Play Samuel Beckett

PLAY
A play in one act by Samuel Beckett
Written in English in late 1962-3. First published in German, as Spiel, in Theatre Heute (July 1963). First published in English by Faber and Faber, London, in 1964. First performance was of Spiel, translated by Erika and Elmar Tophoven, at the Ulmer Theater, Ulm-Donau, on 14 June 1963. First performed in Britain by the National Theatre Company at theOld Vic Theatre, London, on 7 April 1964. Front centre, touching one another, three identical grey urns about one yard high. From each a head protrudes, the neck held fast in the urn's mouth. The heads are those, from left to right as seen from auditorium, of w2, m and w1. They face undeviatingly front throughout the play. Faces so lost to age and aspect as to seem almost part of urns. But no masks.Their speech is provoked by a spotlight projected on faces alone. The transfer of light from one face to another is immediate. No blackout, i.e. return to almost complete darkness of opening, except where indicated. The response to light is immediate. Faces impassive throughout. Voices toneless except where an expression is indicated. Rapid tempo throughout. The curtain rises on a stage in almostcomplete darkness. Urns just discernible. Five seconds. Faint spots simultaneously on three faces. Three seconds. Voice faint, largely unintelligible. w1: w2: Yes, strange, darkness best, and the darker the worse, then all well, for the time, but it will come, the time will come, the thing is there, you'll see it, get off me, keep off me, all dark, all still, all over, wiped out-- Yes, perhaps, ashade gone, I suppose, some might say, poor thing, a shade gone, just a shade, in the head--[Faint wild laugh.]--just a shade, but I doubt it, I doubt it, not really, I'm all right, still all right, do my best, all I can-Yes, peace, one assumed, all out, all the pain, all as if . . . never been, it will come--[Hiccup.]--pardon, no sense in this, oh I know . . . none the less, one assumed, peace .. . I mean . . . not merely all over, but as if . . . never been--

[Together. ]
M:

[Spots off. Blackout. Five seconds. Strong spots simultaneously on three faces. Three seconds. Voices normal strength.] w1: [Together] I said to him, Give her up-One Morning as I was sitting-We were not long together--

w2:
M:

[Spots off. Blackout. Five seconds. Spot on w1.] W1 : I said to him, Giveher up. I swore by all I held most sacred-[Spot from w1 to w2.] W2 : One morning as I was sitting stitching by the open window she burst in and flew at me. Give me up, she screamed, he's mine. Her photographs were kind to her. Seeing her now for the first time full length in the flesh I understood why he preferred me. [Spot from w2 to M.] M : We were not long together when she smelled the rat. Giveup that whore, she said, or I'll cut my throat--[Hiccup.] pardon--so help me God. I knew she could have no proof. So I told her I did not know what she was talking about. [Spot from M to W2.] W2 : What are you talking about? I said, stitching away. Someone yours? Give up whom? I smell you off him, she screamed, he stinks of bitch. [Spot from w2 to w1.] W1 : Though I had him dogged for months by afirst-rate man, no shadow of proof was forthcoming. And there was no denying that he continued as . . . assiduous as ever. This, and his horror of the merely Platonic thing, made me sometimes wonder if I were not accusing him unjustly. Yes. [Spot from w1 to M.] M : What have you to complain of ? I said. Have I been neglecting you? How could we be together in the way we are if there were someoneelse? Loving her as I did, with all my heart, I could not but feel sorry for her. [Spot from M to W2.] W2 : Fearing she was about to offer me violence I rang for Erskine and had her shown out. Her parting words, as he could testify, if he is still living, and has not forgotten, coming and going on the earth, letting people in, showing people out, were to the effect that she would settle my hash....