowing through the night
Calmly, We’re still
We bring to you our song
We bring to you our joy
We bring to you our peace
We bring to you our life
Calmly, We float
Bringing you a light
Calmly, We breathe
The drum and flute stop as the RIVER ends their song. A boat appears on stage left. The lights should change showing the difference between early morning to morning. Out of the boat, NIGHT OWL appears. NIGHT OWL pulls the boat to the shore. NIGHT OWL then helps FATHER and NICK exit the boat. FATHER and NICK are wearing coats and carrying medical equipment.
NICK
Where are we going, Dad?
FATHER
Over to that cabin. There is an Indian lady very sick.
NICK
Oh.
FATHER and NICK walk across the stage not paying any attention to the NARRATOR. FATHER and NICK open the door to the cabin.
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