THE DARK TIME 1995

THE DARK TIME 1995

By Jack Bowman (copyright 1995)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Essay on the Dark Time................................ 1

Characters ................... ............ ...........2

Timing and Audio ................... ..................4

Part I Prologue. ................... .............5

Part II Moon Discovery. ................... ....7

Part III Carnivore ...................9

Part IV Discovery of Self........................11

Pert V Dance................................... 13

Part VI Herbivore. .................. 15

ILLUSTRATIONS

Scene 1 and 5.....................................16

Scene 3 and 4........................ 17

Scene 2 and 6....................................... l8

Prop Check List......... 19

Program ................... ................... 20-21

THE DARK TIME

ESSAY by Jack Bowman, 1995

Civilization has only been working on man for about 10,000 years. Prior to that time he was essentially a primal animal. For him to have created civilization he had to be the most beautiful animal ever on earth.

As civilization was being formed, the beautiful animal still existed along with the civilized animal. Time, order, and calendars were the final civilizing force. They were the quintessential civilizing act.

When I discovered the early Roman calendar and found that it had ignored two months when creating a calendar I realized that this was the last of primal man. The Romans called these two months

"The Dark Time"

In essence they were the time before eden. They were the last time of the most beautiful animal ever on earth. They were the most beautiful time.

Whether it be dark or light.

These times were the instant before the death of primal man.

***end***

PAGE 1

Characters:

1. Master of Ritual (M.H.)

The Master of Ritual seats the audience. passes out

programs, controls the lighting, and introduces

the performance.

The Master of Ritual performs the "Prologue" with the

audience.

2. Primal She

Primal She is the one that initiates all the acts in

part 2,3, and 4.

Primal She is a moon (light) worshipper in part 5.

Primal She must be uninhibited and be able to initiate

the acts required in parts 2,3,and 4.

Primal She must be willing to perform nude in part 5.

3. Prima 1 Human #1

Pr-imal Human #1 must be able to dance in a primal ritual

manner in part 5

Primal Human #1 must be able to initiate the actions in

part 5 and 6.

Primal Human #1 must be able to make primal sounds like

a Chimpanzee.

Primal Human # 1 must be able to "speak in tongues"

4. Primal Human #2

Primal Human #2 must be able to dance in a primal ritual

manner in part 5.

PAGE 2

Primal Human #2 must be able to follow the lead of

Primal Human #1.

Primal Human #2 must be able to make primal sounds like

a Chimpanzee.

Primal Human #1 must be able to " speak in tongues"

Additional Characters: Additional Characters can be used as "Primal Humans"

Additional Characters can be used in the "Prologue" instead of the audience.

PAGE 3

TIMING AND AUDIO

Approx time	PART	Vocalizations
0-2 minutes	I Prologue	NONE- AUDIO
2-4 minutes	II Moon Discovery	Storm - Dark-AUDIO
4-6 minutes	III Carnivore Chimpanzee	Storm-AUDIO
6-10 minutes	IV Discovery of Self	Storm-AUDIO
10-13 minutes	V Dance	Techno Dance-AUDIO "speak in tongues" NONE
13-14 minutes	VI Herbivore NONE	Techno Insects-AUDIO

		PAGE 4

THE DARK TIME "1995"

PART I PROLOGUE

Five minutes before the scheduled start of the

performance the "Master of Ritual" M.R. will open the door and greet the audience. He will give them a copy of the program as they enter.

At the scheduled start of the performance the M.R. go

to the front of the audience and say. "Welcome to the performance of The Dark Time. 1995. The Dark Time was originally performed on July 9th. 1994 at the Ritual performance space at number 3. 1933 North Main in Dayton Ohio. It was the second part of "The Danse Macabre Trilogy" The initiating ritual of this performance is based on the initpai performance.

I need two audience members to participate with me in the initiating ritual of tonights Dark Time.

PICK TWO MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE

The prologue of the original performance was done on June 23. the night of the mead moon. We will now drink some mead that is left from that performance.

POUR THREE SMALL GLASSES OF MEAD - HAND THEM TO THE

INITIATING RITUAL PARTICIPANTS

PAGE 5

For the dark time of 1995

PLACE GLASSES BACK ON TABLE

During the original performance corn was planted.

It was about a week before I returned to the performance area. During that week the corn seeds had sprouted into corn plants about three inches long . I re-planted the seedlings outside and they grew the remainder of the summer. This is part of the corn stalks that grew. We will now burn these and return their essence to the air and their ashes to the earth.

