Freeman888
Member
GRANDFATHER & GRANDSON
(a parable for the 21st century)
by Zeke Krahlin (Freeman888)
***************************************************
******* Blessed by the Great Spirit who gives me this ******
**************** tale, and many more. ****************
***************************************************
This little play is to be performed in the great tradition of George Burns and Gracie Allen...only the partners are two gay men: Randolph Taylor (my soulmate) and myself.
Grandfather (Randolph)
Grandson (me)
Jack (any tall actor will do)
Randolph is totally covered by a sacred Navajo blanket that reaches all the way to the floor; and a large painted longhorn skull for his head. The skull designs are authentic Haidu and Kwakiutl totems. (Grandfather holds the skull with his hands, and moves it to the rhythm of his words. You never see the actual person, except perhaps the hands for brief moments... which themselves should be darkly gloved.) He walks onstage; a single spotlight illuminates his presence. The only prop on stage is a picnic bench about 15 feet behind him and slightly to his right (which would be somewhat stage left). He faces the audience.
Grandfather: "Today my grandson arrives for the Big Powwow. I hear he has grown a lot, since we last visited 23 moons ago. How old is he now? Let's see. Hmmm...(pauses in deliberation, then gestures). Ah yes, fourteen revolutions! Look, here he comes!"
Grandson enters from stage right on a skateboard, dressed just like Grandfather, only smaller; including the skull. This skull is all "punked out" with an outrageous pink Mohawk, glo-paint, and many piercings. His blanket is also non-traditional, that is: decorated with super heroes like Xena, Spiderman, Dynamic Duo, Lone Ranger & Tonto, etc..
Grandson: "Hey, Grandfather, whassup?" (He high-fives by knocking his skull against Grandfather's, causing a loud "thock" to echo resonantly throughout the entire theater.)
Grandfather (looks down with great affection at his pint-size protege, and eyes him carefully from top to bottom and back up again): "Grandson, I do not think your father intends you to go in that direction."
Grandson (recoils a bit): "Oh no Grandfather, don't get me started, especially when we have just come together after so long!" (Pauses, and shrugs.) "It's okay with Mom, 'cause she wants me to enjoy what remains of my fleeting childhood. Besides, breaking with tradition is not always a bad thing. Never forget the Ghost Dance!"
Grandfather (nodding in acquiescent agreement): "[sigh] I suppose each generation must shock the elders one way or another, as a rite of passage. I only wish the direction you are now taking will go somewhere that makes you into a brave warrior."
Grandson (shrugging shoulders expansively): "Aww c'mon Grandfather. I'm already there, and have been for a long, long time; many revolutions in fact; so many that the Infinite-Fingered One can no longer keep count. You forget that my spirit (as opposed to my body) is far older than yours; so in the measure of Absolute Truth, I am Great-Grandfather to your Grandson."
Grandfather (shaking head in slight disagreement): "No, I haven't forgotten, Little Pony. I was only thinking that you are such a brave spirit, you deserve to go in a direction that reflects more nobility and less absurdity."
Grandson: "I am not here to argue with you, oh Silver Sage Of My Soul. But I am suggesting that perhaps you undervalue child's play in lightening a warrior's heart between battles."
Grandfather (gesturing astonished approval): "Oh, Little Grandson. Your wisdom never fails to pierce my heart like Hiawatha's Own Arrow." (Lowers his tall frame to embrace Grandson, raising him off the floor.)
As they hug, Jack (of Jack-in-the-Box fame) comes onstage with a large delivery bag of fast food in hand. Of course, he's wearing his trademark ping-pong smiley head...only this time with an eagle feather held firm by a plain, dirty headband. The feather likewise is dirty, and bent.
Jack: "Hey, did you guys order a Sourdough Chicken Fajita, three Paco Tacos, a Chichimonga Supreme and two large cups of Joseph?"
Grandfather: "Yes, thank you." (He politely receives the food, hands it to Grandson, then pulls out a wallet and pays Jack with some wrinkled old bills. Jack takes the money, signals goodbye, and departs.)
Grandson: "Grandfather, the powwow will soon start." (He points to the bench behind them, slightly stage left.) "Let's sit down to enjoy our meal and togetherness."
Grandfather (who places a loving arm around Grandson as they approach the bench): "That is good, Pony. For you HAVE taken my advice." They both sit down.
Grandson (confused, as he looks up at Grandfather): "What advice is that, My Guardian Angel?"
Grandfather: "You took a different direction after all. This bench was east of where we stood, and you were about to continue north, where only people full of themselves go."
Grandson (who was sipping coffee, spits out in laughter): "Those are the latrines, My Old Friend."
And they laugh and touch as the powwow begins; spotlight fading into black.
---finis
OFFER: Would you like the same sort of product placement for your business, as Jack-in-the-Box? I will advertise your product or service somewhere in my story, newsgroup article or mailing list; where it is guaranteed to attract every reader's attention, or your money back. (The soul part, I keep.)
