Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Scenes you didn't see...

...unless you saw one of the first two previews.
Here's a scene that we cut after the first two performances. Kyle has a dream in which a plushie character appears and in several different guises advises him to go back to the Bruno Bettelheim book for the solution to Dave's dilemna.
We kept it in because we liked it. Sure it didn't make much sense or add much to the plot but we liked it. Before we even started rehearsal Chris ordered a plushie pig costume so we had it. (The head appears in some of the promo shots.) Moe looked really great (funny/creepy) in it. I had it staged on the two of the forestages simultaneously--one being Kyle's apartment and one being "dreamland".
The truth of the matter is, it just didn't play. As much as Chris and I laughed we were pretty much the only ones. Everyone else was scratching their heads. So we cut it. And the plushie suit. And the bean bag chair. On a much smaller scale it reminded me of that part in ACT ONE when they're (Kaufman and Hart) are trying to come up with an ending to ONCE IN A LIFETIME. Hart writes this big casino scene with showgirls, a big stage on stage etc. but ultimately it doesn't work and they end up chucking everything. Hart writes about seeing all the glittering scenery in the garbage behind the theater and wondering what to do next. Granted, we're talking about way different budgets here and someone will get a lovely new bean bag chair out of it. But I can't help thinking...poor plushie.
Enjoy:

Scene 13A??

(Lights up on KYLE dozing. We hear a dreamy, echo-y voice calling from off-stage)

VOICE (PLUSHIE):
Kyyyyyyle. Kyyyyyle. KYLE!

KYLE:
(Bolts upright)
Dude.

(A PLUSHIE PIG enters. It looks like a giant pink furry sports mascot for a gay motorcycle club complete with cartoonish leather chaps and vest or perhaps a harness like Dave’s. The PLUSHIE strides sexily toward KYLE)

KYLE:
Whoa. What are the odds?

(The PLUSHIE puts his arm around KYLE and grabs his crotch with the other hand. He then pantomimes for Kyle to follow him offstage using oversized sports-mascot gestures.)

KYLE:
I am totally buggin’. Dude, Dude. I have no idea what you’re saying, man. I don’t understand pig language.

(More, even broader gesticulating from the PLUSHIE who then looks to Kyle. KYLE shrugs, not comprehending. The PLUSHIE hangs it’s head )

KYLE:
Hey, I’m sorry, plushie pig man.

(The PLUSHIE takes of its fuzzy big-head revealing the head of the actor who plays Mama Truth.)

PLUSHIE:
Dude.

KYLE:
(Relieved that they speak the same language)
Dude!

PLUSHIE:
Dude, you’re killing me. C’mon. Let’s go make some static. (Indicates off-stage)

KYLE:
Oh man, Dude, I’m sorry, but I’m not really into synthetic fur. That was like a one-time thing.

PLUSHIE:
Aw dude, that’s bogus.

KYLE:
Sorry Dude. You know, you look like somebody I know…

PLUSHIE:
Really?

KYLE:
Naw, it’s crazy.

PLUSHIE:
(Suddenly speaks in Mama Truth’s voice)
Crazy? What you talking about crazy, little Maricon?

KYLE:
Mama Truth?

PLUSHIE (MAMA TRUTH):
What’s the matter cutie? You don’t like what Mama Done?

KYLE:
Wha—

PLUSHIE (MAMA TRUTH):
Or was Mama just a “one-time thing” too?

KYLE:
I-I-I… Oh man… (realizing) Oh Man, I am so tripping.

PLUSHIE:
(Drops Mama’s persona)
Ya think?

KYLE:
Whoa.


PLUSHIE:
Dude, your subconscious is one dirty place, man.

KYLE:
Yeah well…

PLUSHIE:
I mean hot, but whoa Nellie.

KYLE:
What can I say?

PLUSHIE:
(Mysteriously)
Go-o-o back to Bruno-o-o…

KYLE:
What?

PLUSHIE
I don’t know, just… go back to Bruno.

KYLE:
…Okay…

PLUSHIE (MAMA TRUTH):
In the meantime Cutie… LET’S DANCE!

(Music plays, they dance)

BLACKOUT




1 comment:

Patrick Porter said...

We all liked this scene - on more than one level - frankly it gave me my only real break in the show. So now I have another quick change. Thanks boys....