GIVE MOON PAN (stainless steel dish)TO AUDIENCE PARTICIPANT

NUMBER ONE

GIVE LIGHTER TO AUDIENCE PARTICIPANT NUMBER TWO HOLD CORN STALK OVER MOON PAN ASK PARTICIPANT NUMER TWO (quietly)TO LIGHT THE CORN STALK AFTER CORN STALK STARTS BURNING TAKE MOON PAN - HOLD WHILE BURNING-

For the dark time of 1995

C1UIETLY THANK AUDIENCE PARTICIPANTS AND TELL THEM THEY CAN

TAKE THEIR SEATS BACK

CARRY MOON PAN OVER TO CENTER MOUND SPREAD ASHES PLACE MOON PAN ON CENTER MOUND EXIT START INITIAL AUDIO TAPE

******end******

PAGE 6

THE DARK TIME "1995"

PART II

MOON DISCOVERY

Part II will start with Primal She. Primal Human #1 and Primal Human #2 on stage. They should be in

lumps and not recognizable aghuman. They should appear much like rocks. Primal She will occupy position middle back. Primal Human #1 will occupy left center stage. Primal Human X2 will occupy right center. Center stage will consist of reclining stone statue covered with a mound of dirt. The "moon pan" will have been placed on top of the mound by M.R. during part I. There will be a single spotlight from the ceiling at center stage. It will be aimed at the center stage mound.

The initiation of the audio tape will be the cue for the

performance to start.

The audio tape will start with a gentle rain. After 30

seconds the first thunderclap will be heard.

At the first thunderclap the performers will begin moving.

Slowly at first. Then more normal. They will move toward the center mound. This should consume about 30 seconds.

At the end of minute number one. Primal She will lift the

PAGE 7

moon pan and start playing with it.

At the end of minute number one. the AUDIO TAPE will begin

to recite the following:

IN WESTERN CULTURE THE FIRST CALENDAR WAS

Created BY THE ROMANS ABOUT 510 B.C. IT WAS A

LUNAR CALENDAR.

OUT OF THE 365 DAY YEAR. THE CALENDAR

CONTAINED ONLY 300 DAYS. THE OTHER TWO MONTHS

OR MOONS AS WE KNOW THEM. WERE WERE NOT COUNTED.

THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE DARK TIME.

SINCE THE CALENDAR WAS CREATED TO KEEP ORDER OR TO ORGANIZE THE PEOPLE FOR THE PLANTING AND HARVESTING OF CROPS. THE TWO EMPTY MONTHS OR BLANK MOONS FALL DURING WHAT WE NOW CALL JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

IT WAS THE DARK TIME. A TIME WHEN MAN WAS

STILL PRIMAL.

Primal She will reflect the moon light into the faces of Primal Human #1 and 2. They will act startled and make chimpanzee fear sounds. The AUDIO tape will continue the rain storm. The playing with the moon light will end at the end of

minute two.

***end***

PAGE 8

THE DARK TIME "1995"

PART III CARNIVORE

Primal Human #1 will find a large bone or carcass near the mound of dirt. Primal Human #2 will try to take it away from him. A fight begins between Primal Human #1 and #2. During the fight the bone/carcass is pulled and tugged at. It is always held onto. Primal Human #1 and #2 make chimpanzee anger sounds during the fight.

THE AUDIO TAPE IS PLAYING THE STORM. THE STORM IS MORE

VIOLENT WITH MORE FREQUENT THUNDERCLAPS

Primal She is only observing for the first minute. At the end of minute one Primal Human #1 and/or #2 release the bone/carcass. Primal She picks it up and starts pounding on the dirt mound.

Primal Human #1 and #2 continue to wrestle and make angry

Chimpanzee sounds.

Primal She uncovers part of the statue and with curiosity

continues to remove the dirt.

Primal Human #1 and #2 cease fighting and come help remove the dirt.

THE EGG (TOP) OF THE STATUE IS CLEARED FIRST AND THE

CLEARING PROGRESSES TO THE BASE

THE MOON PAN WILL BE COVERED WITH DIRT DURING THE

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EXCAVATION.

THE DIRT CAN BE SPREAD IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE STATUE AS IT

IS BEING EXCAVATED.

Primal She. Primal Human #1 and #2 all erect the statue. As the statue becomes erect. part III ends.

PART III TAKES TWO MINUTES AND THE PERFORMANCE HAS CONSUMED A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES AT THIS END.

PAGE 10

THE DARK TIME "1995"

PART IV DISCOVERY OF SELF

PART IV WILL OPEN WITH THE CONTINUING OF THE STORM AUDIO PART IV WILL OPEN WITH PRIMAL SHE, PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2

MOVING THE DIRT FROM AROUND THE NOW ERECT STATUE AND SPREADING IT INTO A CIRCLE. THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE.

During the second minute Primal She will produce an egg (uncooked). It will be inspected curiously by Primal Human #1 and #2.

At the end of the second minute of part IV. Primal She will break the egg on the top of the erect statue. THE BREAKING OF THE EGG OVER THE "penile" STATUE REPRESENTS THE UNION OF EGG AND SPERM. THIS UNION ALLOWS

FOR CHANGE OR RE-BIRTH.

During the third minute Primal She, Primal Human #1 and #2

will spread the egg down the front of the statue.