(a parable for the 21st century)
by Zeke Krahlin (Freeman888)
***************************************************
******* Blessed by the Great Spirit who gives me this ******
**************** tale, and many more. ****************
***************************************************
This little play is to be performed in the great tradition of George Burns and Gracie Allen...only the partners are two gay men: Randolph Taylor (my soulmate) and myself.
Grandfather (Randolph)
Grandson (me)
Jack (any tall actor will do)
Randolph is totally covered by a sacred Navajo blanket that reaches all the way to the floor; and a large painted longhorn skull for his head. The skull designs are authentic Haidu and Kwakiutl totems. (Grandfather holds the skull with his hands, and moves it to the rhythm of his words. You never see the actual person, except perhaps the hands for brief moments... which themselves should be darkly gloved.) He walks onstage; a single spotlight illuminates his presence. The only prop on stage is a picnic bench about 15 feet behind him and slightly to his right (which would be somewhat stage left). He faces the audience.
Grandfather: "Today my grandson arrives for the Big Powwow. I hear he has grown a lot, since we last visited 23 moons ago. How old is he now? Let's see. Hmmm...(pauses in deliberation, then gestures). Ah yes, fourteen revolutions! Look, here he comes!"
Grandson enters from stage right on a skateboard, dressed just like Grandfather, only smaller; including the skull. This skull is all "punked out" with an outrageous pink Mohawk, glo-paint, and many piercings. His blanket is also non-traditional, that is: decorated with super heroes like Xena, Spiderman, Dynamic Duo, Lone Ranger & Tonto, etc..
Grandson: "Hey, Grandfather, whassup?" (He high-fives by knocking his skull against Grandfather's, causing a loud "thock" to echo resonantly throughout the entire theater.)
Grandfather (looks down with great affection at his pint-size protege, and eyes him carefully from top to bottom and back up again): "Grandson, I do not think your father intends you to go in that direction."
Grandson (recoils a bit): "Oh no Grandfather, don't get me started, especially when we have just come together after so long!" (Pauses, and shrugs.) "It's okay with Mom, 'cause she wants me to enjoy what remains of my fleeting childhood. Besides, breaking with tradition is not always a bad thing. Never forget the Ghost Dance!"
Grandfather (nodding in acquiescent agreement): "[sigh] I suppose each generation must shock the elders one way or another, as a rite of passage. I only wish the direction you are now taking will go somewhere that makes you into a brave warrior."
Grandson (shrugging shoulders expansively): "Aww c'mon Grandfather. I'm already there, and have been for a long, long time; many revolutions in fact; so many that the Infinite-Fingered One can no longer keep count. You forget that my spirit (as opposed to my body) is far older than yours; so in the measure of Absolute Truth, I am Great-Grandfather to your Grandson."
Grandfather (shaking head in slight disagreement): "No, I haven't forgotten, Little Pony. I was only thinking that you are such a brave spirit, you deserve to go in a direction that reflects more nobility and less absurdity."
Grandson: "I am not here to argue with you, oh Silver Sage Of My Soul. But I am suggesting that perhaps you undervalue child's play in lightening a warrior's heart between battles."
Grandfather (gesturing astonished approval): "Oh, Little Grandson. Your wisdom never fails to pierce my heart like Hiawatha's Own Arrow." (Lowers his tall frame to embrace Grandson, raising him off the floor.)
As they hug, Jack (of Jack-in-the-Box fame) comes onstage with a large delivery bag of fast food in hand. Of course, he's wearing his trademark ping-pong smiley head...only this time with an eagle feather held firm by a plain, dirty headband. The feather likewise is dirty, and bent.
Jack: "Hey, did you guys order a Sourdough Chicken Fajita, three Paco Tacos, a Chichimonga Supreme and two large cups of Joseph?"
Grandfather: "Yes, thank you." (He politely receives the food, hands it to Grandson, then pulls out a wallet and pays Jack with some wrinkled old bills. Jack takes the money, signals goodbye, and departs.)
Grandson: "Grandfather, the powwow will soon start." (He points to the bench behind them, slightly stage left.) "Let's sit down to enjoy our meal and togetherness."
Grandfather (who places a loving arm around Grandson as they approach the bench): "That is good, Pony. For you HAVE taken my advice." They both sit down.
Grandson (confused, as he looks up at Grandfather): "What advice is that, My Guardian Angel?"
Grandfather: "You took a different direction after all. This bench was east of where we stood, and you were about to continue north, where only people full of themselves go."
Grandson (who was sipping coffee, spits out in laughter): "Those are the latrines, My Old Friend."
And they laugh and touch as the powwow begins; spotlight fading into black.
---finis
OFFER: Would you like the same sort of product placement for your business, as Jack-in-the-Box? I will advertise your product or service somewhere in my story, newsgroup article or mailing list; where it is guaranteed to attract every reader's attention, or your money back. (The soul part, I keep.)