At the end of the third minute Primal Human #1 and #2 will begin licking the egg from the statue. This will continue for the last minute.

THE LICKING OF THE EGG FROM THE STATUE ALLOWS FOR THE FERTILIZATION/RE-BIRTH OF PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2. THIS THEN SETS THEM TO SPEAK IN TONGUES INSTEAD OF CHIMPANZEE.

PAGE 11

During this fourth minute Primal Human #1 and #2 will

speak in "tongues"

During the fourth minute Primal She will move away from the statue toward the back of the stage. She will

turn her back to the audience.

PART IV WILL END WITH PRIMAL HUMAN X1 AND #2 LICKING EGG

FROM THE STATUE AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES. PRIMAL SHE WILL BE SETTING BEHIND THE STATUE WITH HER BACK TO THE AUDIENCE.

THE STORM AUDIO WILL FADE AWAY AS PART IV ENDS

r**end***

PAGE 12

THE DARK TIME "1995"

PART V DANCE

AS PART V BEGINS THE TECHNO DANCE MUSIC STARTS THE M.R. TURNS THE DOUBLE SWITCH THAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE

THE LIGHT IN FRONT OF PRIMAL SHE START TO FLASH.

PRIMAL SHE WILL BEGIN SWAYING TO THE MUSIC BUT WILL REMAIN

IN A SETTING POSITION WITH HER BACK TO THE

AUDIENCE.

AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2 WILL BEGIN

DANCING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME PRIMAL HUMAN #1

AND #2 STAND ERECT.

PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2 WILL DANCE FOR THE REMAINING TWO AND

ONE/HALF MINUTES.

AFTER ONE MINUTE PRIMAL SHE WILL SLOWLY REMOVE HER COSTUME

AND LET IT DROP BEHIND HER.

PRIMAL SHE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN WITH HER BACK TO THE AUDIENCE

AND IN A SETTING POSITION DURING THE REMOVAL. REMOVED. AND REPLACING OF HER COSTUME. THIS IS TO AVOID FRONTAL NUDITY.

PRIMAL SHE WITH HER ACTIONS WILL GIVE THE PRESENCE OF NUDITY

WITHOUT THE ACTUAL LEGAL DEFINITION OF NUDITY.

AT THE END OF ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS THE COSTUME SHOULD BE DROPPED. AT THE END OF TWO MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS IT SHOULD BE REPLACED.

PAGE 13

AT THE END OF THREE MINUTES INTO THIS PART V, THE TECHNO

DANCE MUSIC WILL FADE AND THE TECHNO INSECT

SOUNDS WILL BEGIN.

PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2 WILL DROP BACK TO THE FLOOR IN THEIR

SHORT POSITION.

PRIMAL SHE WILL RETURN TO HER MOUND/LUMP POSITION SHE HAD AT THE BEGINNING OF PART II.

AT THE TRANSITION FROM TECHNO DANCE TO TECHNO INSECT SOUND

THE M.R. WILL FLIP THE SWITCHES REaUIRED TO GO TO A STEADY (NON FLASHING) LIGHT.

***end***

PAGE 14

THE DARK TIME "1995"

PART VI HERBIVORE

AT THE BEGINNING OF PART SIX PRIMAL SHE WILL BE A MOUND/LUMP AT THE BEGINNING OF PART SIX THE TECHNO INSECTS WILL BE ON THE AUDIO

AT THE BEGINNING OF PART SIX THE LIGHT NEAR THE WALL WILL BE BURNING STEADILY (NOT FLASHING)

PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2 WILL BE IN THEIR SHORT (KNEELING)

POSITIONS ON THE TWO SIDES OF THE STATUE.

PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2 WILL PLANT CORN STALK SEEDLINGS IN A

CIRCLE AROUND THE STATUE.

PART SIX LAST ONE MINUTE. AT THE END OF ONE MINUTE THE M.L.

WILL TURN OUT THE LIGHT.

AT THE END OF THE MINUTE THE AUDIO TAPE WILL RUN OUT (STOP) AT THE END OF THE MINUTE PRIMAL HUMAN #1 AND #2 WILL RETURN TO THE MOUND/LUMP POSITIONS THAT THEY HAD AT THE

BEGINNING OF PART II.

THE PERFORMANCE ENDS

***end***

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THE DARK TIME

PROP CHECK LIST

1. Programs

2. Mead

3. 2 small wine glasses

4. lighter

5. stainless steel pan

6. Corn stalks

7. three costumes

8. Stone (penile) statue

9. 3 bags of topsoil

10. 8 foot by 10 foot tarp

11. one raw egg

12. Electrical cord w/remote switch

13. overhead spot light

14. Cord and hanging equipment for spot light

15. flasher (to make back light flash)

16. Back light bulb

17. Back light cord socket

18. Seven corn seedlings

19. Audio tape

20. Audio tape player with cord

21. Large bone

22. Costume for M.L.

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